UNIT 3
Making Status Enquiries

In today's global market, millions of companies and business people are involved in all kinds of business. In order to reduce risks in foreign trade or for the sake of minimizing risk exposure, avoid being cheated and the unnecessary loss and develop business relations with right partnership, it is of utmost importance to inquire into the status of your potential customers with whom you are going to make business for the first time.

Status enquiries can help you manage risk and avoid fraud. So before you start to do business with your partners in foreign countries who are far away from you and whom you don't know well, it is a usual practice to make credit enquiry to obtain all the information possible about the firm. In this way you may protect yourself in case any disputes arise and to safeguard the interests of both parties involved.

In simple words, status enquiries are the investigations on the relevant information of the firm which you want to make business with and help you to decide whether it is advisable to do business with the firm or not. It can be made by either the seller or the buyer. The main content is to learn the relevant information, especially credit, character, capital, capacity regarding the relevant parties.

Usually, information about a specific merchant in foreign countries can be obtained through many sources, such as:

1. Banks, including the banks which are provided as a reference by the foreign merchants and the banks with which traders have regular business relations;

2. Commercial Counselor's Office;

3. Companies which have already done business with the specific foreign merchants;

4. Investigation agent, through whom we can get reliable information, but it is costly.

Specimen Letters

Letter-3 (1) (Status Enquiry from a Bank)

Letter-3 (2) (Status Enquiry from a Corresponding Bank)

Letter-3 (3) (Reply to a Status Enquiry)

Letter-3 (4) (Reply to a Status Enquiry)

Letter-3 (5) (Status Enquiry from a Bank)

Words, Phrases and Notes

1. status enquiry: investigations on the relevant information of the firm which you want to make business with 咨询

enquire [in'kwaiə]: v. ask for or ask to be told…（a person's name, business possibilities, etc.）调查，询问，也可写作inquire

e.g. We regret that the goods you are enquiring for are out of stock at present．很遗憾，你们询问的货物目前已经脱销了。

enquiry/inquiry: n. a request for information on the supply of certain goods 询价，询盘

e.g. We will send you our offer and samples on receipt of your specific enquiry．收到你方具体的询盘后，我们将给你们寄样报价。

2. on condition that: if; provided 如果，假如

e.g. We will offer you our best price and send you samples immediately on condition that you make an inquiry．如果你们询盘，我们就会马上给你方报出最好的价格并寄出样品。

3. standing credit: a credit of fixed amount 定额贷款

credit: n.（金融）贷款

4. business partner: cooperative partner 业务合作伙伴

5. financial and credit standing: status or position of paying ability and reputation 财务和信用状况

standing: n. reputation or status 名声，信誉

e.g. We would be much obliged if you could supply us with all the information with respect to the financial standing of the company．贵方如果能提供有关该公司财务状况的情况，我们将不胜感激。

6. grant [ɡrænt]: v. allow; permit 允许，给予

7. put your mind at ease: rest assured; be at ease; set one's mind at rest 放心

8. in confidence: secretly; in private 秘密地

in（strict/the strictest）confidence 严格保密

e.g. We assure you that the information you kindly give us will be kept in strict confidence．我方保证将对贵方所提供的信息严格保密。

confidential [kɔnfi'denʃ（ə）l]: adj. in strict privacy or secrecy 秘密的

e.g. It goes without saying that any information you provide will be treated as strictly confidential and you are free from any responsibilities．毫无疑问，贵方提供的所有信息都将严格保密，并且不需要为此承担任何责任。

9. the said company: the above mentioned company 该公司

the said: the above mentioned 上文提到的

10. firm：商号（泛指），如：our firm, that firm, an import firm

其他类似表达还有：

corporation [美]公司，有限公司；中国大中型贸易公司。相当于“limited liability company”，可缩写为Ltd

incorporated [美]股份有限公司，可缩写为Inc.

