Who Is Responsible When an Original Bill of Lading Is Lost, Mislaid, or Destroyed? (This Q&A is excerpted from a discussion by the Trade Services Update editors (LCM_QUERY 2026-01) Intro In documentary credit practice, the loss of an original bill of lading after a complying presentation has been made often gives rise to confusion between payment obligations under a letter of credit and the practical arrangements required to obtain delivery of the goods. Parties … Read More
When an LC Makes Payment Subject to Buyer–Seller Disputes Intro One of the core principles of a documentary credit is that payment depends solely on complying documents, not on disputes arising from the underlying commercial contract. From time to time, however, beneficiaries encounter LCs that attempt to dilute this principle by inserting clauses linking payment to buyer–seller disputes. The following Q&A addresses such a case and explains why these … Read More
Drafts under Letters of Credit: Common Confusions and Practical Answers Intro Drafts (bills of exchange) are among the most misunderstood elements in documentary credit practice. Although UCP 600 and ISBP 821 provide guidance, inconsistent LC drafting and legacy habits continue to cause confusion—especially when drafts are mentioned in some fields of the LC but not listed as required documents. In the Q&A below, Mr. Old Man responds to a set … Read More
MUST COURIER RECEIPT INDICATE CONTRACT NUMBER AND DATE? Intro In LC practice, refusals often arise not because a document is missing, but because banks read documentary requirements in isolation rather than in context. One recurring issue is whether supporting evidence attached to a required document must independently comply with a general condition such as “all documents must show contract number and date”. The following Q&A illustrates why … Read More
BRANCHES OF A BANK IN THE SAME COUNTRY Intro There have been cases where an issuing bank refused to honour a credit on the grounds that the beneficiary presented the documents at a branch other than the branch expressly nominated in the LC, even though both branches belong to the same bank and are located in the same country. In such cases, the beneficiary is unable to re-present … Read More
When an Invoice Exceeds the LC Amount: Understanding UCP 600 Sub-Article 18(b) Intro In LC practice, commercial invoices are often treated as rigid documents that must strictly mirror the credit amount. However, UCP 600 allows for a degree of flexibility — provided banks understand where discretion ends and obligation begins. One such provision is UCP 600 sub-article 18(b), which deals with invoices issued for amounts exceeding the LC value. The following Q&A … Read More
Split Payments Under an LC: 80% of Invoice Amount or 80% of LC Amount? Intro Credits that split payment between shipment and installation often cause confusion when partial shipments are involved. The key question is whether payment should be linked to a percentage of the invoice or a percentage of the LC amount. Question Dear Mr. Old Man, We have an LC for USD 10,000, available by payment. The LC provides: * 80% payable … Read More
Insurance Endorsement under an LC: “Endorsed to Bank” or “To the Order of Bank”? Intro Insurace documents under letters of credit often create confusion—especially when beneficiaries apply bill of lading concepts to insurance policies or certificates. One recurring grey area is whether an insurance document should be endorsed “to” a named bank or “to the order of” that bank, particularly when the credit expressly requires the document to be transferable. The following Q&A addresses … Read More
DDP, Insurance Documents, and Unloading Risk: Getting Incoterms® Right in an LC Context Intro One of the recurring sources of confusion in trade finance arises when Incoterms® are mechanically copied into a letter of credit without considering what those rules actually require — or do not require. A typical example is an LC issued on DDP terms that nevertheless calls for the presentation of an insurance policy or certificate. Is that correct? And … Read More
Can a Confirming Bank Refuse When Documents Arrive After Expiry? Intro In practice, documents are often presented to a nominated bank close to the LC expiry date and then forwarded onward to a confirming bank. This raises a recurring question: does the confirming bank have the right to refuse simply because the documents reach its counter after expiry? The following scenario illustrates why forwarding time must not be confused with … Read More