Consideration under English law
Encyclopedia
Consideration in English law is one of the three main building blocks of a contract
. Consideration can be anything of value (such as an item or service), which each party to a legally binding contract must agree to exchange if the contract is to be valid. If only one party offers consideration, the agreement is not legally a binding contract. In its traditional form, consideration is expressed as the requirement that in order for parties to be able to enforce a promise, they must have given something for it (quid pro quo
): something must be given or promised in exchange or return for the promise. A contract must be "met with" or "supported by" consideration to be enforceable; also, only a person who has provided consideration can enforce a contract. In other words, if an arrangement consists of a promise which is not supported by consideration, then the arrangement is not a legally enforceable contract. Mutual promises constitute consideration for each other. ("I promise you to do X, in consideration for which promise you promise me to do Y").
In Australia
, the bargain theory of consideration prevails, where the act or forebearance of one party or promise thereof is the price for which a promise is bought.
Consideration is executory when a promise to do something in the future is given in exchange for another promise to be done in the future. Consideration is executed when a promise is actually executed, in exchange for another promise to be executed in the future. Consideration is past when a promise has been given or executed before and independently of the other promise. For example, I promised to take you to lunch, and then when we got there I said "you must pay, because I have given you the benefit of my company". This is past consideration and therefore NO consideration.
Consideration can be anything of value (such as an item or service), which each party to a legally binding contract must agree to exchange if the contract is to be valid. If only one party offers consideration, the agreement is not legally a binding contract. In its traditional form, consideration is expressed as the requirement that in order for parties to be able to enforce a promise, they must have given something for it (quid pro quo): something must be given or promised in exchange or return for the promise. A contract must be "met with" or "supported by" consideration to be enforceable; also, only a person who has provided consideration can enforce a contract. In other words, if an arrangement consists of a promise which is not supported by consideration, then the arrangement is not a legally enforceable contract. Mutual promises constitute consideration for each other. ("I promise you to do X, in consideration for which you promise me to do Y").
In Australia, the bargain theory of consideration prevails, where the act or forbearance of one party or promise thereof is the price for which a promise is bought.
How does consideration become acknowledged by the courts?
Consideration, in some way, must be acknowledged, and the legal term for this is ‘sufficient’, therefore the consideration must be sufficient and is usually of monetary value. Another legal term used here is ‘adequate’, this means fair price. However, the consideration does not need to be adequate, but needs to be sufficient to form a contract. An example of this occurred in the case of Thomas v Thomas (1842), where the decision was made that a woman was allowed to reside in a property for £1 a year.
Consideration must be given at the time of agreement, but it does not include previous acts. For example, in the case of Re McArdle (1951), previous work was not seen as consideration in that particular contract for a future arrangement. However, if there is an agreement between parties that previous work is to be included, then that consideration would be seen as valid, this was apparent in Lampleigh v Braithwaite (1615) an in Re Casey’s Patents (1892).
Consideration in a contract must not be illegal, in the case of Foster v Driscoll (1929), this is where goods were smuggled into the USA, and therefore the consideration became illegal.
Consideration should not be a duty which exists currently. For instance, in the case of Collins v Godefroy (1831), a lawyer who attended court as a witness, could not also agree to appear in court. Another case is Stilk v Myrick (1809), this is where sailors had a duty to sail the ship short-handed, therefore, when they promised the captain they would do this, this was not a consideration because it was their duty to do this anyway.
This requirement also imposes a restriction on conditional gifts. This test is an objective test - whether a reasonable person in the position of the offeree would perceive it as a gift as opposed to an offer. For example, the payment of $10,000 for the switching of a television channel is not met with consideration.
How does consideration become acknowledged by the courts?
Consideration, in some way, must be acknowledged, and the legal term for this is ‘sufficient’, therefore the consideration must be sufficient and is usually of monetary value. Another legal term used here is ‘adequate’, this means fair price. However, the consideration does not need to be adequate, but needs to be sufficient to form a contract. An example of this occurred in the case of Thomas v Thomas (1842), where the decision was made that a woman was allowed to reside in a property for £1 a year.
