Section 5: Substitution

An application by an approved consumer protection association for it to be substituted for the rights of the applicant association pursuant to the provisions of Article L. 623-31 is made by way of incidental application.

The court shall rule, at the request of the association that referred the matter to it, on the transfer of all or part of the advance that may have been awarded pursuant to the provisions of article L. 623-12.

The decision rejecting the request for substitution is not subject to appeal.

The substitution entails the transfer of the mandate given by the consumers to the substituted association.The defaulting association shall hand over the documents as well as the funds held, where applicable on behalf of consumers, to the association which is substituted for it, which shall acknowledge receipt thereof. The defaulting association is not discharged of its obligations until such time as this is done.