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EDIFACT message guide · Finance

COLREQ Request for a documentary collection

The UN/EDIFACT message a principal sends its remitting bank to initiate a documentary collection, or to report a direct collection.

Sent by
Principal (usually the exporter)
Received by
Remitting bank
Standard
UN/EDIFACT · Batch message
X12 equivalent
No direct equivalent

What is the EDIFACT COLREQ message?

COLREQ is the UN/EDIFACT request for a documentary collection. The directory defines it as a message sent by the principal to the remitting bank, requesting it to initiate a documentary collection order, or informing it that the principal has initiated a direct documentary collection.

In a documentary collection, the exporter's bank sends shipping documents to the importer's bank, which releases them against payment or acceptance of a draft. It is simpler and cheaper than a letter of credit but gives the exporter less security. The request states the documents, the amount and the release conditions.

How the EDIFACT COLREQ message worksDiagram of the UN/EDIFACT COLREQ Request for a documentary collection message. Principal (usually the exporter) sends it to remitting bank. It usually starts the exchange. Inside the UNB and UNH envelopes, the directory D.21A requires, in the start of message: BGM (Beginning of message), FCA (Financial charges allocation) and DOC (Document/message details) and body and segment groups: the required SG1 loop with FII (Financial institution information), the required SG2 loop with NAD (Name and address), the required SG3 loop with PYT (Payment terms) and the required SG4 loop with MOA (Monetary amount). 3 conditional segment groups are listed by their trigger segment.How the EDIFACT COLREQ message worksRequest for a documentary collection: who sends it, where it fits and what the directory marks mandatory1 WHERE IT FITSUSUALLY FOLLOWSStarts the exchangeCOLREQSENDERPrincipal (usually theexporter)RECEIVERRemitting bankCONTRL syntax report back, if agreedUSUALLY FOLLOWED BYNo business reply expected2 WHAT DIRECTORY D.21A REQUIRESInterchange: sender and recipient IDsUNB … UNZMessage COLREQUNH … UNTSTART OF MESSAGEBGMBeginning of messageFCAFinancial charges allocationDOCDocument/message detailsBODY AND SEGMENT GROUPSMandatory group SG1 · repeats up to 7FIIFinancial institution informationMandatory group SG2 · repeats up to 9NADName and addressMandatory group SG3 · repeats up to 1PYTPayment termsMandatory group SG4 · repeats up to 5MOAMonetary amount+ 3 conditional groups, starting with:TDTGEIAUTBlue box: mandatory segment group. Conditional groups are listed by the trigger segment that starts them; a group is sent only when its data applies.Conditional segments outside groups are not drawn.Structure: mandatory segments and groups in the UN/EDIFACT directory D.21A listing for COLREQ. Your trading partner's implementation guide adds itsown requirements.
How the EDIFACT COLREQ message worksDiagram of the UN/EDIFACT COLREQ Request for a documentary collection message. Principal (usually the exporter) sends it to remitting bank. It usually starts the exchange. Inside the UNB and UNH envelopes, the directory D.21A requires, in the start of message: BGM (Beginning of message), FCA (Financial charges allocation) and DOC (Document/message details) and body and segment groups: the required SG1 loop with FII (Financial institution information), the required SG2 loop with NAD (Name and address), the required SG3 loop with PYT (Payment terms) and the required SG4 loop with MOA (Monetary amount). 3 conditional segment groups are listed by their trigger segment.How the EDIFACT COLREQmessage worksRequest for a documentary collection: whosends it, where it fits and what the directorymarks mandatory1 WHERE IT FITSUSUALLY FOLLOWSStarts the exchangeCOLREQSENDERPrincipal(usually theexporter)RECEIVERRemitting bankCONTRL syntax report back, if agreedUSUALLY FOLLOWED BYNo business reply expected2 WHAT DIRECTORY D.21A REQUIRESInterchange: sender and recipient IDs(UNB … UNZ)Message COLREQ (UNH … UNT)START OF MESSAGEBGMBeginning of messageFCAFinancial charges allocationDOCDocument/message detailsBODY AND SEGMENT GROUPSMandatory group SG1 · repeats upto 7FIIFinancial institutioninformationMandatory group SG2 · repeats upto 9NADName and addressMandatory group SG3 · repeats upto 1PYTPayment terms+ required SG4 (MOA) and 3 conditionalgroups, starting with:TDTGEIAUTBlue box: mandatory segment group. Conditionalgroups are listed by the trigger segment thatstarts them; a group is sent only when its dataapplies. Conditional segments outside groups arenot drawn.Structure: mandatory segments and groups in theUN/EDIFACT directory D.21A listing for COLREQ.Your trading partner's implementation guide adds itsown requirements.

How to read this diagram: the top row shows who sends COLREQ, to whom, and which messages usually come before and after it. The lower part shows what the directory D.21A itself requires: the envelopes around COLREQ and the segments and segment groups it marks mandatory. Conditional groups are listed by their trigger segment rather than drawn in full. This is the directory's minimum, not a trading partner's requirement: a message implementation guide, such as an industry subset or a partner’s own guide, usually makes some conditional groups mandatory, restricts the codes and may use an older directory.

Expand diagram Download SVG

When it is used

  • Collecting payment against shipping documents
  • Releasing documents against acceptance of a draft
  • Notifying the bank of a direct collection

Where it fits in the message flow

This message COLREQ Request for a documentary collection

No other message routinely comes directly before or after COLREQ; it is exchanged when the business event occurs. If the partners agree, the receiver confirms each interchange with a CONTRL syntax and service report.

Structure

Mandatory segments in COLREQ (directory D.21A)

In UN/EDIFACT directory D.21A, the COLREQ message has 32 segment positions arranged in 7 segment groups. These are the segments and segment groups marked mandatory at message level, in order; a mandatory group is shown with the segment that starts it. Segments inside conditional groups are needed only when the group is used. This is the directory’s requirement, not your trading partner’s: each partner’s message implementation guide names the directory it uses, often an older one such as D.96A or D.01B where the structure can differ, makes some conditional segments mandatory and restricts the codes.

  • UNH
  • BGM
  • FCA
  • DOC
  • SG1 (FII)
  • SG2 (NAD)
  • SG3 (PYT)
  • SG4 (MOA)
  • UNT

Practical example

COLREQ in practice

A furniture exporter ships to a long-standing customer abroad on documents-against-payment terms. After shipment, its system sends its bank a COLREQ with the importer's bank, the amount, the documents enclosed and the instruction to release them only against payment. The bank forwards the documents and credits the exporter once the importer pays.

Implementation

Implementation considerations for COLREQ

  • State the release conditions clearly, against payment or against acceptance.
  • List every document being sent with the collection.
  • Follow the applicable ICC rules for collections.
  • Track collections until payment or acceptance is reported.

How ECOM helps

Automate COLREQ with ECOM

Industry

Financial Services

Secure file transfer and B2B integration for banks and financial institutions.

Solution

Financial Document Automation

Automate invoices, remittances, payment files and bank statements from capture to posting.

Industry

Trucking and Transportation

Load tenders, responses, status and freight invoices for carriers, brokers and shippers, integrated with the TMS.

Compare X12 and EDIFACT, or see answers to general questions in the EDI FAQ.

Related messages

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