- Non-Delivery of Commercial Goods
- Defective Goods Supply Disputes
- Purchase Order Disputes
- Service Agreement Performance Disputes
- What to do next
- FAQ
A fit-out contractor orders 4,000 square metres of tiles for a fixed delivery date. Half arrive, from a different batch, a week late. The supplier invoices the full amount and the contractor's own handover is days away.A representative scene, not a reported case.
01Non-Delivery of Commercial Goods
If goods were paid for and not delivered, the buyer can ask for performance, a refund or compensation. Which is best depends on whether you still need the goods.
Send written notice with a short cure date. If the date passes, you can cancel and claim for the replacement cost and other documented loss. Keep the replacement quotations. They are your evidence of loss.
02Defective Goods Supply Disputes
A buyer who receives defective goods should record the defect, notify the supplier promptly and retain the goods or samples. Delay and use of the goods can weaken a later claim.
In technical disputes a court-appointed expert will usually inspect. We prepare the evidence and the questions for that inspection. Related: construction defect claims.
Discuss Your Commercial DisputeSend us the contract or the key messages and we will tell you where you stand.
WhatsApp us03Purchase Order Disputes
A purchase order can be a binding contract on its own, even without a long agreement. Disputes arise when the supplier's terms and the buyer's terms conflict, and each side says theirs prevailed.
We look at the order of documents, who accepted what and how the parties performed. Conduct often settles which terms applied.
04Service Agreement Performance Disputes
Service disputes involve maintenance, IT, logistics, marketing or professional services. The question is usually whether agreed service levels were met and whether fees are payable if they were not.
Reports, tickets, KPIs and acceptance emails are the evidence. Without them, a claim of poor performance is difficult to prove. Where service has stopped, we also look at termination steps. See breach of contract litigation.
What to do in the next 48 hours
- Notify in writing and quicklyEmail the supplier or customer with order number, problem and requested remedy. Keep the sent copy.
- Preserve samples and recordsPhotograph defects with dates. Keep a sample or the batch in storage.
- Quantify the lossReplacement quotes, extra freight, delay costs and lost sales, each with a supporting document.
Documents we ask for first
- Purchase orders, quotations and specifications
- Delivery notes and goods received notes
- Inspection or test reports
- Complaint emails and responses
- Payment records and invoices
- Photographs and samples
Questions we are asked
Do general terms on the back of an invoice apply?
Only if they were part of the agreement. Whether they were accepted depends on the facts and the way the parties dealt.
Can I withhold payment for defective goods?
Sometimes. It carries risk if the contract has a payment-first clause. Take advice before withholding.
Who pays for an expert?
Usually the party requesting it advances the fee, and the court decides who bears it at the end.
Related disputes
Ready to talk it through?Have the contract, the latest message and any notice in front of you. Call or WhatsApp is fine.
Call nowThis page is general information based on UAE and Dubai legislation as we understand it at the date of drafting. It is not legal advice. Laws are amended, and the right step depends on your documents and facts. Outcomes are never guaranteed.