Payment validation

To avoid the extra work involved in processing double-payments or refunds, Online Fee Payment will reject any fee payment for an application number if one of the following conditions is met: 

1.   Payment rejected: the renewal fee payment date is too early.
Renewal fees can be paid three months in advance (fee codes 034 to 050) or six months for the third renewal year (fee code 033).

2.   Payment rejected: the fee is already paid.
Fees that can be paid more than once are excluded from this check.

3.   Payment rejected: the renewal fee payment is rejected. Renewal fee for year XX is due.
The renewal fee payment is rejected for reason 1 or 2 but there is a renewal fee for another year due.

4.   Payment rejected: the application is definitively closed.
The application is closed ("dead") and a renewal fee (fee codes 033 to 050 or 093 to 110) is indicated or registering of transfer (fee code 022) is indicated.

5.   Payment rejected: the patent is ready for publication/has been granted.
The patent has been (or will be) granted (with a B1 publication in the European patent bulletin) and a renewal fee (fee codes 033 to 050 or 093 to 110) is indicated.