LESSON 36: HOW TO RESPOND TO INCORRECT OR LATE PAYMENTS?
--收到买方迟付的欠款或发现差错，怎样回复？


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. UPGRADING YOUR ENGLISH 英语升级

VI. GOODIES & GIFTS 实用小礼物

I. USEFUL EXPRESSIONS
常用语

1. How to begin your letter?

We are pleased to receive your payment of $_______.

Thank you for your payment of $_______.

We have received your check for $1539.50 in payment of invoice No. 2309452.

2. How to inform the customer about errors in his payment?

There is, however, a mistake in your payment.

Unfortunately, you have a balance due of $35.50 because you have overlooked the freight charges.

I think you must have overlooked the charge of $100 for shipping the computer from St. Louis to Honolulu.

3. How to suggest a correction or additional payment?

I think the following solution might help us both.

Please send an additional check for the $100 installation fee so that you will bring your account up-to-date.

There's no need to pay us separately for the this charge; we will add it to our next monthly statement.

4. How to end your letter?

We appreciate your cooperation and look forward to serving you again.

If you have any questions, or if we can be of further service, please call us at the telephone number below.



II. SAMPLE
范文

1) Response to incorrect payment:

Dear ___________:

We have received your check (No. 458723) for $1539.50 in payment of our invoice No. 2309452.

You have apparently made a mistake with the amount of payment. As you will see in the enclosed copy of our invoice, the total charge amounts to $1589.50 instead of $1539.50 as indicated in your check.

There's no need, however, to pay us separately for the $50 surcharge; we will add it to your next monthly statement. If you have any questions concerning this matter, please call me at (000) 000-0000.

Thank you for prompt payment.

Yours sincerely,



______________[name]
______________[title]


2) Response to late payment:

Dear ____________:

We are pleased to receive your payment of $1589.50 which clears your delinquent account. We appreciate your cooperation and look forward to serving you again.

Sincerely yours,



____________[name]
____________[title]



III. TIPS
掌握写作要领

1. Tell the customer the payment has been received and express your thanks.
2. If there is any error in the payment, specify the amount and suggest a solution.
3. If it is a late payment and you don't want any similar delays in the future, say it firmly but also politely.



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

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

after, on hand, reconsider, paid, pay, require, within, in advance, In, in, understand, have, performed, despite

Dear _______:

We have received your payment of $1230.00 for the maintenance services we (1) at your hotel. Unfortunately, this is the fourth time you have (2) for our services more than 30 days (3) the date of the invoice, (4) our stated policy of payment (5) 15 days. As you can (6) , a small business like ours must (7) close attention to cash flow and we must (8) sufficient cash (9) to pay our various expenses.

(10) the future, we'll have to (11) that you pay for our services (12) . After a year, we'll be glad to (13) our position since you have been a good customer (14) the past.

Sincerely,



__________



V. UPGRADING YOUR ENGLISH
英语升级


Here is an exercise that helps you practice with authentic "online" English:

  1. A group of legal organizations suggests that corporations limit their business disputes by settling out of court _____ mediation.
    (A) on
    (B) in
    (C) with
    (D) through

  2. Unable to save itself from bankruptcy, the company was forced to shut _____ its operations to prepare for liquidation.
    (A) down
    (B) off
    (C) up
    (D) out

  3. Whatever you buy today is cheaper tomorrow. Cheap computers are stealing sales _____ from more expensive PCs.
    (A) out
    (B) away
    (C) up
    (D) off

  4. Computer retailers are offering big discounts to clear _____ their higher-priced inventory.
    (A) off
    (B) out
    (C) up
    (D) from

  5. Consumers can find a wide variety of powerful computers with lots of goodies attached for around $1,000. The word "goodies" refers to:
    (A) gifts for the customer to select
    (B) delicious snacks free of charge
    (C) additional software or hardware
    (D) games free of charge

  6. Because a boy had downloaded dozens of pornographic images from a library's Internet computer terminal, the library was sued _____ not installing software that blocks pornographic web sites.
    (A) on
    (B) from
    (C) of
    (D) for

  7. The young man said that he was going to leave his current employer and take a new job _____ a start-up company.
    (A) for
    (B) into
    (C) with
    (D) from

  8. Linux is getting support from major software companies, as more IT companies decide to take _____ the open-source challenge.
    (A) on
    (B) up
    (C) in
    (D) over

  9. MEI Electronics and SMT-Tech are teaming _____ to develop and sell digital home electronic appliances.
    (A) [none]
    (B) in
    (C) up
    (D) on

  10. MEI will develop and sell products that can be easily linked to computer networks ______ software developed by SMT-Tech.
    (A) through
    (B) from
    (C) in
    (D) from

  11. The company has invited a number of specialists for tipping _____ its managers about a needed push into the low-cost computer market.
    (A) up
    (B) at
    (C) in
    (D) off

  12. The owner of an abortion clinic sued the web service provider, alleging that abortion opponents used online connections to track _____ and harass abortion doctors and patients.
    (A) off
    (B) down
    (C) in
    (D) back



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

1. New Words, New Meanings

IPO: n. initial public offering 初次公开发行(股票, etc.)

Example:
The San Francisco-based company's IPO had been awaited as the first major offering of the new year.

2. A Ready-Made Letter For You

Dear ____________:

We have received your payment of $______ for our invoice No._________.

There is, however, a mistake in your payment. You must have overlooked the $______ charge for _______________. Please send an additional check for the $______ so that you will bring your account up-to-date.

If you have any questions concerning this matter, please feel free to call me.

Sincerely yours,



____________[name]
____________[title]