Transferable LCs often look straightforward—but once you get into the details, they rarely are. When money is involved, two questions always come up: who gets paid, and when? And are we really dealing with two independent sets of documents? Let’s keep it simple. QUESTION Dear Mr. Old Man, I have two questions regarding transferable letters of credit: When the second …

In documentary credit practice, transport documents often come with different titles that can make examiners uneasy. One common example is the “House Air Waybill.” Does its title alone justify a discrepancy? Let’s take a closer look. QUESTION Dear Sir, We have asked for airway bill only. However, we have received an airway bill titled “House Air Waybill”. Can we raise …

A recurring question in document examination is whether the flexibility allowed by ISBP on language may, in practice, create more problems than it solves—especially in an era of AI-driven translations. QUESTION Dear Mr. Old Man, ISBP 821 A21(b) states that when a credit is silent regarding the language of documents, they may be issued in any language. In practice, could …

When a bill of lading shows one party as shipper “on behalf of” another, a simple but important question arises: who is entitled to endorse the document? This issue becomes critical under a letter of credit, where a mismatch between the named shipper and the endorser can lead to refusal—even when the underlying trade arrangement is perfectly normal. Question Dear …

The following case is adapted from a recent discussion shared on LinkedIn by Mr. Xin Zhong. As with many practical cases discussed in professional forums, certain facts may be condensed, but the issues raised are both common and worth closer examination.  ___ QUESTION Recent LC case in China Case Summary: Issuing Bank: A Bank, Ho Chi Minh City Branch Negotiating …

The following question concerns an amendment request to accept surrendered bills of lading and scanned documents under a documentary credit, prompted by the suspension of courier services. It raises some practical considerations for issuing banks regarding document handling and control over the goods. QUESTION Hi, Hope everything goes well with you. We received the following amendment requests from the applicant: …

Transport documents continue to generate some of the most sensitive discrepancies under letters of credit. When time pressure meets documentary precision, practical solutions are sometimes tested against strict examination standards. The following question raises an issue that many practitioners may encounter in real transactions. As always in documentary credit practice, interpretation may differ among banks and jurisdictions. Readers are welcome …

Intro From time to time, L/C applicants try to build a little flexibility into the credit structure. One common request arises when a beneficiary operates in more than one location and has not yet decided where the documents will be negotiated. Can an L/C show two possible expiry places instead of one? A reader recently raised this practical question. Question …

In international trade, intermediaries often wish to keep their buyer and supplier from knowing each other. One common concern is whether the supplier’s name will appear on the bill of lading when the goods are shipped directly to the buyer. A reader recently raised this practical question. Question Dear Mr. Old Man, I am a middleman who received an order …

In SWIFT MT700, Fields 45A (Description of Goods and/or Services) and 46A (Documents Required) are classified as optional. For many practitioners, this raises an immediate question: If these two fields define what is being sold and what documents must be presented, how can they possibly be optional? A recent question from a colleague highlights this apparent contradiction. Question Hi, A …