2017年商务英语初级写作指导(9)
来源 :中华考试网 2017-08-30
中催款信的措辞和结构
1.概述
催款信的语气一开始应比较温和,而后逐渐强硬。第一封提示函通常为月结单,显示过期的未结款项。第二封通常格式较为正式,用不同的颜色(常为红色)打印。
2.催款信内的基本要素
① 显示欠款金额;
② 表明拖欠时间;
③ 为挽救这一情况向对方提出具体要求。
⑴ 时间间隔
⑵ 催款信的内容
3.催款信的措辞
⑴ 催款信一般有三个要素:
① 摆明事实
② 要求付款
③ 催促付款。
Ⅰ.摆明事实
摆明事实的时候应提及前一封信或上一次电话交谈,并指出账务详情和未结账款的金额。
A.提及前一封信、传真或上一次电话交谈
B.通报过期未结账款的详情来表明事实,引起对方注意。可向对方通报过期
未结账款的详情
C. 通报过期未结账款的详情并表示担忧此事
Ⅱ.要求付款
下一步是要求对方付清过期未结账款。下列例句十分常见:
① We expect to receive payment within the next three days.
② We should be grateful if you could settle your account within the next three days.
Ⅲ.催促付款
说服对方偿付账款有两种方法。
A. 提出其他更好的付款方案,一般要求对方立即结清首期款项,余下的账款分期错开(staggered)支付。
B. 用遗憾的语气提出警告,表明若不按时支付将采取进一步行动。
Ⅰ.提出其他付款方法
① In the light of your present financial difficulties, we are prepared to accept an immediate payment of US$1,600 with the balance being settled over the next two months.
② If you prefer, we should be prepared to accept a series of staggered payments over the coming three months.
Ⅱ.提出进一步采取措施的警告
If you are unable to settle your account by the end of next week, I am afraid we will be forced to pass the matter over to our legal department.
u 上述斜体部分也可以这样表达:
① We regret we shall have no alternative but to…
② I greatly regret that I shall be obliged to…
③ Unfortunately, I shall be compelled to…
④ Regrettably I shall have no choice but to…
Ⅲ.除了诉诸法律外,还可以用其他手段威胁,提出警告。
① We should hate to lose a valued customer like yourself.
② We hope that this temporary problem will not stop our doing business with you in the future.