insolvabilité notoire

22:24 Apr 3, 2013 

Unless it means that Esprit is about to go under in which case, I'll be cross if my order does go through!!!

22:23 Apr 3, 2013 

By way of example in how the word "insolvabilité" is used formally in commercial contexts, yet would not be translated as "insolvency" in English is in an order I made over the internet earlier this evening. You chose your article(s), pay by credit card and the order is confirmed by e-mail. The e-mail confirmation indicates as follows :
".... Votre commande sera traitée le plus vite possible. En règle générale, comptez 3 à 6 jours pour la livraison de vos articles, sous réserve de solvabilité. Dès que la marchandise quittera notre centre logistique, vous recevrez une confirmation d'envoi par e-mail."
It is odd, as most e-boutiques make sure the payment is confirmed before confirming the order, but not all. It did feel odd the first time I ordered with this company, a well-known clothes shop, when they state they will send my order through if I am "solvent". That vocabulary would just not be used in the UK in such circumstances as it just means if the card payment is validated. (After all, technically speaking, in the UK, you could be insolvent and still have a card transaction go through). So be wary of the use of this word and the register of the original.

11:39 Apr 3, 2013 

Two words, two questions before I'd feel happy suggesting an answer :
1) synonyms for "notoire" : connu, reconnu, manifeste, déclaré.
2) "insolvabilité" : "insolvency", yes but. See below.
Without more context enabling us to situate this phrase it is possible to imagine the terms being used informally, which is common. If this is a formal legal type of situation, then the terms are being used with more caution.
Given the way "notoire" can be used informally, it may simply be meaning "alleged". It could also mean "affirmed, proved". In English, that covers a wide range. In context, it could mean the difference between being right or wrong and making a major mistake.
Ditto "insolvabilité". Is this in France? Is the purchaser an individual or a company? Without further information, this could be saying anything from an informal "alleged lack of money" (the guy is not reliable), through "known lack of money" to a more official "registered as insolvent/bankrupt/..." or any one of a number of possible terms, depending. Please could we have more context?