Dear Sirs,

Referring to your statement of 30th April 19--, we have to inform you that it is not yet possible for us to meet our obligations and pay you the outstanding sum of $6,000 which was due on 31st March 19--.

You may have seen newspaper reports on the fire which occurred at our warehouse on 20th March; this caused excessive losses, for which we have not yet been compensated in full. May we therefore ask you for a three months’ extension of credit? We hope to be able to make payment of the full sum by the middle of July. We need hardly point out that these understand our present situation.

Yours faithfully,

敬启者：
贵方19－年4月30日的帐单收讫。我们不得不通知你目前我们还不大可能偿清我们的债款。支付贵方这笔19－年3月31日应支付的未销帐目。
您也许已经从报纸上读到有关3月20 日我们的仓库发生火灾的报导。这场火灾损失巨大，到现在我们还未完全赔偿清损失。因此我们能否申请贵方给予我们3个月的贷款延期。我们希望在7月中旬能够付清全部款项。我们需要强调指出的是这类现象纯属例外，相信贵方会理解我们现在的处境。
敬上
Dear Sirs,

Thank you for writing to us so frankly about your inability to pay your debt, due on March 31,19--. Of course we understand that the unfortunate event you describe in your letter is an exception, and are willing to grant you the extension asked for.

If you will sign the enclosed 90-day promissory note, your account will be adjusted accordingly.

Yours faithfully,

敬启者：
感谢您再来信中这样坦诚地说明您无力支付19――年3月31日到期的债款。我们当然理解您在信中叙述的不幸事件属于例外，因此我们愿意按您的要求延期贷款。
如果您签署了随信寄上的期限为90天的期票。您的帐户就会随之调整。
敬上
Enclosure

Dear Sirs,

We have carefully considered the proposal made in your letter of 10 May.

There have, however, been several instances in the past when you have asked for extra time to settle your account. While sympathizing with you fire which occurred at your warehouse, please try to understand that we also have our obligations. Therefore we must ask you to arrange to make payment at once, otherwise we shall be forced to place the account in the hands of a collection agency.

Yours faithfully,

敬启者：
我们已经仔细研究了您5月10日信中提出的申请。
但是在以前你们已有几次要求延长结帐时间。我们同情仓库火灾给您带来的损失和不便，但也请理解我们也有债务。因此我们必须要求您立即安排支付事宜，否则我们将被迫将此事交给代收欠款公司处理。
敬上