How to Pause a Subscription

Updated December 07, 2022 14:16

This article shows you how to pause a member’s subscription and how to unpause the account with just a few clicks. There’s no need to cancel the member's account now and then have to ask them to reapply at a later date.

Pausing the Subscription

In Memberstack, select the member you’d like to update. Go to the panel on the right side of the screen and click the Plans & Permissions tab. Hover over the plan you want to pause & click the pencil icon.

A modal displays 👇. Click the View in Stripe link. (If not already logged in, Stripe will ask you to enter your credentials and complete the 2FA.)

The next step is to locate the subscription and pause it.

In Stripe, confirm the Customers and Overview tabs are selected.

Locate the subscription and click the ellipsis.
Select Pause payment collection on the drop-down menu. A popup window displays.
Set a duration. (see below)
Select an invoice behavior. (see below)
Click Pause.

Invoice Duration

Decide how long to pause the subscription. You can choose an indefinite period of time or use the date picker to set a specific return date. In either case, you can unpause your subscription any time you like.

Invoice Behavior

Next, decide how Stripe should handle your customer invoices. There are three options.

Keep invoices as drafts

Choose this option if you want to continue offering services now and collect payments later.
Stripe collects invoices but does not immediately process payments (e.g. charge a card).

Mark invoices uncollectible

Choose this option if you want to offer services for free during the pause period.
Stripe collects invoices but does not immediately process payments (e.g. charge a card).

Void invoices

This option is not available right now. It’s on our roadmap.

Viewing Changes

After you click Pause, the platform makes two changes.

Stripe adds a Collection paused tag to your account summary.

Memberstack updates the Plans & Permissions information. The tag Paused until indicates no set end to the subscription pause. If you enter a custom date on the Stripe page to end the pause, that date appears here.