Debtors

Phrase list

Listen to the tape and practise the pronunciation of the following words and word combinations, quote the sentences in which they are used in the unit. Consult a dictionary and translate them into Russian.

to chase up bad debts Retail / wholesale business

to do business on a cash basis / on credit to defer payment

the amount (total) due on a particular transaction to receive long/short credit

to offer an inducement to somebody to become insolvent

debt collector

to be a good credit risk

to write to the bank for a reference

to get a drive on

to get payment on one or two of outstanding accounts retailer

overdue accounts to default

to put a professional debt collector on to collect debts to bring in a third party

to use legal pressure the salary scheme

to pay a basic salary supplemented by a commission on sales a graded salary based on sales quotas

to make an estimate on something (probable volume of sales) to keep up to the quota / to surpass the quota

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PRE-LISTENING

Task I

Consider the introduction to the unit. Answer the following questions and be ready to give a story line. Use the word combinations in brackets.

1. On what basis is business usually done?

(retail business; wholesale business ; to do business on a cash basis; to do business on credit; to collect debts; to chase up bad debts; money which has been owed to the firm for a long time)

2. On what terms does H & G Ltd. do business?

(to give credit; to defer payment; an individual sale; to send an invoice to the customer; a list of the goods delivered; the amount due on a particular transaction; to be sent an account; to show the total amount due)

3. In what way are due payments stipulated?

(to receive long credit from the suppliers; to give short credit to the customers; to be fairly common; to offer an inducement to customers; to pay earlier than somebody needs; to offer a discount; to pay slightly less; to pay within ten days of the date of invoice)

4. Do debtors always pay back? Why? What happens if not? What can be done to overdue accounts?

(the debtor cannot pay; to get the money; to supply the firm with goods; to become insolvent; to run the firm; to be dishonest; accounts not paid in time; overdue accounts; a sales representative; to collect the money; to make enquiries; to employ a professional debt collector)

5. Why do companies try to avoid being bad payers?

(to get a reputation for being a bad payer; to get supplies on credit; to give information about the financial situation of a company; to judge something; to be a good credit risk; to suggest that a supplier writes to their bank for a reference)

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Task 2

Give the English equivalents for the following word combinations:

кредит с высокой степенью обращаться в банк за рекомендацией возвратности

не выполнить взятые на себя получить платеж по неоплаченным

LISTENING

Exercise 1

You are going to hear a talk between W. Buckhurst and Ch. Thorn. Before you listen to the conversation look at these statements, which you will mark T (True) or F (False) after you have listened to the tape.

1.Harper & Grant Ltd. give credit only for thirty days.

2.Doing business on retail basis Harper & Grant mean that payment may be deferred until the end of the month following that in which the goods were delivered.

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