Consideration must be given at the time of agreement, but it does not include previous acts. For example, in the case of Re McArdle (1951), previous work was not seen as consideration in that particular contract for a future arrangement. However, if there is an agreement between parties that previous work is to be included, then that consideration would be seen as valid, this was apparent in Lampleigh v Braithwaite (1615) an in Re Casey’s Patents (1892).
Consideration in a contract must not be illegal, in the case of Foster v Driscoll (1929), this is where goods were smuggled into the USA, and therefore the consideration became illegal.
Consideration should not be a duty which exists currently. For instance, in the case of Collins v Godefroy (1831), a lawyer who attended court as a witness, could not also agree to appear in court. Another case is Stilk v Myrick (1809), in which sailors were under a duty to sail a ship back to port. In the circumstances, it became apparent that they would have to do this short handed, and the captain promised them extra payment if they got the ship home on schedule. When the captain refused to pay, the sailors sued him, and it was held that their promise to perform their existing obligation to sail the ship home was not good consideration for the captain's promise to pay them more. Therefore, the sailors could not enforce the captain's promise to pay them the additional sums.
of a contract, that is, only a party to a contract is permitted to sue upon that contract's terms. (Note that the doctrine of privity has been somewhat altered by the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999
.) Therefore consideration from the promisee was indulgent of the claim. Although consideration must move from the promisee, it does not necessarily have to move to the promisor. The promisee may provide consideration to a third party, if this is agreed at the time the parties contracted (see Bolton v Madden).
The offeree must provide consideration, although the consideration does not have to flow to the offeror. For example, it is good consideration for person A to pay person C in return for services rendered by person B. If there are joint promisees, then consideration need only to move from one of the promisees. (see Price v Easton)
However, if the promisee provides more than what public duty imposes on him, then this is good consideration. In Ward v Byham a mother was under a statutory duty to look after her child. The ex-husband promised to pay her £1 a week if she ensured that the child was well looked after and happy. It was held that notwithstanding the statutory duty imposed on the mother, she could enforce the promise since the act of keeping the baby 'happy' provided additional consideration.
Promising to perform a pre-existing duty owed to one's contracting party also fails to make good consideration. However this rule has been considerably narrowed by recent case law. The general rule is that if a creditor promises to discharge a debt in return for a fraction of payment, in paying the agreed fraction, the promisee is not providing consideration for the promise, as this is merely part performance of a contractual duty already owed. Consequently, the debtor is still liable for the whole amount, as he cannot force the promisor to accept less. A leading example is in Stilk v Myrick
. Stilk, a seaman, agreed with Myrick to sail his boat to the Baltic Sea
and back for £5 per month. During the voyage, two men deserted. Myrick promised he would increase Stilk's wages if Stilk agreed to honour his contract in light of the desertions. Stilk agreed and on return to port, Myrick refused to pay him the extra wages. It was held that Myrick's fresh promise was not enforceable as the consideration Stilk had provided for it, the performance of a duty he already owed to Myrick under contract, was not good consideration for Myrick's promise to increase his wages.
Initially, there were only two exceptions to this rule:
. The Roffey Brothers entered into a contract to refurbish a block of flats for a fixed price of £20,000. They sub-contracted carpentry work to Williams. It became apparent that Williams was threatened by financial difficulties and would not be able to complete his work on time. This would have breached a term in the main contract, incurring a penalty. Roffey Brothers offered to pay Williams an additional £575 for each flat completed. Williams continued to work on this basis, but soon it became apparent that Roffey Brothers were not going to pay the additional money. He ceased work and sued Roffey Brothers for the extra money, for the eight flats he had completed after the promise of additional payment. The Court of Appeal held that Roffey Brothers must pay Williams the extra money, as they had enjoyed practical benefits from the promise they had made to Williams. The benefits they received from it include: Having the work completed on time, not having to spend money and time seeking another carpenter and not having to pay the penalty. In the circumstances, these benefits were sufficient to provide consideration for the promise made to Williams of additional payment. It now seems that the performance of an existing duty may constitute consideration for a new promise, in the circumstances where no duress or fraud are found and where the practical benefits are to the promisor. The performance of an existing contractual duty owed to the promisor is not good consideration for a fresh promise given by the promisor. However, performance of an existing contractual duty owed to a third party can be good consideration, see further below.
