第三十課　索賠與理賠

參考譯文

◎背景簡介

在履行合同的過程中，不管計劃何等周密，工作多么細致，投訴或索賠也有時會發(fā)生。

如果買方提出索賠，必須對有關問題進行詳細調查，并將詳情告知賣方。有時也應提起以往賣方滿意的交貨和服務，這樣會有助于贏得對方的同情，考慮買方現(xiàn)在提出的投訴和索賠。

布朗先生就二月份由東風號輪船裝運的2308號訂單項目下的貨物受損而提出索賠，張先生同意理賠。

◎情景會話

1.提出申訴

B：你好，張先生，很高興又見到了你。

Z：你好，布朗先生，見到你，我也很高興。

B：張先生，我們的談判一直進展得很好，但是，今天我想和你談一件事，此事還是件麻煩事。

Z：麻煩事？什么事呢？

B：是關于一件因包裝不善引起的損失問題。事情是這樣的，我剛才收到我們國內總公司的電報，說關于2308號訂單項目下二月份由東風號輪船裝運的貨物已運到舊金山，但是，使我們吃驚的是，貨物處于殘損狀況。

Z：真的嗎？那么是什么問題呢？

B：相當多的紙板箱嚴重受損，很多男式襯衫已有水跡，有一些已被嚴重弄臟了。

Z：現(xiàn)在貨物在哪里？

B：貨物已卸貨運公司倉庫。由于它們殘損如此嚴重，我們恐怕難以提貨。因此，我們總公司昨日來電，要我與你方聯(lián)系。

2.提出索賠

Z：果真如此嗎？可我們出口這種貨物多年了，迄今為止，尚未收到類似的抱怨，我們確實無法理解這種情況為什么會出現(xiàn)。你們有什么證據(jù)嗎？

B：這里有舊金山商檢局出具的檢驗報告?zhèn)髡?，該商檢局的證明是絕對可靠的。

Z：雖然事情可能像你說的那樣，但也可能是由于其他因素造成的。我們要弄清楚，貨物是在運輸途中受損，還是在卸貨過程中受損，或者別的什么原因。

B：我們調查的結果是，貨物是在運輸途中某個時候受損的，但首先是由于包裝不好，才使這些包開了口子。我們不得不提出要求，賠償因低劣包裝而造成的損失。

3.找出事故的原因

Z：出口貨是特殊包裝，我們的包裝是適合長途海運的，你肯定這不是由于裝卸時不恰當搬運造成的嗎？即使最牢固的包裝，也經不起粗魯?shù)难b卸。

B：我可以向你保證，我們那里粗魯裝卸是很少的，我們通常是按照標準程序進行。

Z：可是，正如我剛才所說的，貨物是經過仔細包裝和裝船的，在這兒完好無損，我還親自檢查過。

B：那是可能的，但一些箱子的包裝沒有按合同規(guī)定去做，根據(jù)合同，每只箱子必須用雙鐵箍加固，很遺憾，你們未能這樣做，至少部分箱子是如此。

Z：這似乎難以置信，怎么可能呢？

B：如果你不相信，請仔細看看這檢驗報告。

Z：（讀報告）哦，我突然想起來了，或許有個車間忘了做這樣的加固工作，他們一定以為這些貨物是為香港買主裝的。

B：那有可能。

Z：好吧，如果這樣，我們同意理賠。

4.同意理賠

Z：你們查過了嗎？破損包中有多少東西還可以用？

B：檢驗報告說，大部分還可利用，約有20％左右不能用，不能售出，我們對此事很著急，因為我們原來指望收到這批貨來履行好幾批訂單。

Z：我很理解你們的困難。

B：我確信我們能得到你們的幫助來克服目前的困難。

Z：你建議怎樣來處理這個問題？

B：如果你方減價30％的話，我們愿意接受這批貨物。

Z：讓我來個折中的辦法，這批貨物減價20％，下次你們訂貨時，除目前已有的條件外，我們另外再給些優(yōu)惠。

B：張先生，你們這么快就作出了決定，我表示贊賞，我們接受建議。很高興，我們找到解決的辦法。

◎參考答案

I.Comprehension questions on situational conversation：

1.He will talk with Mr.Zhang about the damage of the goods caused by inadequate packing and lodge a claim against Mr.Zhang for the damage.

