1. Credit Inquiry
Reference (sources that you can refer to:)
Business traders
Banks
Chamber of commerce
Enquiry agencies
Concerning:
Credit standing
Financial position
Reputation
Business methods
Unit three: status enquiries
Structure of a status enquiry letter:
1. The reason why you are writing
2. What you want to know
3. A promise to deal with the information in confidence & your gratitude for their help
Background Information
1. Importance of credit inquiry.
Before you start to do business with partners in foreign countries who are far away from you, if
you don’t him or her very well, then you should do credit inquiry about him or her in case you are
cheated by him or her.
2. How to do credit inquiry
(1)through bank
(2)through offices abroad
(3)through commercial chamber and professional offices on credit inquiry
3. Content for credit inquiry
(1)政治情况：包括客户与其本国政界关系，企业负责人参加的党派等
(2)经营范围：包括客户的业务范围、是实用户还是中间商，经营作法等。
(3)资信情况：包括客户的资金、资产负债情况以及经营作风等。
(4)经营能力：指客户的销售渠道、活动能力等。
The reason why you are writing
Messrs. Schneider &Kern have given us your name as a reference respecting their financial
standing.
We have received a letter from …, expressing their desire to enter into business relations with us
on the condition that we allow them a standing credit of USD 5,000 to start business.
What you want to know
Will you please be so kind as to furnish us with details, as exact as possible, as to the credit which
may be safely allowed to the firm whose name is given on the attached slip?
Will you please inform us, in confidence, of the extent of their resources and also as to their
reputation?

2. What you want to know
We should be obliged if you would inform us, in confidence, whether your business relations with
Messrs. J.A. Hussains & Co. during the past would lead you to advise us to allow them three
months’ credit, without security, to the amount of $6,000.
What you want to know
We should be glad to know:
Whether they are in the wholesale trade;
If their financial position is considered strong;
If they are among the leading wholesale firms in your country;
Whether have the reputation of paying promptly
Whether they have the reputation of keeping their engagements promptly and fully;
What credit it would be safe to allow them;
Whether their credit is at all doubtful;
Whether they appear to have suffered very much from the strike in your district.
A promise to deal with the information in confidence and your gratitude
Any information you can furnish us as to their capital and reputation would be greatly valued and
treated in confidence by us.
We would highly appreciate it if you could …
We should be much obliged if you could …
Sample letters
Asking for reference
Status inquiry (I)
Status inquiry (II)
(1)
Dear Sir,
The Maryland, Inc.
The subject company is now offering to represent us in the sale of our Sewing Machines, and has
referred us to your Bank for detailed information about its credit standing, business capacity and
character. We shall appreciate it if you will give us your frank opinion on these points regarding
the company.
Any information you may give us will be treated strictly in confidence.
We assure you of our reciprocating your courtesy at any time.
Yours respectfully,
The subject company is now offering to represent us in the sale of our Sewing Machines, and has
referred us to your Bank for detailed information about its credit standing, business capacity and
character. We shall appreciate it if you will give us your frank opinion on these points regarding
the company.

3. 标题公司现提出要当我公司代理，销售我方的缝纫机，并介绍我公司向贵行了解该公司的
信用、 业务能力和信誉的详细情况。 如贵行对该公司就上述几点提出坦率意见，我方将不胜
感激。
Any information you may give us will be treated strictly in confidence.
We assure you of our reciprocating your courtesy at any time.
贵行提供的任何资料，我方将严格保密。
保证随时回报贵行的好意。
(2)
Gentlemen:
The Maryland Inc.
The subject company you inquired about by your letter of October 15, 2001, has been maintaining
an account with us for the past twenty years, during which they have never failed to meet their
obligation. Their balance sheets of recent years enclosed will show you that their import business
in Sewing Machines has been managed and operated under a satisfactory condition.
We believe that they owe their reputable position among the local wholesalers in our district to
their steady and sincere way of conducting business.
Please note that this information is furnished without any responsibility on our part and should be
held strictly confidential.
Yours truly,
The subject company you inquired about by your letter of October 15, 2001, has been maintaining
an account with us for the past twenty years, during which they have never failed to meet their
obligation. Their balance sheets of recent years enclosed will show you that their import business
in Sewing Machines has been managed and operated under a satisfactory condition.
贵公司 2001 年 10 月 15 日函询的标题公司，过去 20 年一直与我行有帐户往来，在此期间
他们从未有过不履行义务的事情。 随函附寄的他们近几年的资产负债表，表明他们的缝纫机
进口业务经营管理良好。
We believe that they owe their reputable position among the local wholesalers in our district to
their steady and sincere way of conducting business.
我方相信他们之所以能在本地区批发商中享有盛誉，要归因于他们经营业务的稳妥和诚实。
Please note that this information is furnished without any responsibility on our part and should be
held strictly confidential.
请注意，我方对所提供的资料不负任何责任。并请对该资料严格保密。
(3)

