Contract formation Flashcards
What is a contract?
An agreement that is legally binding.
What are the four stages of a contract?
An offer, an acceptance, consideration and intention to create legal relations.
Who is the offeror?
The person making the offer.
Who is the offeree?
The person to whom the offer is made.
What is an offer?
A proposal of definite terms that is intended to result in a contract if the other party accepts it.
Which case demonstrates that displays in a shop window or on shelves are invitations to treat?
Fisher v Bell
What is an invitation to treat?
A statement to someone which shows a willingness to receive offers or which furthers the bargaining process.
Which case demonstrates that advertisements, brochures of products for sale and price lists are invitations to treat?
Partridge v Crittenden
Which case demonstrates that requests for bids at an auction is an invitation to treat?
British Car auctions v Wright
Which case demonstrates that requests for further information and supplying further information are invitations to treat?
Harvey v Lacey
Which case demonstrates that vending machines and ticket machines make standing offers?
Thornton v Shoe Lane Parking
When can a person not accept an offer?
If they don’t know about it.
What must an offer be?
Effectively communicated.
When will an offer in writing be communicated?
When it is received and read.
When is an offer made verbally communicated?
When it is heard.
What is acceptance?
An unconditional agreement to all the terms of the offer by words or conduct.
What does Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co say about acceptance?
If the acceptance is of a unilateral offer and by conduct, it must be clear that the offeree did the required act with knowledge and the intention of accepting the offer.
What does the case Brinkibon v Stahag Stahl say about acceptance?
In terms of modern methods of instantaneous communication, an acceptance is effective when received by the machine, unless it is out of office hours then acceptance is in effect when the offeree might reasonably expect it to be communicated to the offeror.
What is the postal rule?
Acceptance takes place when the letter of acceptance is posted by the offeree, it doesn’t matter if it gets lost or delayed in the post and never actually reaches the offeror.
What case demonstrates the postal rule?
Adams v Lindsell
What is rejection of an offer?
Once the refusal of an offer has been communicated to the offeror, the offer is at an end and can’t later be accepted if the offeree has a change of mind.
What are the five ways an offer can come to an end?
Rejection, revocation, counter offer, lapse of time or death.
What is revocation of an offer?
The offeror can withdraw the offer at any time before acceptance.
What does the case Byrne v Van Tienhoven say about revocation of an offer?
The revocation must be communicated to the offeree and revocation after the time of acceptance is ineffective.