Unpaid Seller's Rights ๐ธ
Who is an Unpaid Seller? (Section 45) A seller who:
- Has NOT received the whole price, OR
- Received a cheque which was dishonoured.
Situation: You sold goods. Buyer took goods. Didn't pay (or paid with a bounced cheque). Question: What can you do?
Rights Against the GOODS ๐ฆ
1. Right of Lien (Section 47) ๐
Meaning: Right to retain possession of goods until full payment. When can you use it?
- Goods sold without credit period.
- Credit period expired.
- Buyer becomes insolvent.
Limitation: You can only HOLD the goods. You cannot USE or SELL them.
2. Right of Stoppage in Transit (Section 50) ๐
When: Buyer becomes insolvent + Goods are in transit (on the way to buyer). Action: You can stop the carrier (truck driver) and reclaim goods.
"In Transit" means: Goods left your warehouse but not yet reached buyer.
3. Right of Resale (Section 54) โป๏ธ
When can you resell the goods?
- Perishable goods (Vegetables, Milk).
- Seller gave notice to buyer and buyer didn't pay.
- Seller reserved the right to resell (in contract).
Effect: Buyer loses all rights. You can keep the profit or claim loss.
Rights Against the BUYER ๐ค
-
Suit for Price (Section 55):
- If property passed to buyer, you can sue for the price (not damages).
-
Suit for Damages (Section 56):
- If buyer refuses to accept/pay, sue for loss suffered.
-
Suit for Interest:
- If agreed in contract or as per mercantile usage.
Even after reselling, you can claim damages from the original buyer if:
- Original price was โน1000.
- You sold for โน800.
- You can claim โน200 loss + expenses from original buyer.
Quiz Time! ๐ฏ
Loading quizโฆ
๐ก Final Wisdom: "The law gives the seller weapons to fight non-payment. But use them wisely and quickly, or you lose them!" โ๏ธ
Next up: Consumer Protection Act - Protecting the Buyer! ๐ก๏ธ