宋氏讲座：《外贸函件速成模式》 第七章 索赔

宋氏讲座：《外贸函件速成模式》 第七章 索赔

　
索款的情形通常是卖方专门针对卖方收到货后延迟付款而谋求的解决之策。而索赔，则通常针对买主对于运到的货物有所不满而发。Claim 一词原意为声明某人的权利。如运到的货物与原来的样品、订单所载要求不同，或运货途中因故而致使货物数量不足，导致损毁，买方依法能享有索赔之权。索赔固然有直接经法律途径谋求解决方法的，然而无奈费时、费钱，倒不如先向卖方直接提出意见。记住，索赔书信要尽早发出，否则过时无效。

索赔书信的内容不外货物未按时运抵，而货价偏高，品质与原样品不符；货物虽然符合要求，但数量却有短缺、多余或损毁现象。这些都是索赔的正当理由。所以，一封索赔书信的开始不妨开门见山，提起原来双方同意的条件，提出对方注意正常情况下应是如何结果，然后提出不满意之处，仔细写出有何不满及如何不满，最后提出补偿的办法。如货物未到则请对方尽快安排发出，短缺的补足，多余的退还，以及其它引起不便之处或损毁的，要根据其程度要求补偿、减价、甚至退还原货或取消交易。

收到一封索赔书信又该如何回复呢？卖方有时乐意听到买方提出的意见，只要他说出的理由是正当的。收到买方索赔的书信，他可以知道真正的原因而有所解释，设法纠正错误或谋求补救。同时也可以保持与顾客的友好关系。与其说顾客永远是对的，毋宁说顾客可能是对的。不过，无论如何，遇到索赔书信的第一大原则就是尽快回复，告诉对方我们正在调查，设法弥补，万一遇到不合理的要求，要以和气的态度，礼貌地指出来，以便求得合理解决。




第一节

译题：

第21箱发现5包短缺。因箱子完好无损，没有损坏迹象。我们推测一定是寄少了。请不必麻烦再另寄，但请改正发票。

译例：

Case 21 was found to be 5 packages short. As the case was in good shape and does not appear to have been tampered with, we surmise that they must have been short-shipped. Please do not trouble to send a replacement, but adjust your invoice.

译解：

Trouble, 动词与名词同形。动词可作“打扰和使烦劳”等解。名词可作“麻烦和烦恼”等解。May I trouble you for (or to) ----可否烦君----，敬请----，敬恳----。Pray don’t trouble. 请勿烦心。To give one trouble (or to give trouble to one). 打扰或烦劳某人。Don’t trouble about it. 不要为它而烦恼。Don’t trouble yourself about it. （同上）I am troubled with a cough. 我患咳嗽。He came with a troubled countenance. 他面带忧色而来。May I trouble you to shut the door? 可否烦你把门关上? Excuse my troubling you. 原谅我打扰你。I am troubled with a headache. 我患头疼。He is troubled in his mind. （He has a troubled mind.）他心中忧虑。May I trouble you for some money? 是否烦你借给我点钱？May I trouble you with a question? 我可以麻烦你回答一个问题吗？He caused her much trouble. 他使她受到不少的烦恼。


第二节

译题：

敝公司发觉运来之货物应为编号VP/56，而非BO/56。我们本想可能是打字员的错误。然而，来货和我方所订购的货物不符，恳请贵公司尽早替换。

译例：

We find that you have sent us an article marked BO/56 instead of the VP/56 we ordered; we take it that this was due to typist’s error, but as the articles sent are not of the type we stock, we must ask for replacement by the correct number as soon as possible.

译解：

Error, 名词：错误。It is a type-graphical error. 那是一个印刷的错误。It is a typing error. 那是一个打字的错误。It is an error on our (your) part.那是我（你）方的错误。We believe an error has been made in the total weight, should it not be 11.200 lbs? 我们相信总重量上有错误，是不是应为1，1200磅？You are in error about what we meant. 你误解了我们的意思。You are in error in thinking that the price is going to come down. 你认为价格会下降是错误的。You have figured out the commission in error. 你把佣金算错了。The unit price was written in error. 单价写错了。Erroneous,形容词，错误的。It is an erroneous computation. 那是一个计算错误。 It is erroneous to do so. 这样做是错误的。作“错误”解的词除error之外还有mistake 和blunder. Error 本来用以指印象、判断或计算上的错误，转义而用以指行为上的错误。又指智力和道义上的错误。Mistake 主要指智慧上的错误，和error相同，有时也含有道德上的不正之意。例如说文字上的、用语上的、计算上的、文法上的错误。Blunder,含有较强的蠢笨意味，通常指超乎寻常的错误。


第三节

译题：

贵公司应当明了，我方本来可以撤销全部合约，但这件事关系重大，本公司不愿这样做。然而，本公司享有要求补偿之权利，请贵公司给予补贴，以便解决此事。

译例：

You will recognize that we are accordingly in a position to repudiate the whole contract, but such a drastic step would be must unwelcome to us. It is clear, however, that we are entitled to some compensation, and we should be glad to hear of that allowance you prepared to make to meet the case.

