Discussing problems arising out of contractual obligations

Read and translate these letters:

LETTER 1 (Modified guarantee period)

November 10, 20...

Dear Ms. Earle,

We have received your letter dated November 1, 20... for which we thank you. We are taken by surprise to learn that you mistakenly believe that our guarantee period is 24 months.

We have to remind you that the guarantee period of our equipment is 18 months. We guarantee that the equipment is free from defects in material, design and workmanship and it conforms to our highest standards. No other guarantees are implied.

Should the equipment prove to be defective during the guarantee period we undertake to replace or repair any defective part free of charge within the period of 2 calendar months of the date of shipment provided that the defective part or parts have been returned to our plant, carriage paid. The guarantee shall not apply to damage due to negligence or improper handling on the part of the Buyer or to any other causes outside our control. We hope the information provided won't fail you. Please, acknowledge receipt.

Sincerely yours,

Luis Brogan

Luis Brogan

Sales Director

LETTER 2 (Asking for replacements)

November 14, 20...

Dear Mr. Douglas,

Our forwarding agents informed us yesterday that two out of the twelve cases of stationary dispatched on November 9 were delivered damaged

on the outside. They look as if some dark liquid has soaked into paper and stained most of the goods. Our agents opened the cases and found that all note-books were damaged so we cannot offer them for sale. Will you therefore please arrange to send replacements without delay and charge them to our account? We realize that the responsibility for the damage is not with you and we have already taken up the matter with the carrier.

Sincerely yours,

Alfred Addison

Alfred Addison

LETTER 3 (Covering letter accompanying an invoice)

March 4, 20...

Dear Sirs,

We enclose our invoice number 125 for computer accessories supplied against Contract no. 1051. The goods were dispatched in 10 crates (nos. 67-76) to your address by rail, carriage paid. We hope the consignment will reach you in good condition.

If you settle the account within three months, we will grant you a special cash account of 25% off the amount due.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Sincerely yours,

Paula Parker

Paula Parker

Accounts Department

LETTER 4 (Informing of errors in invoice)

February 5, 20...

Dear Mr. Thornton,

We have received your statement for kitchen utensils dated January, 20... On checking it we notice the following errors:

1. The sum of €180.00 for the return of the plastic cases covered by your credit note no. 432 dt January 12, 20... has not been entered.

2. Invoice no. 54-45 for € 12,500 has been debited twice: once on January 4, 20... and again on January 15, 20... .

After making all appropriate corrections we enclose our cheque for € 35,000 in full settlement. Please, acknowledge receipt.

Sincerely yours

Malcolm Lynn

Malcolm Lynn

LETTER 5 (Delay in submitting technical documentation)

July 21, 20...

Dear Ms. Lyman,

We have received your formal notice of claim where it is stipulated that we have infringed the provision of Contract no. 23529 as regards the time of submission of the technical documentation.

We have carefully examined your claim and we insist that the delay in submitting the documentation occurred through no fault of ours. We were to submit the technical documentation within one month of delivery of the equipment. But we would like to remind you that Para 5 of the above contract provides for the documentation to be handed in only after you open LOC before June 12; actually it was opened only on July 15, i.e. over a month overdue.

Thus, we have to state that you have made a breach in respect of terms of payment, which in its turn has caused the delay in submitting the technical documentation and consequently you can hardly hold us responsible and make a claim on us for the damages suffered.

We hope this letter will settle it all right and will not bring us to a misunderstanding.

Please, acknowledge receipt.

Truly yours

Grig Elwyn

Grig Elwyn

Ex. 1. Find in the letters the English equivalents corresponding to the following Russian phrases.

Гарантийный период; предлагать к продаже; официальное извещение о претензии; не иметь дефектов; поднять вопрос в транспортной компании; просроченный; соответствовать высочайшим стандартам; по небрежности; в качестве окончательной оплаты; нарушение контракта; не по нашей вине.

Ex. 2. Fill in the blanks with one of the following words. Mind your grammar.

to settle the account; in full settlement; to take up; to offer them for sale; guarantee period; to soak; forwarding agents; to be free from; carriage paid (2); replacements; negligence; to undertake

1. We are taken by surprise to learn that you mistakenly believe that our ________ is 24 months.

2. They look as if some dark liquid ________ into paper and stained most of the

goods.

