EPO OJ 2016/2

A bit of housekeeping in the ADA to clarify that the prior of online debit orders is even over earlier filed, but later processed " paper"  debit order.

Point 5.3 is expanded with the following provision:

5.3.2 As a rule, the EPO books automated payments under point 5.3.1(a) and (b) [(a): automatic debit orders; (b): debit orders submitted online] within two to three working days after the decisive payment date of the fee to be debited automatically or after the date of receipt of the online debit order. Non-automated payments, i.e. debit orders filed by letter or fax using Form 1010, are normally booked within four to five working days after receipt of the debit order, because they take longer to process.

If automated and non-automated payments have to be made from the same account and it does not contain sufficient funds, the EPO processes the automated payments first, deferring the non-automated ones until the account has been sufficiently replenished to cover them as well. This applies whatever the date of receipt of the non-automated debit order. In other words, the EPO gives priority to booking automated debit orders even if non-automated ones have an earlier date of receipt.

Deposit account holders who use both automated and non-automated payment methods in parallel should therefore ensure that their account always has sufficient funds available for all debit orders submitted.