CA Foundation Exam June 2023 » CA Foundation Study Material » Business Laws » Proper offer and proper acceptance

Proper offer and proper acceptance

What are proper offers and proper acceptance? Learn about the offer and acceptance contract law with examples.

Introduction:

An offer and acceptance contract is an agreement where the parties offer goods, services, money, or promises to each other. For an offer to be accepted, there must be a meeting of the minds. If the parties have not agreed on all terms of the contract, they have not met the standards. Before it becomes a binding contract, an offeree must accept an offer in most jurisdictions.

 Some common types of contracts are:

  • Agency contract: A contract in which one party (the agent) agrees to act on behalf of another party (the principal) in negotiating or arranging a transaction with a third party.
  • Lease agreement: A lease is an agreement where one person (lessor) lets another person (lessee) use property for a certain period for rent or other consideration.
  • Sale agreement: This agreement between two parties whereby one transfers title to the property, goods. Etc.

 Offer and acceptance:

An offer is a statement or action that indicates a willingness to agree. Acceptance is an agreement to the terms of an offer by the other party.

An offer must be communicated to the person who is meant to accept it and may be made by words or conduct. The offer must be communicated to the other party and the other party must accept the offer.

The person who makes an offer is called the “offeror” and the person who accepts it is called the “offeree.” The communication of an offer can be done verbally, in writing, electronically, or by any other means.

An offer is not valid until the offeree has accepted it. It may be withdrawn before acceptance, but it cannot cancel.

  The Indian Contracts Act, 1872 defines the terms offer and acceptance. Section 2(A) of the Act states that an offer is a definite and authentic expression of willingness to contract on specific terms. 

An acceptance is an agreement between the parties that such an offer has been accepted. The person who makes an offer can withdraw it at any time before acceptance but not afterwards.

 Valid offer must have some specifications as follows.

  • The valid offer must be communicated in a manner that is both clear and compelling. This is the only way it will be understood clearly by the customer.
  • A valid offer has clear and definite terms. It should be stated in an understandable way for all parties involved. It includes an expiry date for the offer and product or service specifications.
  • A valid offer creates a legal relationship between the two parties. It is a contract that the other party has accepted. 
  • There are many ways to process a valid offer. It can do it either oral or written.

 A valid acceptance must meet these criteria:

– It must be in writing.

– It must unambiguously refer to the offer and state that the offeree accepts it.

– It must not impose conditions that materially alter the terms of the offer.

– It cannot purport to accept offers other than those made by or on behalf of the offeror.

– It cannot have been given by or on behalf of someone who had no authority to accept on behalf of the offeree unless it has been accepted by or on behalf of that person with knowledge that they had no such authority.

 Offer and acceptance contract law notes

An Offer and Acceptance Contract is a type of contract that requires the acceptance of an offer for it to become binding. This type of contract is also called “offer and acceptance” or “offer and promise.”

 

The offeror, or person making the offer, must have the intention to be bound by what they are offering. The offeree, or person receiving the offer, must know about the offer and accept it for it to be accepted.

 This type of contract is only valid if a mutual agreement between both parties is involved. It does not matter if one party has made a mistake in agreeing to this contract because as long as both parties agree on this contract, it will be valid.

The law of offer and acceptance is a part of contract law. It governs how an offer is made, accepted and becomes a binding contract.

 The following rules govern the law of offer and acceptance:

1) An offer must be clear enough to identify the nature of the goods or services being offered.

2) The offeree has to accept the offer within a reasonable period.

3) The offeree must not have agreed to any other agreements that would conflict with this agreement.

4) The offeree must not have made any other agreements that would conflict with this agreement before they were aware of the offer.

5) There are no restrictions on who can offer or how it can be done so long as it complies with all others.

Conclusion:

The contract is when the offer is accepted. The acceptance can be made in several ways, including verbally, by a written acceptance, or by performing an act that indicates the intent to be bound. When drafting a contract, it is essential to the conclusion. The agreement can be made in several ways, including verbally, by written acceptance, or by performing an act that indicates an intention to fulfil obligations under the contract.

faq

Frequently Asked Question

Get answers to the most common queries related to the CA Examination Preparation.

Who can accept an offer?

Ans: The offeree, or the individual to whom the offer is made, is the only one who can accept it. 

What is meant by acceptance of an offer?

Ans: Acceptance refers to a buyer’s pledge or acts indicating his willingness to be bound by the terms and con...Read full

What is an offer and acceptance in a contract?

Ans: Acceptance happens when an offeree accepts to be mutually bound by the contract’s terms in exchange for c...Read full