Author Topic: Changing Membership End Date to Deal with Late Renewal Process (Read 584 times)

Shai · October 24, 2013, 11:35:07 am

My fellow Civilians,

Scenario: membership non-profit began managing rolling memberships in CiviCRM but did not set up renewal reminders or renewal forms. They have finally set up the renewal processes 16 months after they initially began soliciting one year memberships. Members get access to a private part of their web site. Members continue to get access to the private web site because a long grace period has been set.

Problem: Members who joined in June, 2012, and renew now will see their new membership lasting only until June, 2014. CiviMember adds one year on to the membership end date. Staff are concerned that the members might either be angry or try to buy a new membership instead of a renewal.

Planned solution: Change the end date on all past due memberships to November 1, 2013.

This is how we plan on doing it, and I have tested it:
1. Export memberships that are past due.
2. In a spreadsheet, change all past due expiration dates to November 1, 2013.
3. Import updated data via Import Memberships and remembering to select "Update memberships."

During my test I purchased a renewal and the new membership end date is now November 1, 2014.

Do you see any red flags in this approach?

Is there a better way to address this problem?

Thank you so much,

Shai Gluskin

CiviTeacher.com · November 13, 2013, 01:44:57 pm

Important Facts re: Grace period and renewal

1. Members who renew while still in their grace period have one year added to their existing end date EVEN IF that end date was totally, like, months ago and stuff.

2. Members who OUT of grace period (expired) who renew have a new start date applied of the day they renew and the end date one year from the date of renewal.

3. The anticipated purpose of a grace period is to provide full benefits whilst during the grace period, otherwise you don't need a grace period at all. It's like your late phone bill. If you are in the grace period, you are overdue, but you can still make a phone call. Your phone still works in the grace period.

Why this way? providing a full year of membership to those who renew in a grace period would REWARD LATE RENEWAL, giving them benefits during the grace period plus a full year AND providing zero penalty for their late renewal.

Does the phone company, after receiving your late payment say "ok you were late but we'll just give you a few weeks free service"? No. Your next bill is still due.

Some staff people have a mind-melting head explosion when they try to understand why this is a good thing. Oh well, I just tell them "if you don't like that you just edit the membership and change the end date" and that satisfies them.

Lesson: If they have an extremely long grace period you may want to reconsider that grace period duration.

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Author Topic: Changing Membership End Date to Deal with Late Renewal Process (Read 584 times)

Shai

Changing Membership End Date to Deal with Late Renewal Process

CiviTeacher.com

Re: Changing Membership End Date to Deal with Late Renewal Process