company大多用作专有名词的一部分或与划分公司类别的词一起使用，例如：a railroad

company, an insurance company

11. on the basis of: in view of 在……的基础上，基于，根据

e.g. We would like to start the business with you on an L/C basis．我们愿意在信用证的基础上与你方开展业务。

on D/P basis 在D/P（付款交单）的基础上

on regular basis 在稳定的基础上

12. sound: reliable 健康的；可靠的

13. be most grateful: be much obliged; thankful; indebted; appreciative 不胜感激的

14. run: manage; handle; operate; engage in 经营

15. enjoy a good reputation: have a high credit 享有良好声誉

16. as far as our information goes: as far as we know 据我们所知

17. commitment: n. promise 承诺，保证

meet commitment: keep one's promise 履行某人的承诺

18. small-sized company 小型公司

类似表达还有：

state-operated/owned corporation 国有公司

collective-owned enterprise 集体企业

private-owned enterprise 私营企业

township/rural enterprise 乡镇企业

small- and medium-sized enterprise 中小企业

large-scale industry 大型企业

19. capital: n. property that may be used for the production of more wealth 资金

e.g. The corporation has enough capital to build another factory．这家公司有足够的资金来兴建另一家工厂。

20. settle account: close an account 结算，结账

e.g. They can always settle accounts in time．他们总是能够按时结算。

21. good for: be capable of 有……的能力

e.g. This company is good for a business not exceeding USD 10 million．这家公司有支付不超过1000万美元的能力。

22. small business engagement: trade for a small amount 小额贸易

23. transaction [træn'zækʃən]: n. business; deal 生意，交易

24. L/C at sight: Letter of Credit at sight 即期信用证

25. captioned company: the above-mentioned company 标题公司

26. responsibility: n. the state or fact of being responsible 责任

free from any responsibilities 不承担任何责任

e.g. You are free from any responsibilities for this．你方不用为此承担任何责任。

27. in advance: beforehand 事先，预先

e.g. We thank you in advance for your cooperation．我们事先感谢你方的合作。

Commonly Used Sentences

1. ABC Company desires to open an account with us, and have given us your name as a reference. ABC公司希望与我们开展业务，并告诉我们贵方为证明人。

2. We should be much obliged if you would inform us, in confidence, of their financial standing and modes of business．如果你们能暗中告诉我们他们的财务状况和业务方式，我们将不胜感激。

3. Will you please be good enough to approach the said bank for all possible information we required．劳驾让该银行提供我们所需要的一切可能的信息。

4. It goes without saying that any information you may obtain for us will be treated in the strictest confidence and you are free from any responsibilities．毫无疑问，你们给我们提供的任何信息都将最严格地保密，你方不用承担任何责任。

5. Their suppliers' business with them is reported to have been satisfactory．据说，他们与其供货商的业务是令人满意的。

6. For large transactions we suggest payment by sight L/C．对大笔交易，我们建议使用即期信用证。

7. As to our credit and financial standing, we can refer you to one of the Branches of the Bank of China in your country．至于我们的信用和财务状况，你方可通过贵国的中国银行查询。

8. As we are on the point of transacting some important business with them, we should like to know exactly how their credit stands．由于我方打算与他们做几笔重要的生意，我们想准确地了解一下他们的信用状况。

9. We would be very glad to render you similar services should the need arise．如有需要，我们将很高兴给你方提供类似的服务。

10. We are sorry that we are not able to give precise information you ask for．很抱歉，我们不能准确地提供你们想要的信息。

Effective Writing Skills

In writing a letter of status inquiry or replying to a status inquiry, such words as “Confidential” or “Private & Confidential” are generally headed and to be typed one blank line space below the inside address. These words are also typed in the envelope if the letter is to be delivered by post.

1. Status inquiries are written in a straightforward way, but courteous phrases are often used. Generally speaking, this type of letter should include the following critical points:

（1）Inform your receiver the full, detailed name and address of the company you want to inquire so that the receiver can provide information on a specific foreign merchant.

