A commercial invoice should not indicate goods, services or performance not called for in the credit.
As per letter of credit rules and international standard banking practices, an invoice is not to indicate goods, services or performance not called for in the credit.
This letter of credit rule applies, even when the invoice shows additional quantities of goods as required by the credit or samples are declared to be shipped free of charge.
If the beneficiary of a letter of credit presents a commercial invoice, which contains goods not indicated in the letter of credit, the issuing bank raises a discrepancy, which is known as commercial invoice shows merchandise not called for in the letter of credit.
Discrepancy Example: Commercial Invoice Shows Merchandise Not Called For
A letter of credit has been issued in SWIFT format, subject to UCP latest version, with the following details:
Letter of Credit Conditions
Field 45A: Description of Goods and or Services: Shirts – long sleeve – 980 pieces, shirts – short sleeve – 1510 pieces, long pants – 980 pieces, shorts – 250 pieces. As stated on order sheet 4750 revised – dated 10th January 2014. Delivery Terms: CPT Barcelona Spain Incoterms 2010.
Field 46A: Documents Required: Signed commercial invoices in two originals showing letter of credit number and certifying that the merchandise is as per purchase order.
The beneficiary presented a commercial invoice as shown on the below picture.
Commercial Invoice
Discrepancy: Commercial invoice shows merchandise not called for in the letter of credit. If you look at the last column of the description of goods part, you will see that “10 Pcs of Shirts – long sleeve (Free of Charge)” is not called for in the letter of credit.
Even if they have been shipped “Free of Charge“, it is against letter of credit terms.
Reason for Discrepancy: An invoice is not to indicate goods, services or performance not called for in the credit.
This applies even when the invoice includes additional quantities of goods, services or performance as required by the credit or samples and advertising material and are stated to be free of charge.
