The clerk may refuse to accept a credit card for payment in the following situations: 1) if the individual attempting to pay by credit card has been convicted of an offense or violation involving the use of a credit card; 2) if the individual has previously tendered to the court a credit card or credit-card information that did not ultimately result in payment by the credit-card issuer; 3) if the bank or creditcard issuer does not authorize payment; or 4) if the validity of the credit card cannot be verified.
The Administrative Director of Courts may authorize the clerk of a circuit or district court to accept credit-card payment by telephone. If so authorized and if accepted by the clerk, credit-card payment by telephone shall have the same effect as payment made by mail or in person, including the effect of such payment as a guilty plea. As is the case with payments by mail or in person, the clerk may treat as a partial payment an amount tendered for less than the full amount.
If the credit-card issuer notifies the clerk that payment will not be made for any reason, the assessment, fee, cost, fine, forfeiture, judgment, restitution, or other moneys shall be treated as unpaid, and the court may pursue any legally authorized means necessary to obtain payment. If any credit-card draft is not paid following due presentment to a card issuer or draft purchaser or is charged back to the clerk for any reason, any record of payment made honoring the credit card shall be corrected to reflect that no payment was made. Any receipt issued in acknowledgment of the attempted payment shall be void. The obligation of the cardholder shall continue as an outstanding obligation as though no payment has been attempted.
Ala. R. Jud. Admin. 41
Note from the reporter of decisions: The order adopting Rule 41, effective January 1, 2000, is published in that volume of Alabama Reporter that contained Alabama cases from ___So. 2d.