French Commercial code
In forceThe bearer must give notice of non-acceptance or non-payment to his endorser within four working days following the day of the protest or the day of presentation in the case of a no-cost return clause.
Notaries and bailiffs are required, under penalty of damages, where the bill indicates the name and domicile of the drawer of the bill of exchange, to notify the drawer within forty-eight hours of registration, by post and registered letter, of the reasons for refusal to pay. This letter shall give rise, in favour of the notary or bailiff, to a fee, the amount of which shall be fixed by regulation in addition to the costs of postage and recommendation.
Each endorser must, within two working days of 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 above periods run from receipt of the previous notice.
Where, in accordance with the preceding paragraph, notice is given to a signatory of the bill of exchange, the same notice must be given within the same period to his endorser.
In the event that an endorser has not indicated his address or has indicated it illegibly, it is sufficient that the notice be given to the endorser who precedes him.
He who has a notice to give may do so in any form, even by a simple return of the bill of exchange.
He must prove that he has given the notice within the time allowed.
This time limit shall be deemed to have been observed if a missive letter giving the notice has been posted within the said time limit.
He who fails to give the notice within the time limit aforesaid shall not incur any forfeiture; he shall be liable, where appropriate, for the loss caused by his negligence, without the damages exceeding the amount of the bill of exchange.
