Quick update - please do read

Good morning all, from a brightish Sunday morning here in Yorkshire :)

I'm sure you're all aware there have been a few changes to currencies and membership offerings recently, and I just wanted to make sure you had all the information as I know some of you have been a little concentred about the change in the currency.

Up until recently Patreon has only ever used the US Dollar for currency, regardless of which country the Patron or the Creator is.

This changed this year, and the opportunity to change to the currency of my choice came about in October - so just a couple of weeks ago. I've had many people ask if they can pay in pounds, mostly because of course I'm in the UK and the majority of my patrons are in the UK, so I felt this was an ideal opportunity to allow patrons to pay in their currency of choice - currently that is only Euros, Pounds and US Dollars but more currencies are being made available in the near future. 

I read all the information, and felt that it would benefit my patrons, and would benefit me as I wouldn't be charged the huge paypal feels for exchange rates.

So at the beginning of October I changed from dollars to pounds, I was told that it wouldn't make any difference to my patrons, and I stand by that - anyone who is a patron, who stays on the tier they are on will not see a change in what they pay. You might see the tiers are slightly higher in your currency now, but that's for new members, and anyone who was an existing member will pay what they always have paid. Of course you also pay tax relative to your country, that has been a legality since July and I'll share a link so you can all read about that if you wish - I did post about it as well, and that's why you'll see in the tier that it's the tier price + Vat or Tax - I don't handle that, Patreon deals with all the taxes.

I have also been asked about annual membership, up until now I didn't have the opportunity to be able to offer annual membership, but this service was rolled out by Patreon last month. I didn't take it up straight away as I wanted to understand how it worked. But then a few members mentioned they would like annual membership so I felt it was the right time to offer it.

Now this part is totally my fault, and I should have done my homework better, but I'm holding my hands up here and taking full responsibility. I thought that the existing membership would still stand when taking up an annual membership, but apparently it doesn't. So I'm putting out a massive apology to those who have taken out an annual membership and have ended up paying more then they thought they would - tax aside of course because you will be charged your country's rate of tax and there is absolutely nothing I can do about that because it is a legality.

I have contacted Patreon a few times in the last couple of days, and my last message to them was to insist that they escalate this as I would like all my tiers reduced. Their latest response is that they can't but I feel they should be able to so I'm sticking to my guns and keeping on at them. No way is this Patreon's fault, as a creator and the owner of this Patreon account it is purely down to me and is my responsibility.

So If you managed to get through all that and have taken out an annual membership and feel it's cost you more than you were paying before, I would like to offer you a refund for the difference. 

Please work out what you feel you are overpaying, email me on bonny@bonnysnowdonfineart.co.uk with the subject header ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP PAYMENT, let me know your paypal address and the amount you have been charged over what you feel you should have been, and the currency you were charged in and I will send you back that amount. No i don't have to, but it's something I feel strongly about.

So, I think I've answered any questions above - to reiterate, if you are an existing member, you won't be paying any more than you were before, unless you move tiers, you all have to pay tax at your country's rate, and currently if you are an existing member and are thinking of moving to annual membership, please wait, because again you will be classed as moving tiers and be charged more due to the currency change at the beginning of this month. If you're already taken up the annual membership and feel you've paid too much then please contact me as the paragraph above.

I hope you all appreciate that it's been really tough to deal with this and the thought that some of my Patrons are upset by it all - I'm not one to get anxious or stressed, but knowing that people may be thinking I'm trying to pull the wool over their eyes has left me feeling very stressed.

Do I wish I had just left it as it was - yes - but hindsight is a wonderful thing, and there's nothing I can do about it except keep asking Patreon to change it back.

I really hope this hasn't affected our relationship, I've worked so hard to try to bring as much variety, techniques and videos that will help you all, and I'm so very grateful for your continued support. 

This is the article about tax: https://support.patreon.com/hc/en-us/articles/360043055071-New-Sales-Tax-Requirements-on-Patreon

Thank you all, have a lovely rest of your weekend

Bonny :)
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