Payment Services Act

A creditor of obligations borne by a funds transfer service provider in relation to funds transfer transactions for a single category of funds transfer services provided by the funds transfer service provider (excluding the case where a person qualified as a performance guarantor that has performed obligations under a performance guarantor's debt assumption contract or a performance guarantor's guarantee contract subrogates to that creditor pursuant to the provisions of Article 499 of the Civil Code (Act No. 89 of 1896)) has the right to receive, in preference over other creditors, payments for the return of security deposits for providing that category of funds transfer services; provided, however, that creditors of obligations that a funds transfer service provider to whom the provisions of Article 45-2, paragraph (1) are applied bears in relation to the funds transfer transactions (limited to funds transfer transactions pertaining to type III funds transfer services) carried out thereby are to have that right, with respect to the claims pertaining to those obligations, up to the amount obtained by deducting the amount obtained by multiplying the amount of the claim by the rate for managing bank deposits or savings from the amount of the claim.

In the cases falling under any of the following items, when the Prime Minister finds it necessary for the protection of the interests of users of funds transfer services, the Minister must give public notice to the effect that persons holding the right specified in the preceding paragraph must file their claims with the Prime Minister within a certain period of not less than sixty days and that they are excluded from the procedure for the fulfillment of the right to the return of the security deposits for providing funds transfer services pertaining to the public notice unless they file their claims within the notified period and take other measures necessary for the fulfillment of the right prescribed in that paragraph:

when a petition is filed for the fulfillment of the right specified in the preceding paragraph; or

when a petition for commencement of bankruptcy proceedings, etc. is filed against a funds transfer service provider.

The Prime Minister may, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Office Order, entrust the administrative functions related to the fulfillment of the right prescribed in paragraph (1) to a deposit-taking institution or any other person specified by Cabinet Order (referred to as "agents for a regional finance office that distributes security deposits to holders of prepaid payment instruments" in the following paragraph and in paragraph (5)).

Notwithstanding the provisions of any other Acts, an agent for a regional finance office that distributes security deposits to holders of prepaid payment instruments may engage in the business entrusted to the agent pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph.

With regard to the application of the Penal Code and other penal provisions, an agent for a regional finance office that distributes security deposits to holders of prepaid payment instruments to whom business has been entrusted pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3) or its officers or employees engaging in the entrusted business are deemed to be officials engaged in public service pursuant to laws and regulations.

Beyond what is provided for in paragraph (2) through the preceding paragraph, particulars necessary for the fulfillment of the right prescribed in paragraph (1) are specified by Cabinet Order.

If a person to whom funds transfer services have been entrusted by a funds transfer service provider or any other related person of the funds transfer service provider is requested by the Prime Minister to extend their cooperation necessary for the fulfillment of the right prescribed in paragraph (1) of the preceding Article pertaining to funds transfer transactions carried out by the funds transfer service provider, the person is to endeavor to respond to the request.

If a funds transfer service provider falls under any of the following items, it must notify the Prime Minister to that effect without delay:

the funds transfer service provider discontinues all or part of the funds transfer service; or

the funds transfer service provider falls under Article 59, paragraph (2), item (ii).

If a funds transfer service provider discontinues all of the funds transfer service, the registration of the funds transfer service provider referred to in Article 37 ceases to be effective. In this case, a person who has been the funds transfer service provider is deemed to be a funds transfer service provider within the scope of the purpose of completing the performance of obligations borne by the service provider in relation to the funds transfer transactions carried out by it.

When intending to discontinue all or part of the funds transfer services, a funds transfer service provider must, pursuant to the provisions of Cabinet Office Order, give public notice to that effect and post a notice to that effect in a place easily seen by the public at all of its business offices at least thirty days prior to the relevant date.

Having given public notice pursuant to the provisions of the preceding paragraph, a funds transfer service provider must notify the Prime Minister to that effect immediately.

Having given public notice pursuant to the provisions of paragraph (3) (excluding cases where it has given public notice concerning the succession of the relevant business by way of transfer of business, merger or company split, or for other reasons) a funds transfer service provider must, promptly complete the performance of obligations that it has borne in relation to the funds transfer transactions carried out by it in the course of the funds transfer services that the service provider intends to discontinue.

The provisions of Article 940, paragraph (1) (limited to the part pertaining to item (i)) and Article 940, paragraph (3) of the Companies Act applies mutatis mutandis to cases where a funds transfer service provider (excluding a foreign funds transfer service provider) gives public notice under the provisions of paragraph (3) by way of electronic public notice (meaning electronic public notice specified in Article 2, item (xxxiv) of that Act; the same applies in the following paragraph). In this case, any necessary technical replacement of terms is specified by Cabinet Order.

The provisions of Article 940, paragraph (1) (limited to the part pertaining to item (i)) and Article 940, paragraph (3), Article 941, Article 946, Article 947, Article 951, paragraph (2), Article 953, and Article 955 of the Companies Act apply mutatis mutandis to cases where a funds transfer service provider that is a foreign funds transfer service provider gives public notice under the provisions of paragraph (3) by way of electronic public notice. In this case, any necessary technical replacement of terms is specified by Cabinet Order.

With regard to a funds transfer service provider, when the registration referred to in Article 37 has been revoked pursuant to provisions of Article 56, paragraph (1) or (2) (excluding cases specified by Cabinet Office Order as being less likely to weaken the protection of users of funds transfer services or hinder the provision of funds transfer services in a proper and steady manner), the person who has been the funds transfer service provider must promptly complete the performance of obligations borne by the service provider in relation to the funds transfer transactions carried out by it. In this case, the person who has been the funds transfer service provider is deemed to be a funds transfer service provider within the scope of the purpose of completing the performance of these obligations.

With regard to a funds transfer service provider providing two or more types of funds transfer services, when a change of type of funds transfer service due to the discontinuation of one type of whole funds transfer services has been registered in the register of funds transfer service providers pursuant to the provisions of Article 41, paragraph (5), the funds transfer service provider must promptly complete the performance of obligations borne by it in relation to the funds transfer transactions for the types of funds transfer services that it has discontinued. In this case, the funds transfer service provider is deemed to be registered as a funds transfer service provider providing those types of funds transfer services referred to in Article 37 within the scope of the purpose of completing the performance of these obligations.

Unless otherwise prescribed by laws and regulations, a foreign funds transfer service provider that has not been registered as referred to in Article 37 and a foreign trust business operator prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (5) of the Trust Business Act (excluding a foreign trust company (meaning the foreign trust company prescribed in Article 2, paragraph (6) of that Act) that has filed a notification under the provisions of Article 37-2, paragraph (3)) must not solicit a person in Japan for funds transfer transactions.