开证行应申请人开出一份即期可转让自由议付信用证,经通知行通知给受益人。因信用证中同时存在 "FREE ON BOARD PLANE" 和 "FREIGHT PREPAID" 条款的问题,通知行要求开证行加以澄清。开证行于是应申请人要求将 "FREIGHT PREPAID" 改为 "FREIGHT TO COLLECT", 并向通知行发出修改电。
受益人向寄单行提交信用证项下的单据后,寄单行发现单据上显示的仍然是信用证修改前的"FREIGHT PREPAID"条款,认为构成不符点,但在寄往开证行的面函上注明"DUE TO DISCREPANCY(IES) IDENTLFIED DOCUMENTS ARE FOR WARDED ON A ACCEPTANCE BASIS UNDER PROTECTION OF UCP500 ARTICLE(F),PLEASE CONTACT APPLICANT FOR ACCEPTNCE。DISCREPANCE:AIR WAYBILL MARKED FREIGHT PREPAID IN LIEU OF FREIGHT TO COLLECT"。开证行收到单据后。以上述不符点为由提出拒付。 而受益人以未接受信用证修改为由,要求开证行履行付款责任。
试问开证行是否应当履行付款之责?