How do I confirm the person I'm negotiating with actually has authority to sell on behalf of the company?
Short answer: Ask directly for confirmation of their role and authority, and where the transaction size warrants it, request contact with another verifiable representative of the company or documentation confirming their authorization — a legitimate employee or representative should have no difficulty providing this, while an inability to confirm authority through any independent means is a reasonable basis for caution.
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Source Scrap →Why this verification matters for larger transactions
For a significant deal, confirming that the person you’re negotiating with genuinely has the authority to commit the company to the transaction protects you from a scenario where an unauthorized individual, whether acting fraudulently or simply overstepping their actual role, creates an agreement that the company later disputes or refuses to honor.
What reasonable verification looks like
For a larger deal, asking to speak with another company representative, requesting documentation of their authority, or independently contacting the company through a verified channel to confirm the person’s role are all reasonable steps proportionate to what’s at stake.
When this level of scrutiny is and isn’t necessary
For a small, routine transaction, this level of verification is likely more than the situation warrants — for a large or unusual deal, particularly with a company you haven’t dealt with before, this added diligence is a reasonable, proportionate precaution.
How ScrapTrade Makes This Easier
Business accounts verified on ScrapTrade provide a foundation of confirmed legitimacy, though for particularly large transactions, additional confirmation of a specific representative’s authority remains a reasonable extra step.
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