(单词翻译:单击)
Brief Introduction
在执行合同的过程中，签约双方都应该严格履行合同义务。任何一方如果不能严格履行，就会给另一方带来麻烦。在这种情况下，受损失的一方有权根据合同规定要求责任方赔偿损失或采取其他补救措施。受损失的一方采取的这种行动称之为“索赔”，而责任方就受损失一方提出的要求进行处理，叫做“理赔”。
在业务中常见的是买方向卖方提出索赔，如卖方拒不交货、逾期装运、数量短缺、货物的品质规格与合同不符、错发错运、包装不妥、随船单证不全或漏填错发等致使买方遭受损失时，买方可向卖方提出索赔。但是在某些情况下，卖方也向买方提出索赔要求，如买方拒开或迟开信用证、不按时派船、无理毁约等致使卖方遭受损失时，卖方也会向买方提出索赔。
相关专题:
Basic Expressions
1. Please give our claim your favorable consideration.
请合理考虑我们的索赔要求。
2. Please examine the matter and send us the goods to meet the shortage as soon as possible.
请调查此事，并尽快将货物发给我们以弥补数量的不足。
3. As regards inferior quality of your goods, we claim a compensa- tion of U.S.$10,000.
至于你方产品的品质低劣问题，我方要求你方赔偿一万美元。
4. We shall lodge a claim for all the losses incurred as a consequence of your failure to ship our order in time.
由于你方未能及时交货，我方将向你方提出由此而遭受的全部损失的索赔。
5. Any complaint about the quality of the products should be lodged within 15 days after their arrival.
任何有关该产品质量问题的申诉应该在货物到达后的十五天内提出。
6. Our customers are complaining of the inferior quality of our products.
我们的客户投诉我们的产品质量低劣。
7. This seems to be a very clear case and we hope you will see your way to make a prompt settlement.
看来情况已十分清楚，我们希望你能设法尽快解决问题。
8. We regret that your claim on shortage cannot be accepted.
很遗憾，我们无法接受你方关于货物短装的索赔。
9. Our investigation shows that improper packing caused damage. Therefore we have to refer this matter to you.
我方检验证明，货物受损是由于包装不当而造成的。因此，我们不 得不将此事提交你处解决。
10. As the goods are inferior in quality, we are returning the whole of the 20 cases and must ask you to replace them.
由于这些产品质量低劣，所以我方把20箱全部退回，并务必请贵方 更换这些产品。
11. We very much regret the mistake in article number, which resulted in your receiving the wrong goods.
因货号有误，致使到货错误。对此，我们深表歉意。
12. The goods we’ve received do not tally with the sample on which we ordered.
我们收到的货物与订货样品不符。
13. In view of the long business relations between us, we wish to meet you half way to settle the claim.
考虑到我们之间长期的业务关系，我们愿意各让一半解决这项索赔。
14. We hope this unfortunate incident will not affect the relationship between us.
我们希望这一不幸事件将不会影响到我们双方之间的关系。
15. Apparently, the shortage is due to omission in packing.
很明显，货物短缺系包装遗漏所致。
16. In view of our friendly business relations, we are prepared to meet your claim for the 25 tons shortage weight.
考虑到我们之间的业务关系，我们准备接受25吨短装的索赔。
17. We are sorry that the quality of our goods did not turn out to your satisfaction.
我们很抱歉你们不满意我们货物的质量。
18. We can assure you that such a thing will not happen again in future deliveries.
我们保证在以后的交货中不会出现类似的事件。
19. Enclosed is the surveyor’s report on the three damaged cases.
内附有鉴定人对这破损的三箱货物的鉴定报告。
20. Here’s a survey report by a well-known lab in Houston, whose testimony is absolutely reliable.
这是由休斯顿的一个著名实验室提供的一份检验报告，证据绝对可靠。
Conversations
Dialogue 1
W: Hello, Mr. Brown, how are you? It is nice to see you again.
B: How are you, Mrs. Wang. It certainly is a pleasure to see you again here. I hope you had an enjoyable trip from London.
W: The flight was really long, but it was comfortable so I do not feel very tired.
B: I am glad that you had a pleasant trip. I hope you are comfortably settled and find things at the hotel satisfactory.
