5.11.4.What happens if the time limit for payment of the claims fee is not observed? 

5.11.007Where applicants fail to pay (the correct amount of) the claims fees within the 31-month period, the EPO will invite them in the Rule 161 EPC/Rule 162 EPC communication to pay the missing amount within a non-extendable period of six months (see point 5.4.033).

5.11.009Where a claims fee is not paid within the six-month period, the claim concerned is deemed to be abandoned. In such cases, applicants are informed of the loss of rights in a communication under Rule 112(1) EPC. Further processing can be requested within two months of notification of the communication by payment of the further processing fee, which amounts to 50% of the claims fee(s) due, together with the missing claims fee(s) (see points 5.19.001 and 5.19.003). Features of a claim deemed to have been abandoned and which are not otherwise to be found in the description or drawings cannot subsequently be reintroduced into the application and, in particular, into the claims (see point 5.4.036).