（2）Inform your reader of the specific information you need.

（3）End your message with a promise to keep the information provided in confidence and inform the receiver that you will keep secret for any received information and the information provider needn't take any responsibilities.

Besides, the writer should show appreciation. For instance, “We should be grateful/obliged if…”

2. Replies to inquiries are often written in the form of a report with facts and opinions for consideration.

（1）Acknowledge the receipt of inquiry. For instance, “In reply to your letter of…we are pleased to say that…”

（2）Give the inquiry a result and your advice.

（3）Show your attitude. For example, “We are pleased to have been of service to you in the matter.” “The information is confidential and is given without any responsibilities on our part.”

Letters for Optional Study

LOS-3 (1) (Request for Information on a Company)

LOS-3 (2) (Status Enquiry from a Company)

LOS-3 (3) (An Unfavorable Reply)

Exercises

I. Answer the following questions.

1. What is the function of status enquiry?

2. Why is it important to obtain all the information possible respecting the firm one is about to enter into relations with?

3. In what way or ways can such information be obtained?

4. From which source is the information obtained most reliable?

5. Why is it necessary for status enquiries to be headed “Confidential” or “Private and Confidential”?

II. Translate the following terms and phrases into Chinese, then make sentences with them.

1. financial and business standing

2. it goes without saying

3. strictly confidential

4. be free from any responsibilities

5. in advance

6. be reliable

7. free of charge

8. enjoy good reputation

9. to be much obliged

10. take any responsibilities

III. Translate the following sentences from English into Chinese.

1. Dastech International Inc. of your city desires to open an account with us, and has given us your name as a reference.

2. As to our credit and financial status, please refer to Bank of China and the Chamber of Commerce in Yantai.

3. As we are on the point of transacting some important business with them, we should like to know exactly how their credit stands.

4. I shall be much obliged if you will advise me confidentially the reputation they enjoy among your correspondents.

5. Any information you may give us will, of course, be treated as strictly confidential.

6. It is reported that their suppliers' business with them have been satisfactory.

7. Replying to your letter of yesterday, we are happy to inform you that the house referred to enjoys an unlimited credit.

8. We regret our inability to tell you anything positive concerning the firm mentioned in your letter of the 30th July.

9. It would give us great pleasure to be able to render you a similar service should opportunity occur.

10. Any statement provided by this bank as to the standing of any person, firm or corporation, is given as a mere matter of opinion for which no responsibility, in any way, is to attach to this bank.

IV. Translate the following sentences from Chinese into English.

1．我们很高兴能与你们这样声誉好的公司合作。

2．如对我公司信用状况有任何疑问，请向瑞士银行查询。

3．请放心，我们一定不会泄露您提供的任何信息，贵方也不需要承担任何责任。

4．对于贵银行所提供的情报，无论内容如何，都会严守秘密。

5．本银行或本行职员所提供的任何有关个人、公司以及其他任何组织的信用状况的情报，无论内容如何，本银行或本行职员都不负任何责任。

6．该公司自创办至今时间不长，但在业界已有一定的信用，然而仍不能算是富有的公司。

7．今后如有吩咐，我们将乐于为您服务。但对本报告，务必严守秘密。

8．对于8月8日贵函所要查询的公司，我们实在无法报告确切情况，甚为遗憾。

9．总体来说，我方与该公司的贸易关系还是令人非常满意的。

10．对不起，有关该公司的情况，我们知之甚少。

IV. Write a letter in English with the following hints.

Sender's Name: China National Import & Export Corporation

Receiver's Name: Information Service Dept. Bank of China, Shanghai

现收到新客户威廉·贝克公司发来的￥16000元的订单。而你对该公司的资信情况一无所知。现需要写信向本公司的银行中国银行，请求中国银行向威廉·贝克公司所提供的征信银行（Barminster Bank Ltd. London, England）进行咨询。