译解：

Allowance, 名词，补偿费、补贴、考虑。We cannot make (grant) any allowance for the loss, which is not due to our fault. 我们对此项损失不能赔偿，那不是我方的过失。As the mistake is ours, we agree to make (grant) an allowance of 2%. 由于这是我们的错误，我们同意付给2%的赔偿费。Buyers claim an allowance of $2，000.00 on account of inferior quality. 由于质量不佳，买方索赔2，000美元。Allowance should be made for unforeseen circumstances. 应该考虑到意外情况。动词形式为allow. 1。给。We cannot allow more than 2% commission. 我们不能付给超过2%的佣金。In opening L/C, please allow 2% leeway in drawings. 在开信用证时，请给予2%上下的灵活限度。You must allow us some latitude in handling this matter. 在处理此事时，你必须给我们一些灵活范围。2。允许。 Please amend your L/C No. 435 (so as)to read “partial shipment allowed”. 请将你的435号信用证改为“可以分批装运”。Please amend your L/C No.345 (so as) to allow part shipment. （同上）。Allow as to point out that the account submitted by you is not quite in order. 请允许我们指出，你提交的账目时有些出入的。3。allow for ,考虑到，照顾到。We must allow for this possibility.我们必须考虑到这种可能性。Allowing for the difference in quality, the disparity in price should not be so wide.即便考虑到质量上的差异，价格上的差距也不应该那样大。The goods should have reached you by now, allowing for some delay in transit. 即便运输上有些耽搁，该货现在也应该到达你处了。4。allow of,容许。The opportunity will soon pass away and allow of no delay. 时机易失，不容迟延。We do not think the statement allows of any other interpretation. 我们认为这个说法不容许有其它解释。

第四节


译题：

为解决索赔问题，我们乐于派遣代表来指导调查事宜。如果我们的职员错了，您可信赖我们纠正错误，如若您选择接受这批货物，则可获得慷慨折扣。

译例：

In order to settle the matter of claim, we should be please to send a representative to conduct an inspection. If our staff is at fault, you may rely on our correcting the error, or making a generous allowance if you choose to take the goods.

译解：

Fault, 名词，过失，瑕疵，缺点等。At fault，迷惑，不知所措。In fault， 应负责任的。To find fault with, 向某人非难，挑剔。Without (any) faults, 无误地，确实地。He amended his fault. 他改正错误。I am quite at fault. 我十分迷惑。He is blind to his son’s fault. 他对儿子的过错一无所知。She blushed at her own faults. 她为自己的过失而脸红。The manager charged him with a fault. 经理责备他有过失。You have committed a fault. 你已出现一个过失。By others’ faults wise men correct their own. 聪明人因他人的过失而改正自己的过失。I have no fault to find with your work. 我对于你的工作没有可以挑剔之处。He finds fault with everything I do. 对我所做的一切，他都要吹毛求疵。You have done a gross (or a serious) fault. 你已铸成大错。My memory is at fault. 我记不清了。That happened through no fault of mine. 那件事的发生，我是没有过失的。Fault 的近义词有defect, failing, foible等。Fault, 过失，缺点。指道德方面的过失，又指关于人的性格或习惯上的弱点或缺点。不含贬损之义。Defect，缺陷，缺点。含贬损之义，是个消极性的词。使用于性格时，指虽然完美，但也有缺陷。Failing，缺点，短处。含贬损之义，指在性格或习惯上的弱点或缺点。Foible, 性格上的小缺点，弱点，比defect要轻微，或者是可以一笑了之的怪癖。



第五节


译题：

我们提议立即查看此事，如果查看结果确认您正确，您将立刻获得慷慨赔偿。

译例：

We propose to have the goods inspected immediately. If the inspection confirms the accuracy of your estimate, generous compensation will be allowed at once.

译解：

Estimate, 动词，估计，估价等。The expense is estimated at three million. 这项费用预算300万。It is estimated that five thousand dollars will be appropriated to him. 预计将拨给他五千元。Value 是estimate的近义词。Estimate, 估计。意味着给一个价值，尤指给予一个不确定的价值。You estimate his worth too highly. 你对他的价值估计过高。Value, 重视。意味着给予较高的估价。He valued the machine at 1,000 dollars.他估计这台机器的价值在一千元。Estimate, 名词，作“估价、评价、意见、判断、预算”解。We need to make an estimate beforehand. 我们须预先预算好。At a rough estimate, 依照大略的计算。Estimation, 名词，作“估价、预算、尊重”解。He comes first in my estimation. 照我看来他数第一。I held him in high estimation. 我很尊重他。He stands high in public estimation. 他深受公众尊重。