According to the Court of Appeal, it is unlikely that either avoiding a breach of contract with a third party, avoiding the trouble and expense of engaging a third party to carry out work or avoiding a penalty clause in a third party contract will be a "practical benefit". In Simon Container Machinery Ltd v Emba Machinery AB, the practical benefit was held to be the avoiding of a breach of contract, which was clearly not an extension of the principle.
This is true unless the debtor provided fresh consideration for the promise. The following, mentioned in Pinnel's Case itself and confirmed by Sibree v. Tripp, may amount to fresh consideration:
Another exception is that part payment of the debt by a third party as consideration for a promise to discharge the creditor from the full sum, prevents the creditor then suing the debtor for full payment (see Welby v Drake).
The Court of Appeal, in Re Selectmove Ltd
stated that the practical benefit doctrine arising from Williams v Roffey cannot be used as an additional exception to the rule. In that case, it was held that the doctrine only applies where the original promise was a promise to pay extra and not to pay less. It should be noted, however, that the Court of Appeal in Re Selectmove were unable to distinguish Foakes v. Beer
(a House of Lords
decision), in order to apply Williams v Roffey (Court of Appeal). It therefore remains to be seen whether the House of Lords would decide this point differently. In any event, the equitable principle of promissory estoppel may provide the debtor with relief.
A promise to perform a pre-existing contractual duty owed to a third party (as opposed to the performance of that duty) may also amount to consideration (Pau On v Lau Yiu Long).
English contract law
English contract law is a body of law regulating contracts in England and Wales. With its roots in the lex mercatoria and the activism of the judiciary during the industrial revolution, it shares a heritage with countries across the Commonwealth , and the United States...
. Consideration can be anything of value (such as an item or service), which each party to a legally binding contract must agree to exchange if the contract is to be valid. If only one party offers consideration, the agreement is not legally a binding contract. In its traditional form, consideration is expressed as the requirement that in order for parties to be able to enforce a promise, they must have given something for it (quid pro quo
Quid pro quo
Quid pro quo most often means a more-or-less equal exchange or substitution of goods or services. English speakers often use the term to mean "a favour for a favour" and the phrases with almost identical meaning include: "give and take", "tit for tat", "this for that", and "you scratch my back,...
): something must be given or promised in exchange or return for the promise. A contract must be "met with" or "supported by" consideration to be enforceable; also, only a person who has provided consideration can enforce a contract. In other words, if an arrangement consists of a promise which is not supported by consideration, then the arrangement is not a legally enforceable contract. Mutual promises constitute consideration for each other. ("I promise you to do X, in consideration for which promise you promise me to do Y").
In Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, the bargain theory of consideration prevails, where the act or forebearance of one party or promise thereof is the price for which a promise is bought.
Value
Consideration for a particular promise exists where some right, interest, profit or benefit accrues (or will accrue) to the promisor as a direct result of some forbearance, detriment, loss or responsibility that has been given, suffered or undertaken by the promisee. The consideration must be executory or executed, but not past.Consideration is executory when a promise to do something in the future is given in exchange for another promise to be done in the future. Consideration is executed when a promise is actually executed, in exchange for another promise to be executed in the future. Consideration is past when a promise has been given or executed before and independently of the other promise. For example, I promised to take you to lunch, and then when we got there I said "you must pay, because I have given you the benefit of my company". This is past consideration and therefore NO consideration.
