[ripe-list] [ncc-announce] [news] Billing Changes for 2019

Adrian, all -

On 21.12.2018 23:24, Adrian Pitulac wrote:
> Dear members and RIPE NCC,
> 
> Although I can understand part of the motivation for such a change in
> billing schedule, notifying us with just ±45 days before sending the
> actual 1 year fee invoice is *unacceptable*!
> 
> I do understand and support any measure to limit multiple LIRs, but
> companies plan such expenses in advance.
> 
> *I do not support this tight schedule on going to an annual billing plan
> for the LIRs who are old enough and behave correctly. Even if you come
> in January and provide a transition plan, it should allow us at least
> 6-12 months before transitioning. Also I think that the invoicing on a
> annual billing plan should be done in the second half of the year. This
> way things would be fair, as we are charging our customers after we
> provide the service and not before.  *

so you're suggesting a "billing plan project" lasting six to twelve
months for how much again per LIR?

Ah, right: 1,400 Euros.

> Such a decision should have been taken through a voting process not like
> this through an email on 21th of December before Christmas. Is this the
> gift Santa left us with you?
> 
> I also feel angry on RIPE NCC management, as it seems that no real
> decisions (like this one) are being taken democratically through voting,
> and just unessential issues are proposed for voting at GM.

Adrian - please get real!

A billing plan, comprising facts like when to send them out and how to
collect them, is at the sole discretion of the organisation billing its
customers. Even if these customers are also members of this organisation
and the organisation itself holds a strong market position in the goods
and services it renders.

And even more so if it is about what the membership fee is: 1,400 Euros
annually. The impact of it may vary depending on the country and its
economy you do the main part of your business in - but still it is just
a four digit figure at the lower end of the corresponding range.

I certainly do not a need a voting by the members on it wrt. the
question how to actually collect it.

> Also I don't understand how you can complain about late payments as the
> base of LIR's is continually expanding and your expenses are kind of
> linear. Another argument I can provide you is that you redistribute
> excess contribution yearly, meaning this excess payments we make are
> cash flow for you.

This is funny: you don't see that you are directly contradicting
yourself, do you?

Quoting you from the paragraph before: "I also feel angry on RIPE NCC
management, as it seems that no real decisions (like this one) are being
taken democratically through voting, and just unessential issues are
proposed for voting at GM."

The last two GMs were about such totally "unessential" things like:

	* Adoption of the RIPE NCC Financial Report 2017
	* Discharge of the Executive Board
	* RIPE NCC Charging Scheme 2019
	* Draft RIPE NCC Activity Plan and Budget 2019
	* Redistribution of the RIPE NCC Surplus/Deficit

- most of them even to be voted upon - and rightfully so! - by the members.

I am sorry, Adrian - but you are barking up the entirely wrong tree.

> As you are keeping some extra money you don't need (as RIPE is a
> non-profit organization) you should not complain so much on this late
> payments issue.

What a perfect circular reasoning - I am truly impressed.

Best,

	-C.

P.S.: Happy holidays, all!