LESSON 17: HOW TO DECLINE A CREDIT APPLICATION? --怎样通知客户不同意信贷交易？


CONTENTS

I. USEFUL EXPRESSIONS 常用语

II. SAMPLE 范文

III. TIPS 掌握写作要领

IV. EXERCISE: WORDS, PHRASES AND SENTENCE PATTERNS 精通常用词组和句型

V. WRITING WORKSHOP 写作小作坊

VI. GOODIES & GIFTS 实用小礼物

I. USEFUL EXPRESSIONS
常用语

1. How to start your letter?

Thank you for your credit application. We appreciate your interest in Cobo's.

Thank you for your request for a charge account at Homebase.

Thank you for your interest in becoming a Kosmo's credit account holder. Your confidence in our firm is appreciated.

2. How to explain to the customer that you cannot offer the credit he wants?

While we certainly appreciate your business, we cannot offer, at this time, the $15,000 credit line you requested.

Because a steady cash flow is important to us, we approve very few credit accounts.

As your venture is only four months old, we regret that we cannot at this time offer you a line of credit.

For your own protection, however, we feel that your credit approval should be delayed for another six months.

As you probably realize, our books are sold at extremely competitive prices which allow us only small profit margins.

3. How to offer future opportunities?

We will review your application in three months.

If you can establish additional references, we will accept a credit order.

Although we are not in a position to open an account for you just now, perhaps we will be able to do so when your financial condition has been improved.

We hope to open a credit account for you when you apply again in another three months.


II. SAMPLE
范文


Dear _________:

Thank you for your letter of May 10 and the two substantial cash orders you have placed with us.

While we certainly appreciate your business, we cannot offer, at this time, the $15,000 credit line you requested. The credit information about your company furnished by [credit information service] does not fully meet the requirements specified in our credit policy.

We will review your application in three months, and we hope by then we will be able to give you a more favorible response. In the meantime, we hope you will continue to order from us on a cash basis and enjoy the 3% discount for cash order.

Sincerely,


__________
__________


III. TIPS
掌握写作要领

In writing an unfavorable response to a customer's credit request, you may do the following things:

  1. Thank the customer for doing business with you.
  2. Explain why you are not able to offer him the credit he requested.
  3. Include a positive note in your letter by offering, for instance, alternative benefits or suggestions that may help the customer obtain credit opportunities in the future.
  4. Encourage the customer to continue doing business with you.

IV. EXERCISE: WORDS, PHRASES AND SENTENCE PATTERNS
精通常用词组和句型

1. Click on the word or phrase that fits the sentence:

  1. Please indicate on the enclosed copy of your order form ____ you want to place a cash order now.
    (A) when
    (B) whether
    (C) until
    (D) unless

  2. We are grateful for the promptness with ____ you supplied the financial statement we requested.
    (A) which
    (B) that
    (C) whom
    (D) what

  3. We will be glad to do business with you _____ cash ____ for now, and will review your credit standing at the appropriate time.
    (A) under ... condition
    (B) on a ... foundation
    (C) by ... means
    (D) on a ... basis

  4. We are sure that you can supply _______ to support your request.
    (A) a necessary reference
    (B) the necessary references
    (C) necessary references
    (D) necessary reference

  5. However, ______ reports from our numerous sources of credit information, we can make shipments to you only when cash is received with the order.
    (A) dependant on
    (B) with regard to
    (C) refering to
    (D) based on

  6. We hope that you will continue to shop at MacWell's and that you will resubmit your application ____ you have met our residency requirement.
    (A) since
    (B) provided
    (C) after
    (D) unless




2.1. Fill in the blanks with words chosen from the list below:

at least, granting, provided, requirements, review, consider, changed, meet, exceeding, establish

1) Although the credit reference you (1) is favorable, you will need to (2) two more credit references to charge orders (3) $1,000.

2) One of our (4) for credit is that applicants have lived in the area for (5) one year. As a newcomer to Park Town, you need to stay here for another six months to (6) that requirement.

3) After a careful (7) of your application, we find the information furnished by you does not meet our requirements for (8) credit. Perhaps in the future, when circumstances have (9) , we can again (10) your request for a charge account.




2.2. Fill in the blanks with words chosen from the list below. Add capitalization when necessary:

at, at your convenience, in, meanwhile, therefore, when, that, however, meanwhile, and

1) I regret we could not be more helpful at this time. (1) , our quality selections are available for cash, (2) you can take advantage of our 3% discount for cash payment.

2) The information we have obtained indicates that your business prospects are good for the near future. (3) present, (4) , your financial condition only partially meets our requirements. (5) , we cannot at this time extend the $5000 open credit you requested.

3) Please come in and talk to me (6) . I am sure we can set up a program of gradually increasing credit (7) will benefit both of us. (8) , remember that there is a 3% discount for cash purchases.

4) (9) you have worked here a little longer and have established a bank account, we will be happy to review your application. We hope to open a credit account for you when you apply again (10) another three months.




V. WRITING WORKSHOP
写作小作坊


1. Give an order number to each sentence

Displayed below are sentences for you to compose a letter notifying a customer that his credit application has been approved. Number the sentences so that they can be arranged in a logical order:

1. Dear Ms Ray:

2. We hope by that time you'll have less difficulty making prompt payments on your open accounts.

3. We appreciate your interest in SomeMart.

4. Please contact me again in October.

5. For your own protection, however, we feel that your credit approval should be delayed for another six months.

6. Thank you for your credit application.

7. Until then, we'll continue to offer you the 3% discount for cash purchases.

8. Sincerely,

9. Martin Erikson, Credit Manager


写作小作坊 叁考答案 (1)

Dear Ms. Ray:

Thank you for your credit application. We appreciate your interest in SomeMart.

For your own protection, however, we feel that your credit approval should be delayed for another six months. We hope by that time you'll have less difficulty making prompt payments on your open accounts.

Until then, we'll continue to offer you the 3% discount for cash purchases.

Please contact me again in October.

Sincerely,



Martin Erikson
Credit Manager


2. Write a letter declining a customer's request for credit facilities. Use the following sets of words to produce 7 sentences which together make a complete letter. Add your own words or phrases when necessary.

Dear Mr Rodgers:

Thank, your letter, October 5, you, inquired, our credit facilities.


We appreciate, you, placed, a number of, orders, us, the past,


and we are sure, you, supply, necessary references, support, your request.


However, probably realize, our goods, sold, extremely competitive, prices, allow, only small profit margins,


and this, prevents, offering, any, our customers, credit lines.


We are sorry, cannot offer, credit, want, but, sure, understand, our reasons.


Once again, thank, ordering from Woodland, look forward, serving, again.


Yours sincerely,

Larry Lee
Credit Manager




写作小作坊 叁考答案 (2)

Dear Mr. Rodgers:

Thank you for your letter of October 5 in which you inquired about our credit facilities.

We appreciate that you have placed a number of orders with us in the past, and we are sure that you can supply the necessary references to support your request. However, as you probably realize, our goods are sold at extremely competitive prices which allow us only small profit margins, and this prevents us from offering any of our customers credit lines.

We are sorry that we cannot offer the credit you want, but are sure you understand our reasons. Once again, thank you for ordering from Woodland, and we look forward to serving you again.

Yours sincerely,



Larry Lee
Credit Manager



VI. SOMETHING FOR NOTHING
GOODIES & GIFTS （实惠小礼物）

New Words, New Meanings

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[Compare: astronaut: a person engaged in travelling in the real space.]

Example:
When COMDEX opens in Las Vegas, cybernauts can visit www.comdex.com, where they will be able to view thousands of exhibits and download transcripts from the show's seminars for free.