> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.digitalseaservice.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# email_already_premium

> HTTP 409 — the email you tried to sponsor already self-pays for Premium.

<Note>
  **Partner-restricted.** Only returned by the
  [Sponsorship API](/sponsorships/overview), which requires a sponsorship program.
</Note>

```http theme={null}
HTTP/1.1 409 Conflict
Content-Type: application/problem+json
X-Request-Id: req_01HV9XK...

{
  "type": "https://docs.digitalseaservice.com/errors/email_already_premium",
  "title": "Email already Premium",
  "status": 409,
  "detail": "This email already self-pays for Premium.",
  "instance": "req_01HV9XK..."
}
```

## What it means

You called [`POST /v1/partners/sponsorships`](/sponsorships/provision) for a
crew member who already holds a **self-paid** Premium subscription. There is
nothing to sponsor — DSS won't take over billing for a subscription the member
is already paying for themselves, and won't double-charge you for a seat that
delivers no additional benefit.

This is distinct from an idempotent replay: a member who already holds one of
**your** open sponsored seats returns `200` with that existing seat (see
[Provision / idempotency](/sponsorships/provision#idempotency)).
`email_already_premium` is specifically a member paying for Premium on their
own card.

## What to do

* **Nothing to fix in the request** — this member doesn't need a sponsored seat.
  Skip them and move on.
* If you believe the member should be on a sponsored seat instead of self-pay
  (for example they want to stop paying and let you cover it), that's a
  conversion the member initiates from their own account, or a change DSS can
  help arrange — [contact us](mailto:admin@digitalseaservice.com), quoting the
  `instance` request ID.

## Related

* [Provision a seat](/sponsorships/provision)
* [Errors overview](/errors)