Consideration can be anything of value (such as an item or service), which each party to a legally binding contract must agree to exchange if the contract is to be valid. If only one party offers consideration, the agreement is not legally a binding contract. In its traditional form, consideration is expressed as the requirement that in order for parties to be able to enforce a promise, they must have given something for it (quid pro quo): something must be given or promised in exchange or return for the promise. A contract must be "met with" or "supported by" consideration to be enforceable; also, only a person who has provided consideration can enforce a contract. In other words, if an arrangement consists of a promise which is not supported by consideration, then the arrangement is not a legally enforceable contract. Mutual promises constitute consideration for each other. ("I promise you to do X, in consideration for which you promise me to do Y").
In Australia, the bargain theory of consideration prevails, where the act or forbearance of one party or promise thereof is the price for which a promise is bought.
- ex nudo pacto actio non oritur
- Dyer's caseDyer's caseDyer's case 2 Hen. V, fol. 5, pl. 26 is an old English contract law case concerning restraint of trade and the doctrine of consideration.-Facts:...
(1414) 2 Hen. 5, 5 Pl. 26 - Lucy v Walwyn (1561) KB 27/1026, m. 76; 94 Seldon Soc. 268, early case on the doctrine of consideration, concerning an executory contractExecutory contractAn executory contract is a contract which has not yet been performed or executed. Although material, an obligation to pay money does not usually make a contract executory. An obligation is material if a breach of contract would result from the failure to satisfy the obligation...
where the plaintiff recovered damages for the loss of a bargain. - Thomas v Thomas (1842) 2 QB 851
- White v BluettWhite v BluettWhite v Bluett 23 LJ Ex 36 is an English contract law case, concerning the scope of consideration in English law.-Facts:Mr Bluett had lent his son some money. Mr Bluett died. The executor of Mr Bluett's estate was Mr White. He sued the son to pay back the money...
, Bluett, when sued by his father’s executors for an outstanding debt to his father, claimed that his father had promised to discharge him from it in return for him stopping complaining about property distribution. The Court held that the cessation of complaints was of no economic value; thus, Bluett’s father had received no real consideration for the promise, and the debt was enforceable at law. - Currie v MisaCurrie v MisaCurrie v Misa LR 10 Ex 153; LR 1 App Cas 554, is an English contract law case, which in the Exchequer Chamber contains a famous statement by Lush J giving the definition of consideration in English law. Lush J said,-Facts:...
(1875) LR 10 Ex 153, 162 - Bolton v Madden (1873) LR 9 QB 55, 56, Blackburn J, ‘The general rule is that an executory agreement, by which the plaintiff agrees to do something on the terms that the defendant agrees to do something else, may be enforced if what the plaintiff has agreed to do is either for the benefit of the defendant or to the trouble or prejudice of the plaintiff.’
- Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Co Ltd v Selfridge & Co Ltd [1915] AC 847, 855, Lord Dunedin, "An act or forbearance of one party, or the promise thereof, is the price for which the promise of the other is bought and the promise thus given for value is enforceable."
Adequacy
For consideration to be good consideration, it must be of some value, even if it is minimal value. There is no requirement that the consideration be commensurate in economic terms to the original promise. Nominal consideration will suffice as good consideration for a contract, Courts will not measure the adequacy of the consideration as it is up to the parties to decide the subjective worth of each promise.- Chappell & Co Ltd v. Nestle Co Ltd [1960] AC 87, Lord Somervell, ‘A contracting party can stipulate for what consideration he chooses. A peppercorn does not cease to be good consideration if it is established that the promisor does not like pepper and will throw away the corn.’
How does consideration become acknowledged by the courts?
