Business and Dealings

Early settlement discount

Q: We have customers who buy on credit. Is it permissible for us to tell them that we will give them a discount if they pay before the due date? For example, the customer purchases goods worth R100 000 on a three month credit basis. The customer is told, “If you pay within one month, you will receive a 10% discount”. Is this permissible? 

Forcing the purchaser to pay more than the agreed amount

Q: I bought a property from friend. We agreed to close our deal a year later. I paid him 40,0000 $ advanced. We signed a legal binding agreement. All good. After one year I asked to close our deal and he started asking more money. Property value gone up. I told him no, you are breaking your promise and agreement. He put pressure on me. Literally black mailing me. Otherwise I go to court and suffer more financial hardship. I surrender and promise verbally to pay 40k extra by taking a loan and paying him off. Now the deal is closed and I feel I should not give extra money that I don't even have but I feel bad that I am breaking my promise. Also I felt I was cornered. Please help me what should I do?

Procedure of a Lay-by sale

Q: A person wishes to purchase some goods from a certain furniture store but does not have the money at present. The seller tells him that he can buy the furniture on lay-by. Will it be permissible for him to purchase the goods on lay-by and how does lay-by actually work? Through lay-by, does one become the owner of the goods immediately or only when the goods are completely paid for?