Intro: A recent LC case raised a dispute over alleged “conflicting information” between the consignee stated in a Certificate of Inspection and that shown in the bill of lading. The issuing bank cited UCP 600 Article 14(d) to justify refusal, while the beneficiary argued that ISBP 821 allows such differences under specific circumstances. Here’s Mr. Old Man’s take on whether …

Intro: Applicable where the final unit price is to be determined based on London Metal Exchange (LME) quotations around the shipment date. The following clause ensures price calculation is objective, documentary evidence is provided, and the maximum price cap is observed. QUESTION Dear Mr. Old Man, Hope you are doing well. Need your guidance in regard to LC Issuance for …

In the world of documentary credits, the terms of availability play a critical role in determining which banks are authorized to act under the credit. A common point of confusion arises when a beneficiary chooses to present documents to a bank that is not nominated in the LC — raising the question: Can that bank negotiate the documents? And if …

In the fast-paced world of documentary credits, a single SWIFT message sent in error can expose an issuing bank to serious risks—especially when it concerns acceptance of discrepant documents. One such query came from Suraj, raising an important issue: What happens when a bank mistakenly sends an acceptance message without first securing a waiver from the applicant—and then tries to …

Intro: Two classic bill of lading dilemmas — and two areas where LC checkers often hesitate: Can a B/L indicate CY/CY even when the cargo is clearly LCL? Is an on-board notation on the feeder vessel acceptable when the port of loading matches the LC? These are questions that continue to pop up in practice — and while the rules …

Introduction: In the context of transferable letters of credit, the role and liability of the transferring bank are often misunderstood — particularly when the issuing bank fails to honour or delays payment. Is the transferring bank obligated to pay the second beneficiary? Does the answer change if the bank confirms the transferred credit or undertakes to pay at maturity? To …

Intro: In this Q&A, we examine two real-world scenarios involving a certificate confirming the vessel’s age — a common LC condition. While both certificates appear to meet the content requirement, questions arise over the identity and authority of the issuer. Is a letterhead necessary? Can any agent of the carrier sign such a certificate? And how should an issuing bank …

Introduction: In trade finance, especially under letters of credit, questions often arise around the treatment of surrendered bills of lading—particularly when only a copy is presented. One common point of confusion is whether such documents fall under UCP 600 Article 20, which governs bills of lading. In this Q&A, we clarify whether Article 20 applies to surrendered bills of lading, …

In documentary credit practice, few terms cause more misunderstanding than “documents sent on collection basis” — especially when a letter of credit (L/C) is involved and payment is at stake.  In this Q&A, Mr. Old Man responds to a concerned exporter whose bank forwarded documents to the issuing bank after noting discrepancies. Are the documents still governed by UCP 600? …

Introduction: At first glance, the roles of confirming and nominated banks under UCP 600 seem clearly defined—but in practice, especially when more than one confirming bank is involved, the lines can blur. What happens when a credit is confirmed by two banks, but documents must be presented at only one location? Who is obligated to pay, and what if the …