Loss of incentive based on technicalities

I have been a sales manager with Avon for 5 years. In the last I have been working from home so getting additions has been a challenge but all previous years I have always met targets and achieved what was required by my zone managers. In December we were advised about the reset incentive. I was the first representative to qualify for the incentive. My zone manager called me and congratulated and told me to to keep the incentive for January to March I had to keep my title I had achieved in December. I had exceeded my target by R40, 000. When the winners are announced in January I see that my name is not on the list anywhere. So I contact my manager and she says I must email them. I do that only to find out that I didn't qualify because I didn't pay my Avon account by the 31st. No where did it state we had to pay our account by the 31st. Avon gives us 21 days to pay our accounts but for this incentive that rule did not apply. My manager told me to keep my title for three months but did not say I must pay by 31st or I will be disqualified. I buy each month just for my family. All my clients I have given to reps to help them. So each month out of my own pocket I pay Avon. If I can't I let Avon take it from my commission. I love Avon but I deeply saddened that I lost my R10, 000 incentive based on a technicality that was not stated in the filer. I will really be considering whether to stay with Avon any longer as a sl.