3. We realize that the responsibility for the damage is not with you and we have already _________ the matter with the carrier.

4. The guarantee shall not apply to damage due to __________ or improper

handling on the part of the Buyer or to any other causes outside our control.

5. Our agents opened the cases and found that all note-books were damaged so we cannot ___________.

6. Should the equipment prove to be defective during the guarantee period we _______to replace or repair any defective part free of charge within the period of 2 calendar months of the date of shipment provided that the defective part or parts have been returned to our plant, __________.

7. Our _________ informed us yesterday that two out of the twelve cases of stationary dispatched on November 9 were delivered damaged on the outside.

8. Will you therefore please arrange to send ________ without delay and charge them to our account?

9. After making all appropriate corrections we enclose our cheque for € 35,000 _________.

10. We guarantee that the equipment ____________ defects in material, design and

workmanship and it conforms to our highest standards.

Ex. 3. Complete the sentences.

1. We guarantee that the equipment (не имеет дефектов) in material, design and workmanship and it (соответствует) our highest standards.

2. Our forwarding agents informed us yesterday that two out of the twelve cases of stationary dispatched on November 9 were delivered (поврежденными снаружи).

3. The goods were dispatched in 10 crates (nos. 67-76) to your address by rail (с оплатой перевозки продавцом).

4. After making all appropriate corrections we enclose our cheque for € 35,000 (в качестве окончательного расчета).

5. Should the equipment (окажется бракованным) during the guarantee period we undertake to replace or repair any defective part free of charge within the period of 2 calendar months of the date of shipment provided that the defective part or parts have been returned to our plant (с оплатой перевозки продавцом).

6. We hope the consignment will (прибудет к Вам) in good condition.

7. We have received (Ваше официальное уведомление о претензии) where it is stipulated that we have infringed (положения) of Contract no. 23529 as regards the time of submission of the technical documentation.

8. Our agents opened the cases and found that all note-books were damaged so we cannot (предложить их к продаже).

9. They look as if some dark liquid (впиталась в бумагу) and stained most of the goods.

10. We (удивлены) to learn that you mistakenly believe that our guarantee period is 24 months.

11. We realize that the responsibility for the damage is not with you and we (уже подняли этот вопрос в транспортной компании).

12. If you (оплатите счет) within three months, we will grant you a special cash account of 2¹/г% off the amount due.

13. The guarantee shall not apply to damage due to (небрежности) or improper handling on the part of the Buyer or (по причинам, не зависящим от нас).

14. The sum of € 180.00 for the return of the plastic cases covered by (Вашим кредитовым авизо) no. 432 dt January 12, 20... has not been entered.

15. We have carefully examined your claim and we insist that the delay in submitting the documentation (случилась не по нашей вине).

Ex. 5. Fill in the blanks with prepositions / particles where necessary.

1. We hope this letter will settle it all right and will not bring us __________ a misunderstanding.

2. But we would like to remind you that Para 5 __________ the above contract

Provides ___________ the documentation to be handed only __________ you open month overdue.

3. We have carefully examined your claim and we insist that the delay ________ submitting the documentation occurred _________ no fault ________ ours.

4. We have to state that you have made a breach terms ________ payment, which _________ its turn has caused the delay _________ submitting the technical documentation and consequently you can hardly hold us responsible and make a claim _________ us _________ the damages suffered.

5. Will you therefore please arrange to send replacements __________ delay and charge them _______ our account?

6. __________ making all appropriate corrections we enclose our cheque ________ € 5,000 _________ full settlement.

7. The goods were dispatched _________ 10 crates (nos. 67-76) your address

________ rail, carriage paid.

8. We were to submit the technical documentation one month ________ Delivery _________ the equipment.

9. The sum ________ € 180.00 __________ the return _________the plastic cases covered ________ your credit note no. 432 dt January 12, 20... has not been entered.

10. We realize that the responsibility the damage is not __________ you and we have already taken ________ the matter _________the carrier.