Consideration, in some way, must be acknowledged, and the legal term for this is ‘sufficient’, therefore the consideration must be sufficient and is usually of monetary value. Another legal term used here is ‘adequate’, this means fair price. However, the consideration does not need to be adequate, but needs to be sufficient to form a contract. An example of this occurred in the case of Thomas v Thomas (1842), where the decision was made that a woman was allowed to reside in a property for £1 a year.
Consideration must be given at the time of agreement, but it does not include previous acts. For example, in the case of Re McArdle (1951), previous work was not seen as consideration in that particular contract for a future arrangement. However, if there is an agreement between parties that previous work is to be included, then that consideration would be seen as valid, this was apparent in Lampleigh v Braithwaite (1615) an in Re Casey’s Patents (1892).
Consideration in a contract must not be illegal, in the case of Foster v Driscoll (1929), this is where goods were smuggled into the USA, and therefore the consideration became illegal.
Consideration should not be a duty which exists currently. For instance, in the case of Collins v Godefroy (1831), a lawyer who attended court as a witness, could not also agree to appear in court. Another case is Stilk v Myrick (1809), this is where sailors had a duty to sail the ship short-handed, therefore, when they promised the captain they would do this, this was not a consideration because it was their duty to do this anyway.
Illusory consideration
There must be some kind of connection between a promise and the consideration offered to support the promise. It is no consideration to "refrain from a course of conduct which it was never intended to pursue" (Arrale v Costain Civil Engineering Ltd [1976] 1 Lloyd's Rep 98). The consideration must have been at least an inducement to enter into the promise.This requirement also imposes a restriction on conditional gifts. This test is an objective test - whether a reasonable person in the position of the offeree would perceive it as a gift as opposed to an offer. For example, the payment of $10,000 for the switching of a television channel is not met with consideration.
Forbearing to sue
- Callisher v BischoffsheimCallisher v BischoffsheimCallisher v Bischoffsheim LR 5 QB 449 is an English contract law case concerning consideration. It held that the compromise of a disputed claim made bonâ fide is a good consideration for a promise, even if it ultimately appears that the claim was wholly unfounded.-Facts:Callisher alleged that...
(1870) LR 5 QB 449, forbearance to sue in a groundless action still good consideration; honest mistake.
How does consideration become acknowledged by the courts?
Consideration, in some way, must be acknowledged, and the legal term for this is ‘sufficient’, therefore the consideration must be sufficient and is usually of monetary value. Another legal term used here is ‘adequate’, this means fair price. However, the consideration does not need to be adequate, but needs to be sufficient to form a contract. An example of this occurred in the case of Thomas v Thomas (1842), where the decision was made that a woman was allowed to reside in a property for £1 a year.
Consideration must be given at the time of agreement, but it does not include previous acts. For example, in the case of Re McArdle (1951), previous work was not seen as consideration in that particular contract for a future arrangement. However, if there is an agreement between parties that previous work is to be included, then that consideration would be seen as valid, this was apparent in Lampleigh v Braithwaite (1615) an in Re Casey’s Patents (1892).
Consideration in a contract must not be illegal, in the case of Foster v Driscoll (1929), this is where goods were smuggled into the USA, and therefore the consideration became illegal.
Consideration should not be a duty which exists currently. For instance, in the case of Collins v Godefroy (1831), a lawyer who attended court as a witness, could not also agree to appear in court. Another case is Stilk v Myrick (1809), in which sailors were under a duty to sail a ship back to port. In the circumstances, it became apparent that they would have to do this short handed, and the captain promised them extra payment if they got the ship home on schedule. When the captain refused to pay, the sailors sued him, and it was held that their promise to perform their existing obligation to sail the ship home was not good consideration for the captain's promise to pay them more. Therefore, the sailors could not enforce the captain's promise to pay them the additional sums.
