French Monetary and Financial Code
In forceThe bearer must give notice of non-payment to his endorser and to the drawer within four working days of the day of protest and, in the case of a no-fee return clause, on the day of presentation.
Where the cheque indicates the name and address of the drawer, notaries and bailiffs are obliged, on pain of damages, to inform the drawer within forty-eight hours of registration, by registered letter, of the reasons for the refusal to pay. The notary or bailiff will be charged a fee for this letter.
Each endorser must, within two working days following the day on which he received the notice, inform his endorser of the notice he has received, indicating the names and addresses of those who gave the previous notices, and so on, going back to the drawer. The aforementioned time limits run from receipt of the previous notice.
When, in accordance with the preceding paragraph, notice is given to a signatory of the cheque, the same notice must be given within the same period to his endorser.
If an endorser has not indicated his address or has indicated it illegibly, it is sufficient for the notice to be given to the previous endorser.
The person who has notice to give may do so in any form, even by simply returning the cheque.
He must prove that he has given the notice within the time allowed. This time limit is deemed to have been observed if a letter giving the notice was posted within the said time limit.
Any person who fails to give notice within the time limit specified above shall not be liable for forfeiture; he shall be liable, where appropriate, for any loss caused by his negligence, but the damages shall not exceed the amount of the cheque.
