Letter of Credit Checklist
Banks examine documents under a letter of credit strictly on their face, against the L/C and against each other. Tick off these points before you present.
This checklist stays in your browser only; nothing is sent anywhere. It is a general guide, not legal or banking advice — always follow the exact wording of your own letter of credit and UCP 600 (or the rules it names).
Why banks are strict about discrepancies
Under UCP 600, the rules most letters of credit follow, banks examine documents only on their face — they do not investigate whether the goods were actually shipped as described. Because payment depends entirely on the paper matching, even a small mismatch (a wrong word, a date out of sequence) lets the bank refuse the documents.
How to avoid the most common discrepancies
Read the L/C the moment it arrives, before shipping — if any term cannot realistically be met, ask the buyer for an amendment early rather than after shipment. Copy the exact wording of the goods description and party names from the L/C into your invoice and other documents instead of retyping from memory.
Presenting your documents
Present the full document set to the nominated or negotiating bank named in the L/C well before the expiry and presentation-period deadlines, since banks need time to examine documents (up to five banking days each under UCP 600) and you need time to fix anything they query.
Common questions
What happens if the bank finds a discrepancy?
The bank will normally notify the beneficiary and may refuse to honour the documents, seek the applicant's waiver of the discrepancy, or return the documents. This can delay payment, and the applicant may use it to renegotiate terms, so avoiding discrepancies protects the seller.
How long do I have to present documents after shipment?
Under UCP 600, if the L/C does not state a period, documents must be presented within 21 calendar days after the shipment date, and always within the L/C's expiry date, whichever comes first.
Can Triplicate generate the invoice for a letter of credit?
Yes — the commercial invoice generator lets you enter the L/C number and Incoterms rule, and you can copy the goods description wording straight from your L/C to avoid a mismatch.
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