(1) If, under the this Act, a network participant is required to pay an amount to another network participant and that amount is not paid within 28 days after it is due in accordance with this Act, the network participant to whom the amount is due may recover that amount in a court of competent jurisdiction as a civil debt payable to them.
(2) If, under this Act, a network participant is required to pay an amount to another network participant, and this Act does not specify a date for payment of that amount:
(a) that amount must be paid within the period of time specified in any notice to pay issued by the network participant that specifies that amount; and
(b) the network participant that issued the notice to pay may, if that amount is not paid within 28 days after it is due in accordance with that notice, recover that amount in a court of competent jurisdiction as a civil debt payable to them.
(3) Subsections (1) and (2) apply despite a network participant disputing, in accordance with this Act, an amount to be paid under this Act, or specified in a notice to pay, unless:
(a) this Act otherwise provides; or
(b) the parties to the dispute agree otherwise; or
(c) a court of competent jurisdiction determines that subsection (1) or (2) does not apply.
(4) In this section:
"network participant" includes an access applicant.
"notice to pay" includes a statement of payment, settlement statement, bill or invoice.