Membership subscriptions and renewals
This article explains:
- How new members subscribe and pay
- How existing members renew their subscription
- What happens if members do not pay their fees
When a new member joins
When a new member joins online they:
- Browse options on your website.
- Complete an online joining form.
- Set up a recurring payment method.
- Create an account so they can log in and access member content.
- Receive a welcome email that you can customise with your own message.
Administrators receive a notification informing them of the new subscription and a contact record is created in the database with the subscription and invoice connected.
How are subscription fees paid?
Direct Debit | Payment is collected automatically within the next 5 days. |
Credit or Debit card | Payment is collected immediately. |
Manual | An administrator will need to manually mark the invoice as paid. |
When a subscription renews
This is what happens for a typical membership plan with a yearly renewal cycle and renewal reminder emails enabled.
- 14 days before the renewal date a renewal reminder email is sent to the member.
- The email contains instructions of how to pay as necessary based on the member's saved payment method.
- On the renewal date itself, an invoice is created.
- If payment can be collected automatically it will.
- The renewal date is automatically moved to the future (regardless of whether payment has actually been collected)
When a subscription becomes overdue
- If payment is not received by the renewal date the subscription is marked as Overdue to reflect the fact that there is an unpaid invoice.
- A grace period (typically 30 days) is extended to the member allowing them to continue to access member content while they arrange payment.
- No more automated reminders are sent. Administrators can use segments and broadcasts to chase members with overdue subscriptions.
- As soon as payment is received the subscription will be automatically set back to Valid.
When a subscription becomes expired
- If a member fails to respond to automated and manual reminders their subscription will change to an Expired state once the grace period has elapsed.
- They will lose access to member content.
- They can still reinstate their subscription if they make a payment.
- We usually recommend that administrators cancel Expired subscriptions.
- No attempt will be made to collect payment for Cancelled subscriptions.