Letters of Credit
Get paid, without the discrepancies
Get paid on time with documentary credits checked and prepared to avoid costly discrepancies.
Overview
A letter of credit should give you confidence that you'll be paid for your export. In practice, payment depends on presenting documents that comply exactly with the credit's terms — and a surprising number of presentations are rejected the first time for discrepancies, delaying payment and putting you at the mercy of your buyer.
I review letters of credit before you accept them, flag terms that will be difficult or impossible to meet, and help prepare and check the documents before they go to the bank. Because I also understand the export licensing side, I can make sure the credit, the licence and the shipment all line up.
What's included
How I can help
Credit review
Checking the draft or issued credit and highlighting terms that need amending before you ship.
Terms alignment
Making sure the credit matches your contract, Incoterms, shipping plans and licence.
Document preparation
Guidance on invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin and other required documents.
Pre-presentation check
A thorough check of the full document set against the credit before it goes to the bank.
Handling discrepancies
Advice on your options if the bank raises discrepancies.
Liaison
Working alongside your bank, freight forwarder and customer to keep things moving.
The process
What to expect
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01
Review
The credit is checked against your contract and plans.
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02
Amend
Problem terms are raised with your buyer before shipment.
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03
Prepare
Documents are prepared to match the credit exactly.
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04
Present
The full set is checked before presentation to the bank.
Questions
Letters of Credit FAQs
Why are so many presentations discrepant?
Letters of credit are strictly document-based: the bank checks the documents, not the goods. Small inconsistencies — a description that doesn't match, a late shipment date, a missing signature — can all be grounds for rejection.
When should I get the credit reviewed?
As early as possible — ideally at draft stage, before it's issued. Amending a credit after issue takes time and usually costs money, and some terms are much easier to fix before the buyer's bank is involved.
What rules govern letters of credit?
Most documentary credits are issued subject to the ICC's Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits (UCP 600), together with international standard banking practice for checking documents.
Related services
Not sure where to start?
Whether it's one product or a whole range, a first shipment or an audit next month — a short conversation is usually the quickest way to find out what you need.