W: Everything is perfect, thank you. Well, now, Mr. Brown, if you don’t mind, I’ll get to the point.
B: Okay. You want to take up the subject of the arbutus, don’t you?
W: That’s right. You see, Mr. Brown, you have probably been ad- vised of the serious damage done to the last consignment of 60 cases of arbutus. Upon its arrival in London on board the S.S. Cornea, it was found, much to our regret, that about 50% of the cases were leaking. Closer inspection by the Health Officers showed that the contents were considered unfit for human consumption.
-- 布朗先生，你好。很高兴再次见到你。
-- 王小姐，你好。很荣幸在这里又见到你。希望你从伦敦来一路 旅途愉快。
-- 飞行时间虽长，但客机非常舒适，所以也不觉得很累。
-- 我很高兴你旅途愉快。希望你住得舒适，旅馆设备都还觉得满意。
-- 谢谢你，一切都很好。噢，布朗先生，要是你不介意的话，现在咱 们就开始谈谈业务吧。
-- 好，你想谈谈杨梅的事，对不对？
-- 对。布朗先生，也许你已经知道最后一批60箱的杨梅严重损坏的 情况。“柯娜”轮一到达伦敦的时候，我们就遗憾地发现其中有一 半左右的箱子渗漏。经卫生检疫局官员仔细检查，认为 内装食品 不可供人们食用。
B: Just a minute, if you please, Mrs.Wang. Have your people in London discovered what were the exact causes of the leakage? It was rather a singular case, for thousands of tons of this product have been exported and this seems to be the only case of a
shipment being damaged en route.
W: I am sorry I have to say it was not en route. It was definitely damaged prior to loading onto the S.S. Cornea. You may think it a singular case, yet the fact remains that this has made it
necessary for us to file a claim on you. Here, Mr. Brown, I have brought along with me the certificate issued by the London Health Office. It speaks for itself. As to the causes, closer inspection and examination by our cargo-handling people revealed that the
leakage of juice was brought about damaged tins. They were
evidently broken through careless handling while being loaded onto the ship’s hold in Sydney dock.
B: As I have said before, the whole business is most unfortunate. We have never come across such a case of damage during loading.
-- 王小姐，请稍等。请问伦敦的人有没有发现渗漏的确切原因？这件 事还只这么一次，我们已经出口好几千吨了，在中途损坏还是头一 回。
-- 很抱歉，我得说明，损坏不是在运输途中发生的。很明显, 损坏是 在装上“柯娜”轮号前发生的。你可能认为这事是头一回，可事实 不得不让我们向你们提出索赔。布朗先生，这儿是伦敦卫生检疫局 官员签发的证书，上面写得一清二楚。至于原因，我们经办装卸的 人仔细检查，结果发现果汁渗漏的原因是锡罐被损坏了。很明显是 在悉尼码头装船时，因搬运疏忽大意而造成锡罐受损的。
-- 我刚才讲过，整件事实在是很不幸。我们从未遇到过罐头在装船时 发生这样的损坏。
W: I have to remind you that our terms are C.I.F. port of London. While we have full confidence in your Commodities Inspection Bureau, this is a case that occurred after their sampling and analy- sis at the factory. And the broken tins through careless handling and deterioration of the contents en route brought about this state of affairs. Now, Mr. Brown, you are well aware that our business has just started this branch of activities and the loses thus sustained will be a blow to this department. I am sure you will think it fair on our part when we suggest that the total value of the parcel should be reduced by 50% and that you should give us an allowance by way of credit for the amount to be set against our future purchases of canned fruits from you.
B: To be fair to your company, I am directed by my Sydney branch to settle this issue with you amicably on the condition that you give us a certificate issued by your Health Department. Now that this is available, I think everything will be in order.
W: I am so glad to hear of your ready agreement. Your fairness in business dealing is unsurpassed. Shall we send you a letter confirming this?
B: As soon as you send us a letter confirming this conversation, we’ll send you a reply immediately.
W: Thanks ever so much for your cooperation, Mr. Brown. Goodbye.
B: Goodbye.
