MT700 Field 42C: Relationship with UCP 600 Articles

Introduction

Field 42C records the tenor of the draft in an MT700 and is one component of the credit's availability description. Its correct use depends on the SWIFT availability rules and on the UCP 600 articles that define how a credit is made available, amended, and honoured. Treating 42C as a free-text note divorced from those articles produces a credit whose payment timing cannot be enforced.

Failure Mode Analysis

Failure Mode 1: Tenor omitted in a draft credit

The credit is available by acceptance or deferred payment against drafts, but 42C is left blank. Article 6 cannot be satisfied because the maturity is undefined.

Failure Mode 2: Silent amendment of the tenor

An applicant requests a tenor change outside the amendment process. Article 10 requires a proper amendment; the draft clause in 42C does not update by instruction alone.

Failure Mode 3: Confirming bank bound to an unclear tenor

Under Article 8, a confirming bank's undertaking tracks the stated availability. An ambiguous 42C leaves the confirmation scope undefined.

Failure Mode 4: Mixed availability mis-stated

A credit attempts both 42C and 42M. Rule C3 rejects this (C90), and Article 6 cannot parse two availability methods at once.

Failure Mode 5: Tenor inconsistent with presentation timing

The 42C maturity falls before the latest shipment or presentation period, making the draft impossible to present in time.

Deterministic Resolution Architecture

1. Decide the availability method before populating any 42-series field.
2. For draft credits, complete both 42C (tenor) and 42a (drawee) and omit 42M/42P.
3. Express the tenor in 42C using the field's defined format, not narrative.
4. Validate against rule C3 to clear C90.
5. Map the 42C tenor to Article 6 availability and the Article 7 honour timing.
6. Route any tenor change through a proper amendment under Article 10.
7. Confirm the confirming bank's Article 8 scope matches the stated tenor.
8. Reconcile the tenor with 44C/44D dates and the presentation period under Article 14.
9. Preserve the operative 42C value through amendment tracking for examination.

Conclusion

Field 42C is the UCP 600 availability tenor expressed in SWIFT form. It is valid only with 42a and only inside the draft-availability structure of Article 6. The issuing bank's Article 7 undertaking and the confirming bank's Article 8 undertaking both depend on a defined, unamended tenor. The field must be complete, compliant with rule C3, and changed only by amendment under Article 10.

FAQ

Which UCP articles govern 42C?
Article 6 (Availability), Article 10 (Amendments), and Articles 7–8 (Issuing/Confirming Bank Undertakings).

Can the tenor in 42C be changed by an applicant email?
No. Article 10 requires a proper amendment advised through the banks.

Why must 42C appear with 42a?
Rule C3 permits 42C only together with 42a; a tenor without a drawee is incomplete.

Does 42C affect the confirming bank?
Yes. Under Article 8 the confirmation tracks the stated availability, including the 42C tenor.

What if no tenor is given but drafts are required?
Article 6 is unsatisfied; the credit lacks a defined maturity and should be corrected before advice.

Is 42C needed for a deferred-payment credit?
No. Use 42P alone for deferred payment; 42C belongs to the draft structure.

Source Notes

• Context only: SWIFT SR2018 Category 7, MT700 field 42C and network rule C3 (C90).
• Context only: UCP 600 Articles 6 (Availability), 10 (Amendments), 7–8 (Issuing/Confirming Bank Undertakings).