[members-discuss] LIR’s billing issues with RIPE NCC, need support

> If you decide to signup in november, you have to accept to pay the yearly
> fee.

My reading of it is that whilst the fee is Annual, _joining_ later in the year reduces it pro-rata to the period for which you are a member.

> Also it is strange that the member should pay for the membership for
> the period when he hasn't been the member. Any government inspection
> can lead to problems.

The current "you have to pay for a couple more years" wording needs looking at - a simple "minimum membership period is 3 years" would I expect fix the disputable/legal ramifications, as the current setup isn't allowed in the UK for example
(you cannot charge for a service that you do not, will not or cannot supply - so if the member no longer exists, you cannot supply them membership, so you cannot charge)

I'm not (personally) in favour of the Annual-only payment option - quite the opposite - with advances in automation/technology RIPE should be looking at more payment options not less - if 50% of bills get queried, that is a serious problem, and the fix is wit the billing/invoice/automation/processes , not IMHO with the membership as such

However the bulk of "pricing" discussions do tend to devolve into arguments about circumventing policy on resources !

Rob




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