(A) Whenever the city is paid any fees authorized or required by this code, or for any services or commodities in the form of a check, debit card, credit card, automated clearing house ("ACH") transaction or other acceptable form of electronic payment and the financial institution refuses payment of the amount, a fee as outlined in A.R.S. § 44-6852 plus any directly related costs, including but not limited to postage and special postal handling charges, shall be charged to the maker for each check, debit card, credit card, ACH or other acceptable form of electronic payment that is refused.
(B) Any debt to the city for which a check, debit card, credit card, ACH or other form of electronic payment has been tendered and returned by any financial institution, shall be satisfied by payment in full of the amount, including the returned payment fee, as outlined in A.R.S. § 44-6852, plus any directly related costs including but not limited to postage and special postal handling charges. Payments shall only be accepted in the form of cash, cashier's check or money order.
(C) The city may use any legal means to collect amounts owed to it including returned payment fees. The city's legal remedies shall include, but are not limited to, the filing of a legal action in a court of competent jurisdiction. Should a legal action be filed, recovery may include the city's reasonable attorney's fees and court costs.
(D) The city may waive any additional fee pursuant to this section in a situation in which the payment was dishonored for reasons beyond the maker's control.
(Ord. 1395, passed 11-19-2013)