9553. Failure to Pay NASD Dues, Fees and Other Charges

(a) Notice of Suspension, Cancellation or Bar

If a member, person associated with a member or person subject to NASD's jurisdiction fails to pay any fees, dues, assessment or other charge required to be paid under the NASD By-Laws or Rules, or to submit a required report or information related to such payment, NASD staff may issue a written notice to such member or person stating that the failure to comply within 21 days of service of the notice will result in a suspension or cancellation of membership or a suspension or bar from associating with any member.

(b) Service of Notice of Suspension, Cancellation or Bar

NASD staff shall serve the member or person with such notice in accordance with Rule 9134. A copy of a notice under this Rule that is served on a person associated with a member also shall be served on such member.

(c) Contents of Notice

A notice issued under this Rule shall state the specific grounds and include the factual basis for the NASD action. The notice shall state when the NASD action will take effect and explain what the respondent must do to avoid such action. The notice shall state that the respondent may file a written request for a hearing with the Office of Hearing Officers pursuant to Rule 9559. The notice also shall inform the respondent of the applicable deadline for filing a request for a hearing and shall state that a request for a hearing must set forth with specificity any and all defenses to the NASD action. In addition, the notice shall explain that, pursuant to Rules 8310(a) and 9559(n), a Hearing Officer or, if applicable, Hearing Panel, may approve, modify or withdraw any and all sanctions or limitations imposed by the notice, and may impose any other fitting sanction.

(d) Effective Date of Suspension, Cancellation or Bar

The suspension, cancellation or bar referenced in a notice issued and served under this Rule shall become effective 21 days after service of the notice, unless stayed by a request for a hearing pursuant to Rule 9559.

(e) Request for Hearing

A member or person served with a notice under this Rule may file with the Office of Hearing Officers a written request for a hearing pursuant to Rule 9559. A request for a hearing shall be made before the effective date of the notice, as indicated in paragraph (d) of this Rule. A request for a hearing must set forth with specificity any and all defenses to the NASD action.

(f) Failure to Request Hearing

If a member or person does not timely request a hearing, the suspension, cancellation or bar specified in the notice shall become effective 21 days after service of the notice and the notice shall constitute final NASD action.

(g) Request for Termination of the Suspension

A member or person subject to a suspension under this Rule may file a written request for termination of the suspension on the ground of full compliance with the notice or decision. Such request shall be filed with the head of the NASD department or office that issued the notice or, if another NASD department or office is named as the party handling the matter on behalf of the issuing department or office, with the head of the NASD department or office that is so designated. The appropriate head of the department or office may grant relief for good cause shown.

(h) Notice to Membership

NASD shall provide notice of any final NASD action taken pursuant to this Rule in the next Notice to Members Disciplinary and Other NASD Action Section.