Privity
A promise is enforceable if it is supported by consideration, that is, where consideration has moved from the promisee. For example, in the case of Tweddle v Atkinson, John Tweddle promised William Guy that he would pay a sum of money to the child of William Guy, and likewise William Guy promised John Tweddle that he would pay a sum of money to the child of John Tweddle, upon the marriage of the two children to each other. However, William Guy failed to pay the son of John Tweddle, who then sued his executors for the amount promised. It was held that the son could not enforce the promise made to his father, as he himself had not actually given consideration for it - it was his father who had done so instead. The son didn't receive any consideration, so he cannot enforce the promise. This particular rule of consideration forms the basis of the doctrine of privityPrivity in English law
Privity is a doctrine in English contract law that covers the relationship between parties to a contract and other parties or agents. At its most basic level, the rule is that a contract can neither give rights to, nor impose obligations on, anyone who is not a party to the original agreement, ie a...
of a contract, that is, only a party to a contract is permitted to sue upon that contract's terms. (Note that the doctrine of privity has been somewhat altered by the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999
Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999
The Contracts Act 1999 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that significantly reformed the common law Doctrine of Privity and "thereby [removed] one of the most universally disliked and criticised blots on the legal landscape"...
.) Therefore consideration from the promisee was indulgent of the claim. Although consideration must move from the promisee, it does not necessarily have to move to the promisor. The promisee may provide consideration to a third party, if this is agreed at the time the parties contracted (see Bolton v Madden).
The offeree must provide consideration, although the consideration does not have to flow to the offeror. For example, it is good consideration for person A to pay person C in return for services rendered by person B. If there are joint promisees, then consideration need only to move from one of the promisees. (see Price v Easton)
Pre-existing duties
If the promisee provides what he was required by public law to do in any event in return for a promise, promised performance of existing duty is not good consideration. In Collins v Godefrey Godefrey promised to pay Collins for his giving of evidence. It was held that Collins could not enforce the promise as he was under a statutory duty to give evidence in any event.However, if the promisee provides more than what public duty imposes on him, then this is good consideration. In Ward v Byham a mother was under a statutory duty to look after her child. The ex-husband promised to pay her £1 a week if she ensured that the child was well looked after and happy. It was held that notwithstanding the statutory duty imposed on the mother, she could enforce the promise since the act of keeping the baby 'happy' provided additional consideration.
- Glasbrook Ltd v Glamorgan County Council [1925] AC 270
Promising to perform a pre-existing duty owed to one's contracting party also fails to make good consideration. However this rule has been considerably narrowed by recent case law. The general rule is that if a creditor promises to discharge a debt in return for a fraction of payment, in paying the agreed fraction, the promisee is not providing consideration for the promise, as this is merely part performance of a contractual duty already owed. Consequently, the debtor is still liable for the whole amount, as he cannot force the promisor to accept less. A leading example is in Stilk v Myrick
Stilk v Myrick
Stilk v Myrick [1809] is an English contract law case of the High Court on the subject of consideration. In his verdict, the judge, Lord Ellenborough decided that in cases where an individual was bound to do a duty under an existing contract, that duty could not be considered valid consideration...
. Stilk, a seaman, agreed with Myrick to sail his boat to the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
and back for £5 per month. During the voyage, two men deserted. Myrick promised he would increase Stilk's wages if Stilk agreed to honour his contract in light of the desertions. Stilk agreed and on return to port, Myrick refused to pay him the extra wages. It was held that Myrick's fresh promise was not enforceable as the consideration Stilk had provided for it, the performance of a duty he already owed to Myrick under contract, was not good consideration for Myrick's promise to increase his wages.
Initially, there were only two exceptions to this rule:
- Hanson v Royden, the promisee has done, or has promised to do, more than he was obliged to do under his contract.
- Hartley v PonsonbyHartley v PonsonbyHartley v Ponsonby [1857] 26 LJ QB 322 is a leading judgment on the subject of consideration in English contract law. The judgment constituted an amendment to the precedent set by Stilk v Myrick that allowed contractual duties to be considered valid consideration for a future contract if the duties...
before the fresh promise was made, circumstances had arisen which would have entitled the promisee to refuse to carry out his obligations under his contract.