-- 我不得不提醒你，我们的条款是伦敦到岸价。虽然我们很信赖你们 的商品检验局，可是损坏是在工厂抽样化验之后发生的，是由于搬 运不慎而锡罐破裂，中途食品变质所造成的。布朗先生，你很清楚 我们才开始经营这项业务，蒙受的损失将对业务部门是一个打击。 我们建议这批货从总价中削减百分之五十，并给予我们补贴，这款 项就用于将来向你们订购罐头水果时冲销，我相信你认为这样对我 们才是公平的。
-- 悉尼分公司派我来和你们公平友好地解决这件事，前提条件就是把 你们卫生部签发的证书给我们。现在证书已经有了，我想事情都会 解决的。
-- 听到你这么痛快地同意了，我很高兴。办理业务这么公平，真是无 法比啊。我们将寄信让你们确认好吗?
-- 我们一旦收到你们的信确认此次谈话，就会立即回复。
-- 万分感谢你的合作。布朗先生，再会。
-- 再见。
Dialogue 2
W: Mr. Brown, I’d like to talk with you about something that is getting to be a problem. I’d like, if possible, to see it settled at this meeting.
B: What is it, Mrs. Wang?
W: It’s about the quality of 300 cartons of dried mushrooms. They reached us two weeks ago, and were immediately examined after they arrived. To our astonishment, about 20% of them were moldy and in many cartons there were even small brownish bugs crawling in and out of the half- eaten mushrooms. We can’t accept them in this state. They are unfit for human consumption. And the Medical Officer of Health has issued a ?Stop Notice?on them.
B: Is that so? So far we haven’t had any complaint of this kind. Our mush- rooms have enjoyed a good reputation for their superior quality for years. We are really at a loss to understand why your lot was found moldy and worm-eaten. Have you any evidence?
W: Certainly. Here’s a survey report by a well-known lab in London, whose testimony is absolutely reliable.
-- 布朗先生，我想和你谈谈快要发生的一件比较麻烦的事情。如果可 以的话，我想在这次会议上解决。
-- 王小姐，是什么事?
-- 是关于300箱干蘑菇的质量问题。两周前到的货，我们当即进行了 检查。令我们惊奇的是，大约20％的干蘑菇已发霉，甚至在许多箱 内有褐色小甲虫爬出爬进，有一半蘑菇已被吃掉。这样的货物我们 是不能接受的。它们不宜被人们食用。医药卫生官员对这些货物发 出了“停售通知”。
-- 有这么一回事？我们还从未收到过这样的抱怨呢。多年来，我们 的蘑菇因质量好而享有盛誉。这真叫我们难于理解，给你们的那批 货怎么发霉了，甚至被虫咬了。你有什么证据吗？
-- 当然有。这是伦敦一家有名的实验室的检验报告，他们的证词绝对 可靠。
B: Though everything may be as you say, there are many factors involved. What’s more, your surveyors have not mentioned any cause for the damage.
W: The mushrooms were packed in small one pound plastic bags, sixty of these bags to a carton. It is stated on the surveyor?s report that external conditions of goods at the time of survey are all sound and intact. So it is obvious the cause of the damage is that the mushrooms were not completely dried before packing.
B: As you know, before shipment, the Commodity Inspection
Bureau inspected the goods in question. They concluded that the goods were well dehydrated from fresh and choice material and up to standard for export.
W: I think the Inspection Bureau at your end, when effecting inspection, only selected a few package at random -- these hap- pened to be up to the standard. The part that was not dried properly, most probably, escaped their attention. As the amount in question is only 20% of the whole shipment, I think it is only reasonable that you should compensate us for the loss.
-- 虽然事情可能象你所说的那样，但它牵涉到很多因素。况且，你方 检验员并没有提及造成损坏的任何原因。
-- 蘑菇每磅装一小塑料袋，每60袋装进一只木箱。检验员的报告中
说，检验时货物的外包装都是完好无缺的。所以很明显，造成损坏 的原因是蘑菇在包装前没有彻底干透。
-- 如你所知，这批货在装船前由商品检验局检验过。他们的结论 是，此货已很好地除去了水分，品质上等，达到出口的标准。
-- 我想你方商检局进行检验时，只随意地挑了几包，而这几包又 恰巧达到了标准。而没达到干燥程度的那部份可能就没被他们注 意到。由于波及到的数量只是整批货的20％，我想你方应该赔偿
我们的损失才算合理。
B: The inspection certificate, which is based on a random selection of 20% of the consignment as we’ve agreed on beforehand, is considered final and binding upon both parties. We do not accept any claims for compensation for loss incurred in transit, because you bought the goods F.O.B. Houston and on shipping quality, not on landed quality. Your claim, in our opinion, should be re- ferred to the insurance company, as the mishap occurred after shipment.
