Complaints and Adjustments

1.1. Read and translate the following dialogue on the topic “Complaints and Adjustments”. Be ready to discuss the topic. Don’t forget to study useful vocabulary at first.

Victor Klimenko and John Cartwright are discussing by phone some problems which have arisen in connection with the delivery of equipment.

Telephone Conversation

– John Cartwright speaking.

– Hello, John. This is Viictor Klimenko, from Kiev.

– Hello, Victor. Any problems?

– Yes. Did you receive our fax yesterday?

– Yes, we did.

– I’d like to know your reaction to it.

– We’ve carefully studied your complaints. You’re perfectly correct as to the short-delivery. Items 2.5 and 2.6 lack in the consignment of equipment we sent you. It was overlooked by our controller. We apologize for the oversight. It won’t happen again.

– When will you send us these parts?

– This week. By air. We’ll also send you some documents to facilitate customs clearance at your end.

– Fine. But what about the packing? The cover of one of the containers was badly damaged. The equipment in this container was damaged a little too.

– It wasn’t our fault, Victor. The equipment was packed in a required way. You should take this up with the captain of the ship.

– We’ve already done it, John. He believed that your packing is to blame.

– I must disagree totally with him. Perhaps you should have been firmer in dealing with him.

– Let’s come back to this matter in a couple of days, John. I’ll try to discuss it with the ship-owners. But there is one more problem: the three-week delay in delivery of equipment. We suffered some losses through this delay. I’d like to remind you that according to the sanctions clause of our contract we have the right to claim compensation.

– I’m afraid, you haven’t that right, Victor. This delay was caused by a strike in the Brighton port. We consider this strike to be a force majeure circumstance that had a direct effect on the execution of our liabilities. We did our best to meet the deadline.

– I don’t agree, John. English ports are often hit by strikes. You were able to foresee this complication. Moreover, to meet the deadline you could have delivered the equipment to other port.

– We couldn’t have done it owing to circumstances outside our control.

– If we don’t reach mutual understanding, our company will have to go through arbitration procedures.

– There is no need to get aggressive, Victor. There will be a meeting of our top executives at 11 o’clock where your claim will be on the agenda. I’ll try to settle it and ring you back after the meeting.

– All right. I’m waiting for your call, John.

– Bye, Victor.