Terms

• Member means an individual or organisation that holds an active Membership with the STLD.
• Membership means a paid and active subscription to the Society of Television Lighting & Design, entitling the Member to associated benefits.
• Sponsor means an organisation that provides financial support to the STLD under an agreed Sponsorship arrangement.
• Sponsorship means the financial contribution and associated benefits agreed between the STLD and a Sponsor.
• Lapsed means a Membership where payment has not been received within 14 days of the invoice date, but where Membership remains active and benefits are not withdrawn.
• Expired means a Membership where payment remains outstanding for four (4) months from the invoice date.

Membership

Members are bound by our Society Constitution; this is an agreement outlining the role of the STLD and the terms of membership. Our current rules can be found here:

Membership Subscriptions

Membership Subscriptions are payable annually in advance and are required to obtain or renew Membership of the STLD.

Payment of the Membership Subscription entitles the Member to access the benefits associated with their Membership tier for the relevant subscription period, subject to these Terms.

Membership Subscriptions are non-refundable once invoiced, except at the sole discretion of the STLD.

The STLD reserves the right to review and amend Membership Subscription rates from time to time. Any changes will be communicated in advance of the relevant renewal date and will apply to subsequent renewals.

Where a Membership is renewed part-way through a Lapsed or Expired period, the STLD reserves the right to determine the applicable subscription fee and any conditions of reinstatement.

Membership Invoicing

Membership subscriptions are invoiced annually in advance, unless otherwise agreed.

Invoices are payable within 14 days of the invoice date. Membership will only be considered active once full payment has been received.

Renewal invoices are issued in advance of, or on, the renewal date. It is the member’s responsibility to ensure payment is made on time to maintain continuous membership and access to associated benefits.

The STLD reserves the right to suspend or terminate membership, and any associated benefits, where payment remains outstanding beyond the stated terms.

Any discounted rates are conditional upon payment being made within the agreed terms. Failure to do so may result in the discount being withdrawn and the full membership fee becoming payable.

We reserve the right to correct administrative or pricing errors and will notify members promptly where this occurs.

Forfeiture of Discounts

Failure to pay within the stated payment terms will result in the forfeiture of any applied discount.

Lapsed and Expired Membership

If payment is not received within 14 days of the invoice date, membership will be considered Lapsed. During this period, membership remains active and benefits are not withdrawn; however, the account will be treated as overdue and subject to follow-up.

If payment remains outstanding for a period of four (4) months from the invoice date, membership will be considered Expired. At this point, all membership benefits will cease, and membership will be suspended pending a decision by the Committee.

In most cases, expired memberships will be terminated. The STLD reserves the right to determine whether membership may be reinstated, and any reinstatement may be subject to a new application and prevailing membership rates.

The STLD is under no obligation to reinstate or backdate membership benefits for any period during which membership was Lapsed or Expired.

Value Added Tax

Membership fees are subject to VAT in accordance with VAT Notice 701/5. Our Membership rates are invoiced inclusive of VAT.

Membership subscription tiers are currently treated as zero-rated for VAT purposes on the basis that they constitute a ‘single supply’ of the substantive benefit — namely a subscription to the Society’s journal, Set & Light. As this primary benefit is zero-rated, membership is supplied on that basis.

In the event that it becomes necessary to reclassify Membership of the STLD, for both annually renewing Members and newly sold Memberships, as a 'Multiple Supply' for VAT, the VAT charged will be apportioned based on the VAT applicability of each Membership benefit.

Our application of VAT on membership products aligns with VAT Notice 701/5 - Supply of subscriptions - section 5.1.

Hardship support for Membership

We offer discretionary support towards the cost of Membership for existing members experiencing financial hardship. If you would like to discuss support, please contact the Membership Secretary at [email protected]. All requests are considered on a case-by-case basis at the Committee’s discretion.

Website

By accessing and using this Website, you agree to comply with and be bound by the following terms and conditions. If you do not agree to these terms, please refrain from using the Website.

1. Use of the Website

a. You are responsible for ensuring that your use of the Website complies with all applicable laws and regulations.

b. We reserve the right to modify or discontinue any aspect of the Website at any time without notice.