W: We’ve already got in touch with the underwriter. But they have refused to accept any liability. They attributed the accident to the effects of dampness during the long sea voyage.
B: That’s a matter over which we could exercise no control, then. I’m afraid I have to insist that you approach the insurance company for settlement, that is, if you have covered this risk in your coverage.
W: To my regret, we failed to cover contamination. This is an unfortu- nate oversight on our part and a lesson to us.
B: Otherwise the insurance company would no doubt have enter- tained your case.
W: Well, live and learn. It seems we’ll have to waive the claim.
-- 我们事前已有协议，任意抽取整批货的20％进行检验，其检验证明 最终对双方都具有约束力。因为你买的这批货是休斯顿港船上交货 价，以装船质量而不是以到岸质量为准，任何运输途中产生的损失 要求赔偿，我们都不予接受。我们认为，你们应该要求保险公司索 赔，因为损失发生在装船后。
-- 我们已联系过保险商，但他们拒绝承担任何责任。他们将此事故归 咎于长途海运中受潮的结果。
-- 那种事我们可控制不了。我们恐怕还得坚持这一点，就是你们联系 保险公司要求解决，如果你们投保了这个险的话。
-- 遗憾的是，我们没有投保“污染险”。不幸这是我方的疏忽，也是 一个教训。
-- 不然的话，保险公司毫无疑问将会接受索赔的。
-- 是的，活到老，学到老。看来，我们只好放弃索赔了。
Words and Expressions
in the amount of 金额为
mishap [5mis7hAp] 不幸事故；灾难
consequence [ 5kCnsikwEns] 结果，后果
improper [im5prCpE] 不合适的
crawl [ krC:l ] 爬，蠕动
unmerchantable[ Qn5mE:tFEntEbl ] 不适于出售的
precaution [pri5kC:FEn] 预防，警惕，谨慎
impartial [im5pB:FEl] 公正的
mouldy [5mEuldi] 发霉的，陈腐的
wormeaten [5wE:m7i:tn] 虫蛀的
testimony [5testimEni ] 证言，证词
attribute [E5tribju(:)t] 归因于
oversight [5EuvEsait] 疏忽，出错
waive [weiv] 放弃，撤回
singular [5siN^julE ] 独一无二的，独个的
reveal [ ri5vi:l ] 揭示
dehydrate [di:5haidreit] 脱水，干燥
unsurpassed [5QnsE5pB:st] 无比的， 卓越的
mushroom [5mQFrum] 蘑菇
bug [bQ^] 虫子
human consumption 可供食用
choice material 上等品，选品
compensation [kCmpen5seiFEn] 赔偿金
incur [in5kE:] 遭受，带来
liability [7laiE5biliti] 责任，义务
voyage [5vCIIdV] 航程，航行
contamination [kEn7tAmi5neiFEn] 污染，弄脏
Notes
1. the goods in question 刚才谈到的商品
2. final and binding upon both parties
(是)最后的依据，对双方都具有约束力
3. Your claim should be referred to the insurance company.
你们应该向保险公司提出索赔。
4. underwriters
保险商（在英国早期开办保险业务时，由好多承保商号联合承保， 他们一起在保险单下面签字，因而得此名称。）
5. sound and intact 完整无缺的
6. select at random 任意挑选
7. arrive in ……condition 到达时的情况
8. prior to 在前，居前 （to 是介词）
It is important that you time the shipment to arrive here prior to the expiration of the import license.
你们须安排此货在进口许可证期满之前到达，这是非常重要的。
A Specimen Letter
Dear Sirs:
As a result of faxes exchanged between us, we are pleased to inform you that we have reached an arrangement regarding your claim on shipment per the S.S. Peace for late delivery.
We have advised you this morning by fax of our appreciation that this matter has now been settled. Enclosed please find our check in the amount of U.S.$56,000 in final and complete settlement of this claim.
