Paypal processing error

Discussion in 'Payments processing' started by bill123, Apr 15, 2004.

  1. bill123

    bill123 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2003
    Messages:
    38
    We have recently upgraded to the latest version of Amember Pro.

    We seem to be having a strange Paypal problem. We are using the Paypal_r plugin but have recurring billing turned off in the product creation screen -- this is the same as we have always had.

    This happened two times recently (our test payments haven't exhibited this behaviour and one customer has also completed a payment normally): The customer signs up and Paypal reflects a "subscription creation" transaction even though there is no "payment" transaction reflected in our Paypal history. There is also no "subscription completed". Amember reflects that the member paid (and access is granted) even though the amount paid is shown as "0".

    Essentially, normally there should be three transactions that show up in Paypal: subscription creation, a payment transaction, and subscription completion. Instead, only the first is showing in Paypal, and Amember allows the customer access even though there is no IPN in the log showing that payment was made (just the subscription creation entry).

    When we contacted Paypal after the first of these transactions, Paypal responded that the payment was denied -- this does not show up in our Paypal history. We haven't heard back from Paypal on the second one yet.

    We are wondering if this is a new Paypal bug, or might it be something in Amember? Also, why does Amember grant access when there is no payment transaction -- just subscription creation, even though our product does not have a free trial period?

    Anybody having any similar problems?

    thanks

    Bill
  2. alex

    alex aMember Pro Customer Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2004
    Messages:
    6,021
    Bill,
    aMember opens access when it receives PayPal IPN subscr_signup notification, and closes access when PayPal sends subscr_eot. We follow PayPal instructions, and it is only right way to handle paypal subscriptions.

    Payment information (and corresponding PayPal IPN posts) here is informational and statistical reasons, it doesn't effect subscription handling directly. It is how plugin worked all time, and this problem cannot be related with your upgrade.

    Why did PayPal send subscr_signup notification if payment has not been completed? I believe it is better to ask from Paypal support. It is definitely PayPal BUG.
  3. bill123

    bill123 New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 22, 2003
    Messages:
    38
    Re Paypal problem

    Thanks Alex for the quick response.

    I thought it probably is something with Paypal. I will ask them -- however, their support isn't up to your standards! When we asked about the first customer, they just said the payment was denied and told us to look in our history section (which did not have such an entry.) When we asked again, they just told us the same thing. Each time it seems to take 24 hours or more for an answer. Guess I'll try again.

    By the way, we are considering adding Worldpay as and option -- do you know if their processing is instant (like Paypal) or is there a delay (like Paysystems).

    thanks again

    Bill
  4. alex

    alex aMember Pro Customer Staff Member

    Joined:
    Jan 24, 2004
    Messages:
    6,021
    WorldPay processing is instant and it is really nice payment processor.

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