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  • Why are Recurring Contributions So Hard?
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Author Topic: Why are Recurring Contributions So Hard?  (Read 1769 times)

YMNathaniel

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Why are Recurring Contributions So Hard?
June 16, 2009, 07:51:40 am
I'm curious why there is not more recurring contribution functionality built into CiviCRM?

Recurring contributions play a huge role for my organization, and there is a lot of demand for it from another large non-profit I work with.

Right now, if I'm not mistaken, recurring contributions are only possible by using PayPal Standard--which requires users to visit a PayPal site.

Are their technical limitations to offering recurring contributions with other payment processors? What are those limitations and how can I (not very technical) help CiviCRM overcome them?

Thanks!!

Donald Lobo

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Re: Why are Recurring Contributions So Hard?
June 16, 2009, 08:50:53 am

most payment processors did not support them effectively till a year ago. paypal standard was the only one which had it automated and api exposed. In the past year paypal pro, authorize.net and google checkout have rolled out API support for it

if you are interested in seeing support for this in the above processors, sponsor development of the feature and/or hire a developer to get it done. You might also want to chip into the fund being proposed here:

http://forum.civicrm.org/index.php/topic,8413.0.html
http://forum.civicrm.org/index.php/topic,6751.msg36604.html#msg36604
http://forum.civicrm.org/index.php/topic,6751.msg36619.html#msg36619

lobo
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CiviTeacher.com

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Re: Why are Recurring Contributions So Hard?
June 16, 2009, 09:38:42 am
I know it may be frustrating, but Lobo is right, a lot of processors do not support recurring billing very well.  I am in the process of trying to coordinate an effort with other CiviCRM people to get Authorize.net ARB (automatic recurring billing) to work.

Check out http://forum.civicrm.org/index.php/topic,6751.15.html
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skowarsky

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Re: Why are Recurring Contributions So Hard?
June 27, 2009, 04:38:19 am
Like YMN, recurring contributions are central for us.  I don't get this.  Why rely on the processor for this function?  Make it part of CiviCRM.  Just submit the periodic charges to whatever processor.  What am I missing?

Eileen

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Re: Why are Recurring Contributions So Hard?
June 28, 2009, 03:03:31 am
CiviCRM does not store credit card numbers (and I think only relatively few organisations would be comfortable with the security implications of storing credit cards).

There are, however, some payment processors that will store the credit card information themselves and return a code to be invoked to re-charge it. I have been referring to these as triggered payments. I think that a payment processor of this type would be a good fit with CiviPledge as a payment rather than a reminder e-mail could be triggered.

However, 'triggered payments', like recurring contributions for other processors are not high on the core team's priority list and will only happen if an organisation wants to invest in them or if someone volunteers to do it.

Stoob has been working on Authorize.net and you could test his code. It will allow you to set up a recurring contribution but at this stage he hasn't got it to accept notification when future payments fail.
Make today the day you step up to support CiviCRM and all the amazing organisations that are using it to improve our world - http://civicrm.org/contribute

skowarsky

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Re: Why are Recurring Contributions So Hard?
June 28, 2009, 12:01:30 pm
Thanks for explaining. I was beginning to think that not storing CC was the reason.

I am probably naive about security, but I believe it's possible to store CC info in a secure way.  A lot of e-commerce sites do it so that I don't have to enter my CC each time I purchase something.  DonorPerfect and Neon both support this feature.  It takes some extra effort to mask the CC number so that it's never visible after being entered.  But the independent recurring contribution feature (not dependent on a particular processor) is so obviously needed, I am surprised it is not a high priority item for the team.

Donald Lobo

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Re: Why are Recurring Contributions So Hard?
June 28, 2009, 03:37:56 pm

If this is important to you and obviously needed please consider contributing the code and/or sponsoring the feature.

As an open source product, community contributions help improve and strengthen the product

lobo
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skowarsky

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Re: Why are Recurring Contributions So Hard?
June 28, 2009, 07:23:17 pm
Understood, will consider.
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  • Why are Recurring Contributions So Hard?

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