Factual benefits
However, the strictness of this rule was severely limited in Williams v Roffey Bros & Nicholls (Contractors) LtdWilliams v Roffey Bros & Nicholls (Contractors) Ltd
Williams v Roffey Bros & Nicholls Ltd [1989] is a leading English contract law case, which decided that in varying a contract, the court will be quick to find consideration, if "factual benefits" are given from one to another party.-Facts:...
. The Roffey Brothers entered into a contract to refurbish a block of flats for a fixed price of £20,000. They sub-contracted carpentry work to Williams. It became apparent that Williams was threatened by financial difficulties and would not be able to complete his work on time. This would have breached a term in the main contract, incurring a penalty. Roffey Brothers offered to pay Williams an additional £575 for each flat completed. Williams continued to work on this basis, but soon it became apparent that Roffey Brothers were not going to pay the additional money. He ceased work and sued Roffey Brothers for the extra money, for the eight flats he had completed after the promise of additional payment. The Court of Appeal held that Roffey Brothers must pay Williams the extra money, as they had enjoyed practical benefits from the promise they had made to Williams. The benefits they received from it include: Having the work completed on time, not having to spend money and time seeking another carpenter and not having to pay the penalty. In the circumstances, these benefits were sufficient to provide consideration for the promise made to Williams of additional payment. It now seems that the performance of an existing duty may constitute consideration for a new promise, in the circumstances where no duress or fraud are found and where the practical benefits are to the promisor. The performance of an existing contractual duty owed to the promisor is not good consideration for a fresh promise given by the promisor. However, performance of an existing contractual duty owed to a third party can be good consideration, see further below.
According to the Court of Appeal, it is unlikely that either avoiding a breach of contract with a third party, avoiding the trouble and expense of engaging a third party to carry out work or avoiding a penalty clause in a third party contract will be a "practical benefit". In Simon Container Machinery Ltd v Emba Machinery AB, the practical benefit was held to be the avoiding of a breach of contract, which was clearly not an extension of the principle.
This is true unless the debtor provided fresh consideration for the promise. The following, mentioned in Pinnel's Case itself and confirmed by Sibree v. Tripp, may amount to fresh consideration:
- If the promisee offers part payment earlier than full payment was due, and this is of benefit to the creditor;
- If the promisee offers part payment at a different place than where full payment was due, and this is of benefit to the creditor; or,
- If the promisee pays the debt in part by another chattel (note, however, that part payment by cheque, where full payment was due by another means, is not consideration (see D & C Builders Ltd v. Rees)).
Another exception is that part payment of the debt by a third party as consideration for a promise to discharge the creditor from the full sum, prevents the creditor then suing the debtor for full payment (see Welby v Drake).
The Court of Appeal, in Re Selectmove Ltd
Re Selectmove Ltd
Re Selectmove Ltd [1995] 1 WLR 474 is an English contract law case, concerning the doctrine of consideration, and part payments of debt.-Facts:Selectmove Ltd owed the Inland Revenue substantial sums in outstanding tax and national insurance...
stated that the practical benefit doctrine arising from Williams v Roffey cannot be used as an additional exception to the rule. In that case, it was held that the doctrine only applies where the original promise was a promise to pay extra and not to pay less. It should be noted, however, that the Court of Appeal in Re Selectmove were unable to distinguish Foakes v. Beer
Foakes v. Beer
Foakes v Beer [1884] is an English contract law case, which applied the controversial Pre-existing Duty Rule in the context of part payments of debts. It is a leading case from the House of Lords on the legal concept of consideration. It established the rule that prevents parties from discharging...
(a House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
decision), in order to apply Williams v Roffey (Court of Appeal). It therefore remains to be seen whether the House of Lords would decide this point differently. In any event, the equitable principle of promissory estoppel may provide the debtor with relief.
