#dennis_de - subscriptions
grim bough
I would need to update an existing one.
With new ones I can control the behavior with "billing_cycle_anchor" and "proration_behavior".
heady elk
With new ones I can control the behavior with "billing_cycle_anchor" and "proration_behavior".
For new subscriptions you could also usebackdate_start_date: https://stripe.com/docs/billing/subscriptions/backdating
grim bough
As far as known, but unfortunately it is about an already existing subscription.
heady elk
Yes. For existing subscription you could move the next billing cycle by adding a free trial as mentioned here: https://stripe.com/docs/billing/subscriptions/billing-cycle#changing
This wouldn't backdate the subscription, but change the next billing cycle anchor.
heady elk
Sure. So what exactly would you like to change about this subscription?
grim bough
The current billing period is 07/10/2022 - 08/10/2022 and the next bill would be on 08/10/2022. I would like to backdate this to 07/01/2022 so that I can still deposit Usage for that month.
I have just no possibility to deposit Metered Usage to 07/02/2022 as an example.
heady elk
I don't think that's possible. For this you would need to update the backdate_start_date of the subscription, but this can only be set when creating the subscription (and not when you update it).
grim bough
But the "backdate_start_date" is on 05/01/2022 which is correct. But I understand what you mean....
What do you think would be the best course of action now?
heady elk
I have just no possibility to deposit Metered Usage to 07/02/2022 as an example.
The simplest option is to add the metered usage to the current billing period.
grim bough
Okay, retroactive to 07/01/2022 is problematic, got it. What about an adjustment to 08/01/2022? Or also not possible since the current billing period goes to 08/10/2022? So only 09/01/2022 would be possible?
tulip wren
👋 I'm stepping in for my colleague who has to step away
What about an adjustment to 08/01/2022?
since it's within the current billing cycle you can do as much adjustments as you see fit
grim bough
But not via the dashboard?
tulip wren
the only constraint for you is the timestamp
https://stripe.com/docs/api/usage_records/create#usage_record_create-timestamp
so the usage event shouldn't be in the future
grim bough
tulip wren
it should be between the start of the cycle and now
grim bough
I can only reset the cycle but not change it easily.
Or should I "schedule an update" to 08/01/2022 with "reset cycle"?
tulip wren
you want to change the cycle dates? or just the usage within the cycle itself?
grim bough
I would like to customize this subscription so that it is always calculated on the 1st of the month, so that usage can of course always be recorded from the 1st of the month until the end of the month.
And now the question is how do we get this solved? So either back to 07/01/2022, as I understand that is not possible. Would be the next option in the future 08/01/2022.
grim bough
I already know the excerpt from the documentary. But that has nothing to do with what I want to achieve? If I do "billing_cycle_anchor=now", I don't achieve the desired effect and the test period doesn't seem to be a solution either?
tulip wren
actually you can do that but on the 1st of August
if you reset the billing cycle anchor on the 1st of August, you would 1- bill the customer on the last period (07/10/2022 -> 07/31/2022) and start a new billing cycle on the 1st that would be recurring on each month accordingly
grim bough
I see, that's almost what I thought. Can I schedule this as an update via Scheduler?
tulip wren
yes if you already have a scheduler in your infrastructure why not
grim bough
Or via dashboard?
tulip wren
not via Stripe though
grim bough
It's German... I know, but can it be that the option ignores the scheduler? The text is irritating.
"Subsequent bills will be set to today's date."
tulip wren
if you're using a scheduler you will have to do it via the API
grim bough
tulip wren
no I'm not referring to this
honestly it would be an overkill to use subscription schedules just to change the billing cycle anchor
grim bough
This would have to be executed on 01.08.2022 - correct?
tulip wren
yes
grim bough
And then it is recognized that the customer had paid until 08/10/2022 and gets that proportionally charged on the new bill?
grim bough
Is it possible to preview what the effect is via an endpoint?
tulip wren
if you want you can test this using test clocks https://site-admin.stripe.com/docs/billing/testing/test-clocks
you can reproduce the same steps and advance through time to see what the results would be
e.g. set the frozen_time of the test_clock as 07/10/2022
create a customer and add the test_clock id to them
create a subscription (the same one as you have now)
advance in time till August 1st
do the update
and then you would have a full replica of what would happen