Late Shipment Letter of Credit Discrepancy: Evidence and Remedies
How banks identify late shipment under a Letter of Credit and what an exporter can do about it.
Reviewed by LCCheck team (owner-approved) · 2026-10-12
Short answer
Late shipment occurs when the shipment date evidenced by the transport document is after the latest shipment date in field 44C. For a bill of lading, the shipment date is the issue date unless an on-board notation shows a different date (UCP 600 Art. 20(a)(ii)). Late shipment cannot be fixed by correcting documents; it needs an amendment before shipment or a waiver.
| Credit field | 44C Latest Date of Shipment |
|---|---|
| Shipment date on B/L | Issue date or on-board notation date (Art. 20) |
| Remedy | Amendment before shipment, or waiver |
Evidence banks look at
- On-board notation date on the bill of lading.
- Issue date if no notation.
- Dates on other documents that conflict.
What to do
- Request an amendment of 44C before the goods ship.
- If already late, ask the applicant for a waiver before presenting.
- Never back-date transport documents — it is fraud.
Sources
- ICC — UCP 600 (Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits)
- Swift — MT700 Issue of a Documentary Credit (category 7 standards)
General guidance, not legal advice. Your bank examines documents independently.
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