It is our hope to express again our satisfaction that this mishap has been amicably settled and look forward to promoting our business relationship with your corporation.
作为我们双方传真往来磋商的结果，我们很高兴地通知贵方，关于由“和平”轮运载的货物迟交一事所引起的索赔，我们已经达成了一项协议。
今天上午，我方已发传真感谢贵方索赔问题已获解决。兹附上五万六千美元支票一张，作为最终全部了结此项索赔，请查收。
对这一不幸事件得以友好解决，我们很称心如意，盼望能促进与贵公司的业务关系。
Substitution Drills
1 A: Five cases
were found broken and the units inside seriously damaged.
arrived in a badly damaged condition.
out of the whole lot were found soiled.
释文
B: Really! That’s something unexpected.
发现五箱破损，里面的装置严重损坏。
五箱货到达时状况破损严重。
整批货物中有五箱污损。
真的！那真是没有料到哦。
2 A: The goods were in perfect condition when they left here.
B: According to our survey report,
the damage was caused by poor packaging.
the goods were carelessly packed.
货物从这里运出时，状况良好。
据我们的调查报告显示，损坏是由于包装不当引起的。
商品包装得很粗糙。
3 A: According to our survey report,
poor packaging caused the damage.
the quality deterioration ocurred in transit.
the breakage took place during transit.
B: That could have happened in transit due to rough handling.
high humidity and temperature.
improper stowage.
据我们的调查报告显示， 是包装不当导致了破损。
在运输途中发生了变质问题。
在运输过程中发生了破损。
由于 搬运粗糙 很可能在运输途中发生了这样的问题。
潮湿和高温
装载方式不当
4 A: Please look into the matter and have the case settled immediately.
Please see your way to make a prompt settlement of the case.
Please do your best to bring the case to a satisfactory close.
B: We’ll check it up with the parties concerned right away.
get in touch with the shipping company and see what can be done.
take the matter up with the underwriters and give you the result as soon as possible.
请调查此事，并立即解决。
请寻求方法迅速解决此事。
请尽最大努力圆满解决此事。
我们将立刻对涉及双方进行核查。
我们将联系船舶公司看如何处理此事。
我门将会和保险商一起考虑此事，并尽快给你答复。
5 A: Our exports have to pass a rigid inspection before they are shipped. Our Inspection Bureau won’t let go anything defective.
B: As much as I respect your Inspection Bureau,
it’s obvious that the fruits are no longer suitable for consumption.
one has to admit that the goods are quite useless now.
it’s clear the goods are unfit for our purpose.
我们的出口商品必须在装运前经过一道严格的检查。我们的检查局 不会放过任何瑕疵品。
虽然我对你们检查局很敬重,但是很明显水果已经不能吃了。
虽然我对你们检查局很敬重,但是必须承认这些商品现在已经没有 用了。
虽然我对你们检查局很敬重,但是很明显这些商品不是我们想要的。
6 A: Our surveyors stated that it was the inferior material used that caused the quality deterioration.
improper packing that caused the damage. carelessness on the part of the manufacturers that caused the shortage.
B: In a case like this, one cannot rule out other possibilities.
我们的检查员申明 是所用的劣质材料导致了变质。
是包装不当导致了破损。
是生产商方的粗心导致了短缺。
象这种情况，不能排除其他可能性。
7 A:We have no alternative but to lodge a claim with you. to file against you a claim for $5,000.
to make a claim with you for a compensation of $3,000. B:We’ll certainly consider a claim, if there’s sufficient evidence. We’ll entertain a claim if it is supported by adequate documents. We would accept a claim if we were at fault.
我们没有办法只有向你们提出索赔。
我们不得不向你们提出诉讼索赔五千美元。
我们不得不向你们索赔三千美元。
如果有充足的证据的话，我们将一定考虑索赔。
如果有足够的文件证明的话，我们将接受索赔。
如果是我们出错了的话，我们就会接受索赔。
8 A: What are you going to do about this?
B: We’ll send you correct products to replace the wrong ones.
new products to replace the damaged ones.
quality products to replace the imperfect ones.
你们准备怎么处理这件事？
我们将把正确的产品运过来替代那些错误的。
我们将把新产品运过来取代那些破损的。
我们会把质量好的产品运过来替代那些劣质品。
