J 0007/81 (Bank cash payment) of 21.12.1982

I. Payment of a fee in cash at the counter of a bank is not a cash payment within the meaning of Article 5(1)(e) of the Rules relating to Fees, but a payment to be transferred to a bank account held by the Office as in Article 5(1)(a) of the said Rules. Consequently, in accordance with Article 8(1)(a), the date on which the payment is considered to have been made is the date on which the amount of the payment is entered in a bank account held by the Office.

II. A cash payment through a bank to a bank account held by the Office allows the payment to be considered to have been made within the period laid down, provided that it is made, in accordance with the provisions of Article 8(3), paragraph 1, of the Rules relating to Fees, "not later than 10 days before the expiry of such period".

III. An expired period cannot be extended following a request received by the EPO after the expiry of the period.