The letterBusiness · Formal notice to the supplier
Non-conforming goods from a French supplier: wrong delivery, transport damage or hidden defect, the deadlines and the formal notice
Between businesses in France, it all depends on the problem: goods that differ or are short are a failure to deliver (Civil Code, articles 1603 and 1604); transport damage calls for a reasoned protest to the carrier within 3 days (Commercial Code, article L133-3); a hidden defect must be brought to court within 2 years of discovery (Civil Code, article 1648). The formal notice opens the remedies.
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General legal information with official references and dated checks. It is not personalised advice: for a decision that commits you, have your situation checked by a qualified professional.
Let’s look at your situation
Describe the order, what was delivered and when, the defect found and what the supplier’s terms say.
Example questions
Your question carries over after signup. Maximum 400 characters. Avoid health data and names.
Which deadline is running, and which formal notice should go to the supplier?
Give what is wrong, the date of receipt, the date of the sale, the date a hidden defect came to light, whether the balance is still unpaid and what you want: the letter dates the deadlines and drafts the formal notice, in French, for the French supplier. The example: a delivery received on 14 September 2026 that does not match the order of 1 September, balance unpaid.
Fictional example · the formal notice to the supplier
Failure to deliver: serve formal notice on the supplier; withholding the balance requires a serious enough failure.
- 5-year limitation, counted from receipt
- 14 September 2031
- Remedy sought
- A conforming delivery
Lettre recommandée avec avis de réception
[Raison sociale et numéro SIREN][Adresse]
[Raison sociale du fournisseur][Adresse]
À [ville], le [date]
ObjetMise en demeure : marchandise non conforme à la commande
Madame, Monsieur,
Le 14 septembre 2026, nous avons reçu la livraison de notre commande n° [numéro] du 1er septembre 2026.
La marchandise livrée ne correspond pas à la commande : [référence ou quantité livrée, et ce qui était commandé]. Vous n’avez donc pas exécuté votre obligation de délivrance (articles 1603 et 1604 du Code civil).
Nous vous mettons en demeure de nous livrer, dans un délai de [quinze jours], une marchandise conforme à la commande, à vos frais (article 1221 du Code civil).
Dans l’attente, nous suspendons le paiement du solde de la facture n° [numéro], l’inexécution étant suffisamment grave (article 1219 du Code civil).
Nous tenons la marchandise à votre disposition et restons ouverts à une solution amiable.
Veuillez agréer, Madame, Monsieur, nos salutations distinguées.[Nom, qualité et signature]
Pièces jointes : le bon de commande ; le bon de livraison avec les réserves ; les photos ou le constat du défaut
Indicative result: the supplier’s terms may set a shorter complaint period; the 3 days skip only statutory public holidays, Sundays included in the count, and the 5-year limitation may start later than receipt. The letter is in French because the French supplier works in French.
Wrong delivery, transport damage or hidden defect: how do you classify the problem?
The seller must deliver the thing sold and guarantee it (French Civil Code, article 1603). A wrong reference or a missing quantity is a failure to deliver. A hidden defect, existing before the sale, that makes the thing unfit for its use falls under the warranty against hidden defects (article 1641).
The seller is not liable for apparent defects the buyer could have seen for themselves (article 1642): check the delivery on receipt and write precise reservations on the delivery note.
Sources: C. civ. 1603 · C. civ. 1641 · C. civ. 1642
A damaged delivery: what can you do against the carrier?
Receipt ends any claim against the carrier for damage or partial loss unless, within the 3 days that follow, public holidays not counted, you notify them of a reasoned protest, by a judicial officer’s writ or registered letter. A request for an expert assessment within that time counts as a protest (French Commercial Code, article L133-3).
A contrary clause is void, except for international carriage, which follows its own rules. This deadline concerns the carrier, not your claim against the supplier.
Source: C. com. L133-3
How long do you have to act against the supplier?
For a hidden defect, the action must be brought within 2 years of discovery (Civil Code, article 1648), and at the latest 20 years after the sale made by the supplier (article 2232; Cour de cassation, mixed chamber, 21 July 2023, no. 20-10.763). A mere complaint is not the court action this deadline requires.
For other failures, obligations arising from trade are time-barred after 5 years, unless a shorter special period applies (Commercial Code, article L110-4).
Sources: C. civ. 1648 · C. civ. 2232 · Cass. ch. mixte, 21 juill. 2023, n° 20-10.763 · C. com. L110-4
Can you withhold payment of the balance?