2. User Content

a. You may be able to submit content to the Website (e.g., personal biographies, profiles and photography). By submitting content, you grant us a non-exclusive, royalty-free, perpetual, and worldwide license to use, modify, display, and reproduce the content.

b. You agree not to submit any content that is unlawful, defamatory, obscene, or otherwise objectionable.

3. Intellectual Property

a. The content, design, and logo on this Website are the property of the Society of Television Lighting & Design [STLD] and are protected by intellectual property laws.

b. You may not use, reproduce, or distribute any content from this Website without our express written permission, except as permitted by law

4. Privacy

a. Your use of the Website is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated by reference.

5. Disclaimers

a. The information on this Website is provided "as is" without any representations or warranties, express or implied. We make no representations or warranties in relation to the accuracy or completeness of the information on the Website.

6. Limitation of Liability

a. We will not be liable for any direct, indirect, or consequential loss or damage arising under these terms and conditions or in connection with the use of the Website. Nothing in these terms shall exclude or limit liability where it would be unlawful to do so.

7. Governing Law and Jurisdiction

a. These terms and conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.

Third-Party

Xero

We use Xero to handle our members’ and sponsors’ personal data, this is stored online ONLY and encrypted to the highest standards. Only members' data pertinent to managing their membership/sponsorship subscriptions are stored.

Data for old members are archived within Xero and not actively used for internal management within Committee. If you'd like to request for your data to be fully erased, please contact the secretary officer at [email protected].

Data is used for the administration of membership and sponsorship, including financial record keeping, and may be processed by trusted third-party providers where necessary.

Stripe

We offer the facility for members to pay us online using Stripe. This is a third-party transaction handler who facilitates receipt of debit/credit and online payments for us. Only members opting to pay in this form are affected by their terms. Their full payment terms can be found here: https://stripe.com/gb/legal/payment-terms#payment-methods

Spotify Embedded API for Podcasts

Immerse yourself in an enriching podcast experience on our website, powered by Spotify's Embedded API. Delve into compelling conversations and thought-provoking content seamlessly integrated into our platform. By leveraging Spotify's Embedded API, we bring you a curated selection of podcasts for your enjoyment. Please be aware that your use of the embedded Spotify podcast content is subject to Spotify's Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Explore, learn, and stay entertained with our diverse podcast offerings.

GoCardless

We now offer the facility to set up a Direct Debit mandate with the STLD. This pre-authorises us to take funds directly from your bank in order to keep your account perfectly balanced, and hassle-free.

To do this, we use a third-party provider, GoCardless, who facilitates the Direct Debit Mandate on our behalf. Terms are only applicable to members opting to pay in this form. Your agreement is ultimately between yourself and the STLD but their terms as an intermediary can be found here https://gocardless.cdn.prismic.io/gocardless/85436c8e-ae31-4cb5-ace3-7743bcca0a77_Payer+Terms+of+Use+v0421.0.1.pdf

Direct Debit Guarantee

Your rights

Organisations using the Direct Debit Scheme go through a careful vetting process before they're authorised, and are closely monitored by the banking industry. The efficiency and security of Direct Debit is monitored and protected by your own bank or building society.

The Direct Debit Guarantee applies to all Direct Debits. It protects you in the rare event that there is an error with the payment of your Direct Debit, for instance if a payment is taken on the incorrect date, or the wrong amount is collected. It cannot be used to address contractual disputes between you and the billing organisation. Your bank or building society may review the transaction/s before the Direct Debit Guarantee is activated.​

Direct Debit Guarantee

• The Guarantee is offered by all banks and building societies that accept instructions to pay Direct Debits
• If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit the organisation will notify you (normally 10 working days) in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If you request the organisation to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request
• If an error is made in the payment of your Direct Debit, by the organisation or your bank or building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society
  • If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when the organisation asks you to
• You can cancel a Direct Debit at any time by simply contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. Please also notify the organisation.

PayPal

We offer the facility for members to pay us online using PayPal. This is a third-party transaction handler who facilitates receipt of debit/credit and online account payments for us. Only members opting to pay in this form are affected by their terms. ‘Buyers’ are protected by PayPal in the form of their ‘Buyers Protection Program’, you can read more here: https://www.paypal.com/uk/webapps/mpp/ua/buyer-protection