RIPE NCC Billing Procedure and Fee Schedule 2007

Introduction

The following information outlines the billing and payment procedure for RIPE NCC members (Local Internet Registries, or LIRs). This webpage replaces the annual billing procedure document and should be read in conjunction with the "RIPE NCC Standard Terms and Conditions", RIPE NCC Standard Service Agreement and the RIPE NCC Charging Scheme 2007. The RIPE NCC is a not-for-profit membership organisation. RIPE NCC members pay a service fee every year in accordance with the fees determined by the RIPE NCC General Meeting.

Fee Schedule 2007

The RIPE NCC service fees are fixed annual charges and are based on the billing category of a member. To determine the billing category for a member, a score is calculated on the basis of the Internet resource allocations or assignments made to the member over time taking into account IPv4 (PA and PI), IPv6 and AS Numbers. The RIPE NCC has defined an algorithm to determine the billing categories. For more information about the calculation of your billing category, please read the RIPE NCC Charging Scheme 2007.

Registries established during the course of the year are charged as follows:

Note: New LIRs always start in the Extra Small category.

The billing scores for members are determined after the RIPE NCC General Meeting in October, (based on data of 30 September). The billing categories for 2007 are:

For more information, see the "RIPE NCC Charging Scheme 2007".

Administration Fee

We will charge an administration fee when:

1. An LIR takes over another LIR.
The administration fee is charged for every two LIRs that are being taken over at the same time. For example, if an LIR takes over three other LIRs at the same time, they must pay two times the administration fee.

NOTE: When two LIRs are taken over at different times, an administration fee is charged for each LIR.

The outstanding invoice(s) of the LIRs that will close must be paid either by the LIR that will close or by the LIR that is taking over. Please note that this is also the case when the LIRs close at the beginning of a year; the fee for that year must be paid in full. When the LIR indicates the closure before the year of issue, the invoice can be credited.

2. Address allocations are transferred from one or more LIR(s) to another.
The administration fee is based on the number of LIRs that the LIR is taking allocations from and not on the number of allocations that are being transferred. The administration fee is charged for every two LIRs from where allocations will be transferred. For example, if allocations are being transferred from three LIRs to LIR “X”, then LIR “X” will be charged the administration fee twice.

3. An LIR changes its Registry ID.
The Registry ID is the unique identifier the RIPE NCC allocates on behalf of the registry. In case of a change in this identifier an administration fee will be charged.

Payment Procedure

We send out invoices by post in early November to the billing address shown in the registry file. We also send a copy of the invoice by e-mail to the LIR billing contact. The invoices cover provision of services for the following calendar year. Payment is due 30 days after the date shown on the invoice.

After the initial invoice has been sent, three reminders for this invoice are sent in case of non-payment.

• First Reminder (30 days)
  The first reminder is sent by post and e-mail 30 days after the date of invoice. Both the LIR billing contact and the LIR technical contact receive a copy of the reminder by e-mail. The first reminder has no direct consequence on the service level of the registry.

• Second Reminder (60 days)
  If the RIPE NCC does not receive payment within 60 days of the date of invoice, a second reminder is sent to the registry. Interest on the outstanding invoice is added at a rate of 5% per annum and a late payment charge of 100 EUR is included in this reminder. At this stage, the RIPE NCC will not approve any Internet Resource requests, until the registry has paid the outstanding fee.

• Third Reminder (90 days)
  If payment has not reached the RIPE NCC within 90 days of the date of invoice, a third reminder is sent to the registry. Interest on the outstanding invoice is added at a rate of 5% per annum and a late payment charge of 100 EUR is included in this reminder. The service level of the registry is at this point set to NONE. From this moment on the registry will only be able to contact the RIPE NCC Billing Department to pay the fee that is due.

• Closure
  When the registry fails to make the payment within 120 days, the RIPE NCC starts the process of closing the registry.

Payment Time Frame

Registries in the process of a closure or registries that have been permanently closed must pay the outstanding amounts (invoices, billing charges and interest) as well as a new sign-up fee in order to re-open the registry.

Note: By prior arrangement it is possible to change your ‘billing-scheme’ and be billed half-yearly or quarterly. This must be requested before the yearly invoice for the year at issue is sent (that means before 1 November). Quarterly and half-yearly invoices are sent in the beginning of December. Note that during the year at issue it is not possible to change the billing scheme for the year at issue.

To make sure the invoices and reminders arrive at the right address, it is important to keep the registry file up-to-date. This can be done via the LIR Portal or by contacting billing@ripe.net. It is the responsibility of the registry to inform the RIPE NCC of any changes in the billing address. Please note - If a registry ends its RIPE NCC membership in the course of the RIPE NCC financial year, the service fee for that registry must still be paid in full.

Methods of Payment

To improve the ease and efficiency of your credit card payments, we have transferred our online payment system to a reliable and easy-to-use service, hosted by a trusted third party, TripleDeal.

TripleDeal handles all credit card payments (American Express, Master Card and VISA) made to the RIPE NCC. You can also pay by bank transfer. Please note that payments by TripleDeal must be made within 60 days of the date on the invoice.

How to Pay Your Invoice

• Credit Card
  All invoices that we send by e-mail (in .pdf format) include a unique payment URL. If you click on this, when you are online, you will be taken to a payment screen where you can complete your credit card payment.
  
  Alternatively, you can pay your invoice using your LIR Portal account:
  https://lirportal.ripe.net/lirportal/index.html
  
  Click on the ‘Pay Now’ button to enter the payment details.
  For all credit card payments, you will receive instant verification of payment or non-payment.

• Bank Transfer
  If you do not want to pay your invoice through Triple Deal and would prefer to pay by bank transfer, please make sure you mention the payment reference (this means the 'Customer Number' and you invoice number). It helps us if you also mention your registry ID with the payment reference.

• Note:
  - Payments should be made in euros.
  - We cannot accept cheques. Any cheques that we receive will be returned to the registry’s billing address.
  

Payment Status

You can view your account details and payment status when you log in to the LIR Portal. All outstanding invoices are listed there. If you do not see any invoice(s) listed, this means there are NO outstanding invoices. You can also contact billing@ripe.net if you require confirmation that payment has been received.

If you have any questions about your invoice or if you experience trouble using the online payment system, please contact: billing@ripe.net

We updated this page on: 10 January 2007