(a) Entry of Rule; Effect. At any time after the completion of the work by a subcontractor, any owner or contractor may file a rule or rules, as of course, in the court in which said claim may be filed; requiring the party named therein to file his claim within thirty (30) days after notice of said rule or be forever barred from so doing. The rule shall be entered by the prothonotary upon the judgment index and in the mechanics' lien docket. Failure to file a claim within the time specified shall operate to wholly defeat the right to do so. If a claim be filed, it shall be entered as of the court, term and number of the rule to file the same.

(b) Effect of Claim Filed by Subcontractor. Where a claim is filed by a subcontractor in response to such rule, the owner may give written notice thereof to the contractor in the manner set forth by section 602¹ of this act, and upon the giving of such notice the owner may avail himself of the remedies provided by sections 601 and 604² of this act and the contractor shall be subject to the duties set forth by section 603 of this act.