11. We have received your formal notice ________ claim where it is stipulated that we have infringed the provision ____________ Contract no. 23529 __________ the time __________ submission _________ the technical documentation.

12. The guarantee shall not apply _________ damage _________ negligence or improper handling _________ the part __________ the Buyer or _________ any other causes outside our control.

13. If you settle the account _________ three months, we will grant you a special cash account __________ 25 % __________ the amount due.

14. Our forwarding agents informed us yesterday that two out _________ the twelve cases _________ stationary dispatched _________ November 9 were delivered damaged _________ the outside.

15. Should the equipment prove to be defective ________ the guarantee period we undertake to replace or repair any defective part free________ charge __________ the period _________ 2 calendar months __________ the date __________ shipment provided that the defective part or parts have been returned ___________ our plant, carriage paid.

Ex. 5. Translate into English.

1. Мы удивлены узнать, что по ошибке Вы считаете, что наш гарантийный срок составляет 24 месяца.

2. Мы надеемся, что предоставленная Вам информация полностью Вас удовлетворит.

3. Мы отдаем себе отчет в том, что Вы не отвечаете за ущерб, и мы уже подняли этот вопрос в транспортной компании.

4. Мы вынуждены напомнить Вам, что гарантийный период на оборудование составляет 18 месяцев вместо 24.

5. Мы прилагаем счет-фактуру №5875 на компьютерные принадлежности, поставляемые в счет контракта № 76.

6. Наши экспедиторы вчера сообщили нам, что два из десяти ящиков, отгруженных 4 апреля, прибыли с признаками повреждений.

7. Товары будут отгружены в 10 ящиках по железной дороге.

8. Мы гарантируем, что оборудование не имеет дефектов в материале, конструкции и качестве изготовления и соответствует международным стандартам.

9. Мы надеемся, что партия прибудет к Вам в хорошем состоянии.

10. Коробки выглядят так, как будто они пропитаны темной жидкостью.

11. Если Вы оплатите счета в течение трех месяцев, мы предоставим Вам скидку за платеж наличными с причитающейся суммы.

12. Если оборудование окажется бракованным в течение гарантийного периода, мы обязуемся заменить или отремонтировать любые бракованные части бесплатно.

13. Проверяя счет-фактуру, мы выявили целый ряд ошибок.

14. Наши экспедиторы вскрыли несколько ящиков и обнаружили, что блокноты повреждены.

15. Сумма в 200 ф.ст. за возврат пластмассовых ящиков была начислена на Ваш счет.

16. Все бракованные части должны быть возвращены на завод - изготовитель, перевозка оплачена продавцом.

17. После внесения всех исправлений мы прилагаем наш чек на 5 тыс. долл. в качестве окончательного расчета.

18. Мы не можем предложить этот товар к продаже.

19. Мы получили Ваше официальное уведомление о претензии, где указано, что мы нарушили положения контракта о представлении технической документации.

20. Гарантия не распространяется на ущерб, полученный в результате небрежности или неправильного обращения со стороны покупателя.

21. Мы организуем отправку товаров на замену незамедлительно и отнесем расходы на наш счет.

22 Мы вынуждены отметить, что Вы нарушили контракт в отношении условий платежа, что, в свою очередь, вызвало задержку в представлении технической документации.

23. Мы изучили Вашу претензию и настаиваем на том, что задержка произошла не по нашей вине.

24. Гарантия не покрывает ущерб, нанесенный по причинам, не зависящим от нас.

25. Вы должны представить техническую документацию в течение месяца от даты поставки оборудования

Ex. 6. Make up letters according to the situations.

1. Напишите письмо Вашим партнерам. Выясните, когда они направят счет-фактуру на товары, отгруженные две недели назад и прибывшие 5 дней назад. Вы удивлены, что счета до сих пор нет. Отметьте, что Вы настаиваете на срочном решении вопроса.

2. Вы получили от Ваших клиентов письмо, где они настаивают на том, что Вы должны отремонтировать станки, которые Вы продали им полтора года назад. Однако гарантийный срок по этому оборудованию составляет только 12 месяцев. Напишите, что Вы сожалеете, что произошла поломка. Предложите техническую помощь, но отметьте, что она не может быть оказана бесплатно.