宋氏講座：《外貿函件速成模式》 第七章 索賠

宋氏講座：《外貿函件速成模式》 第七章 索賠

　
索款的情形通常是賣方專門針對賣方收到貨後延遲付款而謀求的解決之策。而索賠，則通常針對買主對於運到的貨物有所不滿而發。Claim 一詞原意為聲明某人的權利。如運到的貨物與原來的樣品、訂單所載要求不同，或運貨途中因故而致使貨物數量不足，導致損毀，買方依法能享有索賠之權。索賠固然有直接經法律途徑謀求解決方法的，然而無奈費時、費錢，倒不如先向賣方直接提出意見。記住，索賠書信要盡早發出，否則過時無效。

索賠書信的內容不外貨物未按時運抵，而貨價偏高，品質與原樣品不符；貨物雖然符合要求，但數量卻有短缺、多餘或損毀現象。這些都是索賠的正當理由。所以，一封索賠書信的開始不妨開門見山，提起原來雙方同意的條件，提出對方注意正常情況下應是如何結果，然後提出不滿意之處，仔細寫出有何不滿及如何不滿，最後提出補償的辦法。如貨物未到則請對方盡快安排發出，短缺的補足，多餘的退還，以及其它引起不便之處或損毀的，要根據其程度要求補償、減價、甚至退還原貨或取消交易。

收到一封索賠書信又該如何回複呢？賣方有時樂意聽到買方提出的意見，隻要他說出的理由是正當的。收到買方索賠的書信，他可以知道真正的原因而有所解釋，設法糾正錯誤或謀求補救。同時也可以保持與顧客的友好關係。與其說顧客永遠是對的，毋寧說顧客可能是對的。不過，無論如何，遇到索賠書信的第一大原則就是盡快回複，告訴對方我們正在調查，設法彌補，萬一遇到不合理的要求，要以和氣的態度，禮貌地指出來，以便求得合理解決。




第一節

譯題：

第21箱發現5包短缺。因箱子完好無損，沒有損壞跡象。我們推測一定是寄少了。請不必麻煩再另寄，但請改正發票。

譯例：

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.

譯解：

Trouble, 動詞與名詞同形。動詞可作“打擾和使煩勞”等解。名詞可作“麻煩和煩惱”等解。May I trouble you for (or to) ----可否煩君----，敬請----，敬懇----。Pray don’t trouble. 請勿煩心。To give one trouble (or to give trouble to one). 打擾或煩勞某人。Don’t trouble about it. 不要為它而煩惱。Don’t trouble yourself about it. （同上）I am troubled with a cough. 我患咳嗽。He came with a troubled countenance. 他麵帶憂色而來。May I trouble you to shut the door? 可否煩你把門關上? Excuse my troubling you. 原諒我打擾你。I am troubled with a headache. 我患頭疼。He is troubled in his mind. （He has a troubled mind.）他心中憂慮。May I trouble you for some money? 是否煩你借給我點錢？May I trouble you with a question? 我可以麻煩你回答一個問題嗎？He caused her much trouble. 他使她受到不少的煩惱。


第二節

譯題：

敝公司發覺運來之貨物應為編號VP/56，而非BO/56。我們本想可能是打字員的錯誤。然而，來貨和我方所訂購的貨物不符，懇請貴公司盡早替換。

譯例：

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.

譯解：

Error, 名詞：錯誤。It is a type-graphical error. 那是一個印刷的錯誤。It is a typing error. 那是一個打字的錯誤。It is an error on our (your) part.那是我（你）方的錯誤。We believe an error has been made in the total weight, should it not be 11.200 lbs? 我們相信總重量上有錯誤，是不是應為1，1200磅？You are in error about what we meant. 你誤解了我們的意思。You are in error in thinking that the price is going to come down. 你認為價格會下降是錯誤的。You have figured out the commission in error. 你把傭金算錯了。The unit price was written in error. 單價寫錯了。Erroneous,形容詞，錯誤的。It is an erroneous computation. 那是一個計算錯誤。 It is erroneous to do so. 這樣做是錯誤的。作“錯誤”解的詞除error之外還有mistake 和blunder. Error 本來用以指印象、判斷或計算上的錯誤，轉義而用以指行為上的錯誤。又指智力和道義上的錯誤。Mistake 主要指智慧上的錯誤，和error相同，有時也含有道德上的不正之意。例如說文字上的、用語上的、計算上的、文法上的錯誤。Blunder,含有較強的蠢笨意味，通常指超乎尋常的錯誤。


第三節

譯題：

貴公司應當明了，我方本來可以撤銷全部合約，但這件事關係重大，本公司不願這樣做。然而，本公司享有要求補償之權利，請貴公司給予補貼，以便解決此事。

譯例：

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.