Yes if the supplier’s failure is serious enough: a party may then refuse to perform its own obligation, even when due (Civil Code, article 1219). For a minor defect, withholding everything exposes you to a claim for payment.
After a formal notice, you can also demand performance, unless impossible or manifestly disproportionate (article 1221), obtain a price reduction or the termination of the sale (article 1217).
Sources: C. civ. 1219 · C. civ. 1221 · C. civ. 1217
Which ground, which deadline and which remedy, depending on the problem?
The deadlines do not replace each other: they add up according to the ground relied on.
| Problem | Ground | Deadline | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Different reference or quantity | Delivery, articles 1603 and 1604 | 5 years, article L110-4 | Conforming delivery, price reduction, termination |
| Damage or loss in transport | Commercial Code, article L133-3 | 3 days after receipt, public holidays not counted | Reasoned protest to the carrier |
| Apparent defect not reported | Article 1642 | No claim under the hidden-defect warranty | Reservations on delivery |
| Hidden defect | Articles 1641 and 1644 | 2 years after discovery, 20 years after the sale at most | Return the thing for the price, or keep it with a reduction |
The business mediator (Médiateur des entreprises), free and confidential, takes cases online; during mediation between businesses, the deadlines for going to court are suspended (fiche F38216).
Sources: C. civ. 1603 · C. com. L110-4 · C. com. L133-3 · C. civ. 1642 · C. civ. 1641 · C. civ. 1644 · C. civ. 1648 · Service-public F38216
What does article L133-3 of the French Commercial Code say?
The 3-day text, often discovered too late.
La réception des objets transportés éteint toute action contre le voiturier pour avarie ou perte partielle si dans les trois jours, non compris les jours fériés, qui suivent celui de cette réception, le destinataire n’a pas notifié au voiturier, par acte extrajudiciaire ou par lettre recommandée, sa protestation motivée.
In English, briefly (our summary, not an official translation): Receipt of the goods carried ends any claim against the carrier for damage or partial loss if, within the three days following that receipt, public holidays not counted, the consignee has not notified the carrier of a reasoned protest, by a judicial officer’s writ or by registered letter. Our note: the next paragraphs treat a request for an expert assessment within that time as a protest, and make any contrary clause void, except for international carriage.
What do businesses ask about a non-conforming delivery in France?
Does the consumer legal conformity guarantee apply?
No: it protects consumers. Between businesses, the Civil Code rules on delivery and on hidden defects apply.
Can the supplier’s terms exclude the warranty?
A clause can exclude the warranty for hidden defects the seller did not know of (article 1643), but any clause that empties the essential obligation of its substance is deemed unwritten (article 1170).
How do I terminate the sale without going to court?
By notice, at your own risk: except in an emergency, a prior formal notice must state that, failing performance within a reasonable time, you will terminate the contract (Civil Code, article 1226).
The supplier did not deliver on the agreed date: what now?
You can ask for the sale to be terminated or for delivery, if the delay is the supplier’s doing (Civil Code, article 1610).
Is there mediation between businesses?
Yes: the business mediator, free, fast and confidential, contacts the business within 7 days of the online filing (fiche F38216).
Which texts is a claim against the supplier based on?
- Civil Code, article 1603 (deliver and guarantee)Légifrance
- Civil Code, article 1604 (delivery)Légifrance
- Civil Code, article 1641 (hidden defects)Légifrance
- Civil Code, article 1642 (apparent defects)Légifrance
- Civil Code, article 1644 (return or keep the thing)Légifrance
- Civil Code, article 1648 (2 years after discovery)Légifrance
- Civil Code, article 1219 (withholding performance)Légifrance
- Civil Code, article 1221 (performance in kind)Légifrance
- Civil Code, article 1226 (termination by notice)Légifrance
- Civil Code, article 1170 (essential obligation)Légifrance
- Commercial Code, article L133-3 (protest to the carrier)Légifrance
- Commercial Code, article L110-4 (5-year limitation)Légifrance
- Civil Code, article 2232 (20-year long-stop)Légifrance
- Cour de cassation, mixed chamber, 21 July 2023, no. 20-10.763 (hidden defect, long-stop)Légifrance
- Civil Code, article 1217 (remedies for non-performance)Légifrance
- Civil Code, article 1643 (clause excluding the warranty)Légifrance
- Civil Code, article 1610 (late delivery)Légifrance
- Business mediator (fiche F38216, in French)Service-public.fr · checked on 27 November 2024
Texts cited last checked: 27 September 2026