8.

No deferred payment of fees, no legal aid, no discretion

The EPC makes no provision for deferring payment of fees (see J 2/78, OJ 6-7/1979, 283, reasons 3, German text only) or for granting legal aid. An indigent party still has the possibility of applying for legal aid from the competent national authority. However, the time limit for payment is not extended in such a case; a party claiming national legal aid must make the corresponding arrangements as early as possible so that he is in a position to pay the fee in due time. The EPO has also no discretion in waiving or refunding, without any legal basis, fees that have become due (see J 20/87, OJ 3/1989, 67).