譯解：

Allowance, 名詞，補償費、補貼、考慮。We cannot make (grant) any allowance for the loss, which is not due to our fault. 我們對此項損失不能賠償，那不是我方的過失。As the mistake is ours, we agree to make (grant) an allowance of 2%. 由於這是我們的錯誤，我們同意付給2%的賠償費。Buyers claim an allowance of $2，000.00 on account of inferior quality. 由於質量不佳，買方索賠2，000美元。Allowance should be made for unforeseen circumstances. 應該考慮到意外情況。動詞形式為allow. 1。給。We cannot allow more than 2% commission. 我們不能付給超過2%的傭金。In opening L/C, please allow 2% leeway in drawings. 在開信用證時，請給予2%上下的靈活限度。You must allow us some latitude in handling this matter. 在處理此事時，你必須給我們一些靈活範圍。2。允許。 Please amend your L/C No. 435 (so as)to read “partial shipment allowed”. 請將你的435號信用證改為“可以分批裝運”。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. 請允許我們指出，你提交的賬目時有些出入的。3。allow for ,考慮到，照顧到。We must allow for this possibility.我們必須考慮到這種可能性。Allowing for the difference in quality, the disparity in price should not be so wide.即便考慮到質量上的差異，價格上的差距也不應該那樣大。The goods should have reached you by now, allowing for some delay in transit. 即便運輸上有些耽擱，該貨現在也應該到達你處了。4。allow of,容許。The opportunity will soon pass away and allow of no delay. 時機易失，不容遲延。We do not think the statement allows of any other interpretation. 我們認為這個說法不容許有其它解釋。

第四節


譯題：

為解決索賠問題，我們樂於派遣代表來指導調查事宜。如果我們的職員錯了，您可信賴我們糾正錯誤，如若您選擇接受這批貨物，則可獲得慷慨折扣。

譯例：

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.

譯解：

Fault, 名詞，過失，瑕疵，缺點等。At fault，迷惑，不知所措。In fault， 應負責任的。To find fault with, 向某人非難，挑剔。Without (any) faults, 無誤地，確實地。He amended his fault. 他改正錯誤。I am quite at fault. 我十分迷惑。He is blind to his son’s fault. 他對兒子的過錯一無所知。She blushed at her own faults. 她為自己的過失而臉紅。The manager charged him with a fault. 經理責備他有過失。You have committed a fault. 你已出現一個過失。By others’ faults wise men correct their own. 聰明人因他人的過失而改正自己的過失。I have no fault to find with your work. 我對於你的工作沒有可以挑剔之處。He finds fault with everything I do. 對我所做的一切，他都要吹毛求疵。You have done a gross (or a serious) fault. 你已鑄成大錯。My memory is at fault. 我記不清了。That happened through no fault of mine. 那件事的發生，我是沒有過失的。Fault 的近義詞有defect, failing, foible等。Fault, 過失，缺點。指道德方麵的過失，又指關於人的性格或習慣上的弱點或缺點。不含貶損之義。Defect，缺陷，缺點。含貶損之義，是個消極性的詞。使用於性格時，指雖然完美，但也有缺陷。Failing，缺點，短處。含貶損之義，指在性格或習慣上的弱點或缺點。Foible, 性格上的小缺點，弱點，比defect要輕微，或者是可以一笑了之的怪癖。



第五節


譯題：

我們提議立即查看此事，如果查看結果確認您正確，您將立刻獲得慷慨賠償。

譯例：

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

譯解：

Estimate, 動詞，估計，估價等。The expense is estimated at three million. 這項費用預算300萬。It is estimated that five thousand dollars will be appropriated to him. 預計將撥給他五千元。Value 是estimate的近義詞。Estimate, 估計。意味著給一個價值，尤指給予一個不確定的價值。You estimate his worth too highly. 你對他的價值估計過高。Value, 重視。意味著給予較高的估價。He valued the machine at 1,000 dollars.他估計這台機器的價值在一千元。Estimate, 名詞，作“估價、評價、意見、判斷、預算”解。We need to make an estimate beforehand. 我們須預先預算好。At a rough estimate, 依照大略的計算。Estimation, 名詞，作“估價、預算、尊重”解。He comes first in my estimation. 照我看來他數第一。I held him in high estimation. 我很尊重他。He stands high in public estimation. 他深受公眾尊重。