ABC公司信用證要求保險單據,受益人提交的保單載有多段預先印就條款,包含「未付保費則保險人義務不生效」「索賠時匯率差需補繳保費」等;但保單表面未註明保費是否已付。開證行考慮以保費條款不確定為由拒付。爭點在於:UCP600第28條並未要求銀行核對保費支付狀態;銀行是否需審核保單上屬一般條款與條件的預印文字,以推斷保單是否有效或是否相符。
關於:UCP600 第 28 條。
背景:保單上預先印就的條款:
“PREMIUM PAYMENTS AND POLICY ANNULMENT CLAUSE: Unless otherwise agreed, the insurer's obligation shall in no way commence unless the premium is paid or the down payment is made,regardless of whether the policy is delivered or not. In case the insured is in default by failing to pay the premium,then the provisions of the Obligations Code shall become applicable and the contract shall be annulled at once without any further notice in compliance with paragraph 3 of article 107 of Obligations Code.”
保單上沒有注明保費是否已付。
“We, ABC INSURANCE hereby agree,in consideration o£ the payment to us by or on behalf of the assured of the premium as arranged, to insure against loss, damage, liability or expense to the extent and in the manner herein provided.”
保單上沒有注明保費是否已付。
“In case of any claim payment through this policy,the assured(insured party) agrees to pay the additional premium arising from the difference between the foreign exchange rates,on the claim payment day and on the policy issuance day."
問題:銀行是否需要審核上述預先印就在保單上關於保費問題的條款,以確定其是否相符?
UCP600第28條主要規範保險單據應由誰簽發、保險幣別與金額、日期不得晚於裝運日等要點,並未把「保費已付」列為銀行審核項目。
在信用證邏輯下,保單既已簽發,通常可推定保險人已就保費作出安排或承擔相應商業決策;銀行不負責把保單預印條款拿來推斷保單有效性或保費支付狀態。
上述三段文字多屬保單的一般條款與條件,屬於保險人與被保險人之間的權利義務設計;銀行以「單據表面相符」為原則審查,不應擴張到解讀這些條款。
因此,僅因保單未寫明Premium Paid,或載有「未付保費保險不生效」等一般條款,不構成UCP下的不符點。