4. Gentlemen:
We have received a sudden bid from Freemen Brothers Company, London, with which you are
now doing business and the firm gives us your name as a reference.
We shall appreciate it if you will let us have the following information:
1. How long have you been in business relations with the firm?
2. What credit limit have you placed on their account?
3. How promptly are terms met?
4. What amount is currently outstanding?
Any information you may give us will be treated as strictly confidential and expenses accruing
from this inquiry will be gladly paid by us upon receipt of your bill.
Very truly yours,
We have received a sudden bid from Freemen Brothers Company, London, with which you are
now doing business and the firm gives us your name as a reference
我方突然收到伦敦福利门兄弟公司的递价 .该公司现与贵公司有业务往来，并把贵公司作为
证明人告诉了我公司。
We shall appreciate it if you will let us have the following information:
1. How long have you been in business relations with the firm?
2. What credit limit have you placed on their account?
3. How promptly are terms met?
4. What amount is currently outstanding?
如蒙提供下列资料，我方将不胜感激：
贵公司与该公司业务往来已有多久？
贵公司给该公司的信贷额有多大？
该公司还帐是否及时？
目前该公司欠帐多少？
Any information you may give us will be treated as strictly confidential and expenses accruing
from this inquiry will be gladly paid by us upon receipt of your bill.
贵公司提供的所有资料，我方将以严格保密，所有费用在接到贵公司帐单后立即由我公司
支付。
(4)
Dear Sirs,
Re: Your Inquiry No.119 of April 14
Regarding Freemen Brothers Co., London
In reply to the above inquiry, we are pleased to enclose a copy of the Report on Freemen Brothers
Company, London. Please note that the information is furnished at your request without any

5. responsibility whatsoever on the part of this Bank or on any of its officers.
It is a condition of this letter that the name of this Bank will not be disclosed in the event of our
report being passed on to your clients.
Yours truly,
In reply to the above inquiry, we are pleased to enclose a copy of the Report on Freemen Brothers
Company, London. Please note that the information is furnished at your request without any
responsibility whatsoever on the part of this Bank or on any of its officers.
现答复贵方 4 月 14 日第 119 号询函，我方高兴地随函附上该公司的报告一份。请注意该资
料是应贵方要求而提供的，本行或本行任何工作人员对此不负任何责任。
It is a condition of this letter that the name of this Bank will not be disclosed in the event of our
report being passed on to your clients.
本函有一个条件，即在把我方的报告转告贵方的客户时，请勿泄露我行的名称。
Taking the first and third correspondences as samples, content of correspondence about credit
inquiry is generally made up of the following parts:
调查的原因，并表明要求得到某一公司的资信资料。
请对方直言相告。
保证保密。
说些感激的话。
Report on Freemen Brothers Co., London
We are told:
Partners: Mr. John Freemen
Mr. William Freemen
Established in January 1958
Do business as importers of and dealers in laboratory and pharmaceutical equipment. Also act as
agents for British Manufacturers of the same lines. Appear to be doing business in a moderate
way. Reported to the respectable, possessing means about $ 550,000.
Taking the first and third correspondences as samples, content of correspondence about credit
inquiry is generally made up of the following parts:
调查的原因，并表明要求得到某一公司的资信资料。
请对方直言相告。
保证保密。
说些感激的话。
Reply to status inquiries:
In reply to your enquiry dated 30th march, 2003 concerning Messrs. Willing & Co., we are
pleased to say that we have every confidence in the uprightness of this firm.
This is a case in which caution is necessary and we suggest that you make additional enquiries
through an agency. We accept your assurance that the information we have given you will be
treated in strict confidence and regret that we cannot be more helpful.

6. reference
1. We named your bank as a reference for our credit investigation.
2. Our new design will be sent to you for reference.
3. With reference to your inquiry of 6th January,I am glad to inform you that…..
4. Enclosed please find a reference of ShenHua Corporation,which should be treated
confidentially.
5. Reference is made to our letter dated 8th May,2001.
6. We thank you for your letter of September5, reference No.1234.
translation
1.我们将与之进行业务往来的那家商行要我们向贵行了解有关他们商业地位与信誉方面的
信息。
2.你若能对上述公司的财务善和可靠性提出意见，我们当不胜感谢。
3.就我们所知，他们的财务情况良好.
4.你们所问讯的那家商号是我地区一家最可靠的进口商。多年来在同行中享有良好声誉。
5.你地 XX 银行将给你提供有关我们的信誉和经营作风等方面的资料。
6.对你提供的任何资料，我们都予以保密。
7.我们劝你方与该商行进行业务往来时务必谨慎。
8.该公司声誉好，资金储备雄厚。
Translation
1.我们将与之进行业务往来的那家商行要我们向贵行了解有关他们商业地位与信誉方面的
信息。
The firm with whom we intend to deal has referred us to you for particulars respecting their
business standing and trustworthiness.
2.你若能对上述公司的财务善和可靠性提出意见，我们当不胜感谢。
We should be most grateful if you would furnish us with your opinion on the financial status
and reliability of the above company.
3.就我们所知，他们的财务情况良好。
As far as we know,their financial standing is sound.
4.你们所问讯的那家商号是我地区一家最可靠的进口商。多年来在同行中享有良好声誉。
The firm you inquired about is one of the most reliable importers in our district and has for
many years enjoyed a good reputation among the traders.
5.你地 XX 银行将给你提供有关我们的信誉和经营作风等方面的资料。
The … Bank of your city will give you any information you may require concerning our
credit standing as well as our manner of doing business.
6.对你提供的任何资料，我们都予以保密。
Any information you may be able to pass on to us will be treated as confidential.
7.我们劝你方与该商行进行业务往来时务必谨慎。
We advise you to proceed with every possible caution in dealing with the firm in question.
8.该公司声誉好，资金储备雄厚。
They are a firm of high reputation and have large financial reserves.