- Atlas Express Ltd v KafcoAtlas Express Ltd v KafcoAtlas Express v Kafco Ltd [1989] QB 833 is an English contract law case relating to duress.-Facts:Kafco Ltd had a contract to supply Woolworths with baskets. They had a ‘trading agreement’ with Atlas Express for at least six months to do the deliveries. Atlas Express realised it had underestimated...
[1989] QB 833
Existing duties to third parties
Consideration for a promise can be the performance of a contractual duty owed to someone other than the promisor (see Shadwell v Shadwell; confirmed by The Eurymedon). In Shadwell, Shadwell was under a contractual duty with a third party to marry. Shadwell’s uncle promised to pay him £150 per year after he was married. It was held that Shadwell marrying was good consideration, notwithstanding that he was obliged by a contract with a third party to marry in any event.A promise to perform a pre-existing contractual duty owed to a third party (as opposed to the performance of that duty) may also amount to consideration (Pau On v Lau Yiu Long).
- Shadwell v ShadwellShadwell v ShadwellShadwell v Shadwell [1860] is an English contract law case, which held that it would be a valid consideration for the court to enforce a contract if a pre-existing duty was performed, so long as it was for a third party.-Facts:...
(1860) 9 CBNS 159; 42 ER 62 - New Zealand Shipping Co Ltd v A M Satterthwaite & Co Ltd [1975] AC 154
Estoppel
- High Trees Case [1947] KB 130
- Hughes v Metropolitan Railway Co (1877) 2 App Cas 439
- D & C Builders v Rees [1966] 2 QB 617
- Ogilvy v Hope DaviesOgilvy v Hope DaviesOgilvy v Hope Davies [1976] 1 All ER 683 is an English contract law case concerning promissory estoppel.-Facts:Ogilvy was selling the Creech Hill Farmhouse, Cranborne to Hope Davies. An abstract of title to the house needed to be sent to Hope Davies' solicitors, but Ogilvy, as a trustee failed to...
[1976] 1 All ER 683 - Combe v Combe [1951] 2 KB 215
- Re Selectmove LtdRe Selectmove LtdRe Selectmove Ltd [1995] 1 WLR 474 is an English contract law case, concerning the doctrine of consideration, and part payments of debt.-Facts:Selectmove Ltd owed the Inland Revenue substantial sums in outstanding tax and national insurance...
[1995] 1 WLR 474 - Collier v P&MJ Wright (Holdings) Ltd [2007] EWCA Civ 1329
- Waltons Stores (Interstate Ltd) v Maher (1988) 164 CLR 387
- Crabb v Arun District CouncilCrabb v Arun District CouncilCrabb v Arun District Council [1975] is a leading property and contract case concerning "proprietary estoppel". Lord Denning MR affirmed that where agreements concern the acquisition of rights over land, there is no need for both parties to provide a consideration for upholding the bargain...
[1976] 1 Ch 170
- Avon County Council v Howlett [1983] WLR 603, a person can be estopped from denying what he said in a representation
Alternatives
- Carlill v Carbolic Smoke Ball Co [1893] 1 QB 256, AL Smith LJ, ‘I understand that if there is no consideration for a promise, it may be a promise in honour, or a nudum pactum; but if anything else is meant, I do not understand it. I do not understand what a bargain or a promise or an agreement in honour is unless it is one on which an action cannot be brought because it is nudum pactum. In my judgment, this first point fails, and this was an offer intended to be acted upon, and, when acted upon and the conditions performed, constituted a promise to pay.’
- Antons Trawling Co Ltd v Smith [2003] 2 NZLR 23, Baragwanath J, ‘The importance of consideration is as a valuable signal that the parties intend to be bound by their agreement, rather than an end in itself. Where the parties who have already made such intention clear by entering legal relations have acted upon an agreement to a variation, in the absence of policy reasons to the contrary, they should be bound by their agreement.’
- UNIDROIT Principles (2004) Article 2.1.2 and 3.2