Annual fee expected to be paid again only after 4 months

I was not informed about this at all and I think it is nonsense and irrespective of whether the annual fee is from Jan to December for those who paid in September or whenever should have a full one year. It's called an annual fee for a reason not a 3 month fee. There is alot of us who don't have the money to pay for the fee because we weren't informed about it. I'm sorry but this is not acceptable and a good enough reason. Shouldn't one be credit noted then for this?