2.The buyers should investigate the matter in detail and tell these details to the party charged, that is, the sellers.

3.Because the reference to the previously satisfactory deliveries and services may help to win more sympathetic consideration of the present complaint and claim.

4.Quite a number of cartons were badly damaged.Many of the men’s shirts were water-stained and some of them were severely soiled.

5.Because Mr.brown has just received a telegram and a facsimile copy of survey report issued by San Francisco Commodity Inspection Bureau from his home office.The telegram and the report make him clear to these things.

6.Mr.Brown puts forward his claim for compensation by a facsimile copy of survey report issued by San Francisco Commodity Inspection Bureau.

7.The real cause for the damage is the poor packing, which is not being reinforced with metal straps stipulated in the contract.

8.According to Mr.Zhang perhaps, one of the workshops forgot to do reinforced work.They must have taken the goods for the Hongkong buyers.Hongkong is not so far and the goods sending there need no ocean transportation and rough handling.

9.It is the Changsha Foreign Trade Company that should be responsible for the loss.

10.They settle the claim by 20％ reduction in the price of the goods.

II.Complete the following dialogues：

1.B：The goods had been inspected by Changsha Commodity Inspection Bureau before shipment.Could you tell us the exact cause of the inferior quality of the goods? Have you any evidence?

2.B：The damage may be caused by many factors.I wonder if the damage was caused during transit.We are not responsible for any damage which happened during transit.

3.B：We very much regret the mistake in article number, which result in your receiving the wrong goods.And we can entertain your claim.

4.B：We are prepared you a reasonable compensation, but not for the amount you claimed, because we can’t see the reason why the loss should be so much.Please reconsider the matter.

5.B：We have shipping documents to prove that the goods, when received by the carrier, were in perfect condition.Therefore, they must have been damaged on transportation route.

6.B：Actually, we find no discrepancy between the sample and the goods.In view of our long pleasant business relations, we’d like to meet you half way, reducing the price by 15％.

7.B：It would not be fair if the loss be totally imposed on us as the liability rests with us two parties.We are ready to meet you half way, i.e.to pay 50％ of the loss only.

8.B：I think that through mutual efforts, this case will be settled amicably.We’ll send you the correct goods back and remit to you ￡300 in compensation for the loss rising therefrom.

9.B：We regret we can’t entertain your claim on account of lack of evidence.If you insist on claiming, we would like to settle by arbitration.

10.In view of our friendly business relations, we are prepared to accept your claim.

III.Make sentences with the following：

1.We have at present quite a number of orders on hand.

2.Upon examining the goods, we discovered to our great surprise that all the goods were inferior in quality.

3.We were at a loss what to do, but have to lodge a claim with you.

4.We should make it clear whether you accept our claim or want to settle by arbitration.

5.Please see to it that the packing is suitable for a long voyage.

6.I took you for Mr.Smith.

7.In accordance with your instruction we have deposited the money in your account.

8.In addition to his salary, he has a bonus of US$180 a month.

IV.Translate the Chinese in the brackets into English, then use them to replace the italicized parts in the sentences：

1.① have been transported from Shanghai to your port

② are not in conformity with the agreed specification

③ were severely damaged

④ are not up to the quality and specification of the world market

⑤ are found short weight by 1,000 kgs

2.① wooden cased were prized open

② goods were found mouldy or even worm-eaten

③ goods were found inferior in quality

④ corrugated cardboard boxes were not reinforced with metal straps

⑤ products are of good quality and in attractive designs

3.① many the goods were severely damaged though the cases showed no trace of damage

② the quality of all the goods is not in conformity with that we ordered

③ the shirts we ordered from you on March 2nd have not arrived here

④ nearly a month has passed, we have heard nothing from you about the shipment

⑤ you have sent us the men’s shirts which we didn’t place an order

4.① the outer packing of our goods is strong enough for long-distance ocean transportation

