Stolen BLs and Blank Endorsements: Can a Thief Really Claim the Goods? Intro: In trade finance, order bills of lading blank-endorsed are powerful documents—they can pass title simply by delivery. But what if one is stolen? Could a thief fill in a name above the blank endorsement and walk away with the cargo? This question gets to the heart of document security, carrier responsibility, and the limits of what a thief can … Read More
Accepted Drafts under LC: Keep Them, Return Them, or Forget Them? – Roshani asks, Mr. Old Man answers – When it comes to letters of credit available by acceptance, one of the classic debates is: what happens to the draft once it’s accepted? Some bankers insist it should go back to the beneficiary as proof, others shrug and say the bank’s SWIFT message is more than enough. Throw in a few … Read More
Is $0.01 Overdrawn a Discrepancy? Intro In trade finance, documentary checks often come down to decimals. A difference of just 0.01 in the presented invoice total versus the LC amount may seem trivial, but banks operate under strict rules of compliance. The following Q&A looks at whether such a minor discrepancy should be considered a valid discrepancy under UCP 600 and banking practice. QUESTION Dear … Read More
LC Available by Negotiation vs LC Available by Payment: What’s the Difference? Intro In trade finance, the little phrases in an LC like “available by negotiation” or “available by payment” can make a world of difference to the beneficiary. While both are standard availability options under UCP 600, they don’t work the same way in practice—and sometimes, banks issue LCs with unusual terms that leave the beneficiary puzzled. __________ QUESTION Dear Mr. … Read More
FOB, CFR, CIF vs. Container Shipments: Why Theory and Practice Don’t Always Match Intro Dear friends, one of the recurring debates in Incoterms is whether FOB, CFR and CIF should ever be used for containerized shipments. The theory says “no,” but in practice, traders and banks keep using them every day without issue. Let’s look at why the theory clashes with practice, and what happens with FCL and LCL cargoes. _________ Question One … Read More
LC Amendment at the Last Minute: Can an Overdrawn Invoice Still Be Covered? Intro Dear friends, sometimes in trade finance we face the “extra cargo” problem: the ship takes a little more than expected, the invoice comes out higher than the LC value, and the documents are presented. The question is—can the LC still be amended at this stage? Let’s unpack this based on UCP 600 and ICC practice. _______ Question Sir, What … Read More
When Transferred LC Errors Threaten Payment: Who Bears the Risk? Intro: In trade finance, mistakes by a transferring bank can create tricky situations for the second beneficiary. A common issue arises when an insurance requirement under a transferred LC is incorrectly stated, potentially putting payment at risk. Let’s look at a practical example and clarify who is responsible. ___________ QUESTION Dear Mr. Old Man, Consider the following scenario: The agreed … Read More
Flight Date vs. AWB Issue Date: Which Marks the Shipment? Intro: In trade finance, determining the exact shipment date can be trickier than it seems—especially when an air waybill shows different dates in various fields. A common question is whether a “flight date” noted in the AWB can be treated as the actual date of shipment under UCP 600 and ISBP 821. Let’s explore a real-life example. QUESTION Dear Mr. … Read More
Port-to-Port or Multimodal? When the LC Plays Tricks Intro Letters of credit can sometimes read like riddles—especially when issuing banks mix up transport fields. A common source of confusion is whether an LC is asking for a straightforward port-to-port shipment or a multimodal one. The distinction matters because the rules (and risks of discrepancies) change depending on which UCP article applies. In this Q&A, Dom shares an LC … Read More
When a Late Instalment Doesn’t Kill the LC In trade finance, timing is everything—especially when an LC requires shipments by instalments. But what happens if one instalment is shipped late and the bank decides to pay anyway? Does that wipe out the next instalments under Article 32 of UCP 600? Let’s look at a real scenario. ______ QUESTION Dear Mr. Old Man, We issued an LC that stipulates … Read More