Stripe Subscription Cancellation

The Subscription Cancellation feature in the Ultimate Member Stripe extension allows administrators to configure how recurring user subscriptions are handled upon cancellation when using the Stripe payment gateway. This setting offers flexibility in managing subscription cancellations and ensures users have a clear and transparent experience.

Users can cancel their subscriptions via a provided URL. The outcome of a cancellation depends on the configuration of the "Show Subscription Cancellation Settings." This setting lets administrators decide whether cancellations take effect immediately, at the end of the billing period, or after a custom time frame. The configured settings will only work if the user cancels their subscription using the Cancellation URL in this setting.

This option applies only to recurring plans. By default, cancellations initiated from the customer portal will take immediate action or follow the cancellation settings configured in Stripe.com. However, this setting allows you to manage subscription cancellations directly from your site or override the default behaviour using the UM Stripe Plan Settings.

Configuration

When the Stripe extension is activated, the "Show Subscription Cancellation Settings" option is not enabled by default and will not appear in the Stripe Plan settings initially. To use this feature, first enable the "Stripe Cancellation Page" by navigating to wp-admin > Ultimate Member > Settings > Extensions >Stripe >Stripe Cancellation Page.

By default, users can cancel subscriptions through the Stripe-hosted customer portal. If you prefer allowing users to cancel subscriptions directly on your website, ensure this setting is activated by checking the checkbox.

After clicking the "Save Changes" button, the "Create Pages" notification will reappear on top of the settings. This step is crucial for generating the Cancellation page, so make sure to click the "Create Pages" button. If the notification does not appear, you can create the page manually by following the instructions in this article. You can customize this page to inform your customer about the success of their cancellation, providing clear confirmation and any necessary follow-up information. This customization helps ensure users understand that their cancellation request has been processed and outlines any further actions they may need to take.

You can verify if the "Subscription Cancellation" page has been created by checking wp-admin > Pages.

Show Subscription Cancellation Settings

Now that the "Stripe Cancellation Page" is enabled and created, you can proceed to configure the "Show Subscription Cancellation Settings." To do this:

Go to wp-admin > Ultimate Member > Stripe Plans.
Select the recurring Stripe plan you want to edit.
In the Stripe plan settings, scroll down to the "Show Subscription Cancellation Settings" and enable it by checking the checkbox. Once enabled, additional settings will appear below, allowing you to configure how cancellations are handled for this plan.
The "Users who have canceled this plan will end the Stripe Subscription at the selected period or date/time" option allows administrators to specify when a Stripe subscription will end after a user cancels their plan. There are three options available:
1. Cancel at the Period End (Default):
  - Description: The subscription remains active until the end of the current billing period.
  - Example: If a user cancels a monthly subscription on the 15th day of the month, they will continue to have access until the end of that month.
    - The subscription end timing is set to "Cancel at the period end(default)"
      User Jane Doe currently has an active subscription to the "Basic Plan – $9.99/month." She subscribed to the plan on August 1, 2024. The subscription end timing is set to "Cancel at the period end (default)," which means the subscription will end after the current billing cycle. When Jane uses the cancellation URL to cancel her subscription, she will be redirected to the Subscription Cancellation page. Although her subscription is marked as cancelled immediately, she will retain access to the subscription benefits until the end of the current billing period, which is September 1, 2024.
2. Immediately:
  - Description: The subscription is terminated immediately upon cancellation.
  - Example: The subscription end timing is set to "Immediately" and user Jane uses the cancellation URL to cancel her subscription, she will be redirected to the Subscription Cancellation page. She will lose access to the subscription services right away, regardless of the current billing cycle or period.
3. Custom:
  - Description: Allows administrators to set a specific time frame after which the subscription will end following a cancellation. You can specify this time frame in minute(s),hour(s), day(s), week(s), or month(s).
  - Examples: The subscription end timing is set to "Custom." If you set a custom cancellation period of 7 days, the subscription will remain active for an additional 7 days after the user initiates cancellation. When User Jane cancelled her "Basic Plan – $9.99/month" subscription on August 1, 2024, with a cancellation period set to 7 days, her subscription is scheduled to end on August 8, 2024. However, because the plan was initially set to bill for a full month (August 1 to September 1), she is entitled to a prorated credit for the unused portion of the plan after the cancellation date.
Once you've configured the cancellation settings, you can use the provided Cancellation URL to create a button or link on your website. This URL directs users to the Subscription Cancellation page, where they can cancel their subscription according to the options you've set. Only logged-in users who have subscribed to this plan can access this link to manage their subscriptions. Ensure the URL is easily accessible and clearly labelled so users can find it without difficulty. It's important to note that the configured settings will only take effect if the user cancels their subscription using the provided Cancellation URL.