② the goods were carefully packed and shipped

③ the packing of our goods is strong enough to withstand rough handling

④ we’ll make all necessary arrangements to deliver the goods in time

⑤ we must take effective measures to protect the goods from being broken

5.① lodge a claim for inferior quality

② file against you a claim of $20,000

③ lodge a claim of $1,000 against you for short weight

④ make a claim with you for a compensation of ￡3,000

V.Read and translate the following mini dialogues：

1.對包裝差的起訴

A：B先生，我剛剛收到家里總公司的傳真，關于248號訂單項下五月由瑪麗號輪運送的貨物已抵達洛杉磯，但貨物處于殘缺情況。

B：有這樣的事！這可沒想到。你知道，我們一切出口商品在裝運前都經過嚴格的檢驗，那批貨物離港時情況良好。

A：這是一份中國商品檢驗局的檢驗報告。根據(jù)報告所言，破損原因是包裝低劣，有些木箱已裂開，有些沒用鐵皮加固。

B：我們立即向有關部門進行查對，看是否在運輸或卸貨過程中由于粗魯搬運所致。如果情況屬實，我們同意理賠。

2.對質量低劣的申訴

A：經過檢查，我方發(fā)現(xiàn)貨物與樣品的質量不符。

B：很遺憾，聽到這樣的事。這種申訴確實少有。你們很清楚。我方的出口商品在裝運前都要經過嚴格檢驗。我們的商檢局是不會放過任何次品的。

A：但是，我們的公證行認為使用劣質原料是罐頭變質的原因。這批罐頭食品不再適合食用了。醫(yī)藥衛(wèi)生部門已對這批貨物發(fā)出了停售通知。

B：要處理這樣的案例，恐怕還不能排除有其他的可能性。如船上的堆儲、倉庫的存放情況等。

A：但根據(jù)檢驗報告，我們索賠5 000美元。

B：只要證據(jù)充分，我們當然會考慮的。但我們要進行徹底調查。在這之前，我們不能作出任何承諾。

3.關于短缺的投訴

A：經檢查，發(fā)現(xiàn)貨物每箱短重兩公斤。

B：我想知道引起短重的原因是什么。

A：很明顯，貨物短缺系包裝泄漏所致，我們對包裝逐一檢查，發(fā)現(xiàn)每個包裝或多或少有點泄漏。

B：貨物裝運時，包裝情況完好無缺，包裝的損壞一定是在運輸途中造成的。所提短缺也是在運輸途中發(fā)生的。這是我方無法控制的事。對運輸途中發(fā)生的任何損失提出索賠，我們不能接受。你們的索賠應提交保險公司。

4.關于發(fā)錯貨的投訴

A：你好，B先生。我們收到的貨不是我們所訂的貨。這是我們原始訂單的復印件和檢驗報告。

B：（讀訂單）你說得對。我們發(fā)錯了貨，這是我們包裝部門的差錯。

A：這件事你們準備怎么辦？

B：我們將立即給貴方運送你方所訂的貨物，并取回錯發(fā)的貨物。但希望你們能在你處處理掉該貨為感。

A：這次差錯給我方造成很大的麻煩。我方用戶想要他們訂的貨，貴方必須賠償我方的損失。

B：如果證據(jù)充分，我們會考慮你方的索賠。

5.關于延遲裝運的投訴

A：剛才收到我們國內總公司的傳真，說我們九月訂的貨至今尚未抵達目的港。

B：一收到信用證我們就發(fā)了貨，我想應當已經抵達那里了。

A：這批貨趕不上季節(jié)，對我方來說沒用了，這給我們造成很大的損失。我們只好向貴方提出索賠。

B：我們將進行徹底調查，找出責任之所在。若責任在我方，我們會接受貴方之索賠。

6.理賠

A：貨物的損壞是包裝不當所引起的，而不是粗魯搬運所致。

B：你們有證據(jù)嗎？

A：這里有洛杉磯一家有名的公證行出示的檢驗證。

B：你打算索賠多少？

A：我們只好索賠8 000美元。

B：考慮到我們之間的友好貿易關系，讓我們各讓一半，我們給貴方4 000美元的賠償。