Except as otherwise provided in this section, any sum payable on a traveler's check that has been outstanding for more than fifteen years after its issuance is presumed abandoned unless the owner, within fifteen years, has communicated in writing with the issuer concerning it or otherwise indicated an interest as evidenced by a memorandum or other record on file prepared by an employee of the issuer.

Except as otherwise provided in this section, any sum payable on a money order or similar written instrument, other than a third-party bank check, that has been outstanding for more than seven years after its issuance is presumed abandoned unless the owner, within seven years, has communicated in writing with the issuer concerning it or otherwise indicated an interest as evidenced by a memorandum or other record on file prepared by an employee of the issuer.

No holder may deduct from the amount of any traveler's check or money order any charges imposed by reason of the failure to present those instruments for payment unless there is a valid and enforceable written contract between the issuer and the owner of the property pursuant to which the issuer may impose those charges and the issuer regularly imposes those charges and does not regularly reverse or otherwise cancel those charges with respect to such property.

Any sum payable on a traveler's check, money order, or similar written instrument, other than a third-party bank check, described in this section may not be subjected to the custody of this Commonwealth as unclaimed property unless:

1. The records of the issuer show that the traveler's check, money order, or similar written instrument was purchased in this Commonwealth;

2. The issuer has its principal place of business in this Commonwealth and the records of the issuer do not show the state in which the traveler's check, money order, or similar written instrument was purchased; or

3. The issuer has its principal place of business in this Commonwealth, the records of the issuer show the state in which the traveler's check, money order, or similar written instrument was purchased and the laws of the state of purchase do not provide for the escheat or custodial taking of the property or its escheat or unclaimed property law is not applicable to the property.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the provisions of the preceding paragraph relating to the requirements for subjecting certain written instruments to the custody of the Commonwealth apply to sums payable on travelers' checks, money orders, and similar written instruments presumed abandoned on or after February 1, 1965, except to the extent that those sums have been paid over to a state prior to January 1, 1974.

1984, c. 121.