Payment Link with Subscription

Questions
, ,
1

Hi there,

trying to create a payment link with subscription_plan_id in sandbox, but the payment page looks a one-off payment and after clicking “Test Payment” it also appears just as a one-off transaction in the dashboard, no subscription created. What am I missing?

Request:

content-length: 236
content-type: application/json
square-version: 2023-11-15
accept-encoding: gzip
accept: application/json
user-agent: Square-PHP-SDK/33.0.0.20231115 (2023-11-15) PHP/8.0.30 (Linux-5.15.133.1-microsoft-standard-WSL2)

 {
  "quick_pay": {
    "name": "test sub",
    "price_money": {
      "amount": 3900,
      "currency": "AUD"
    },
    "location_id": "LH7FXP9W6JWHH"
  },
  "checkout_options": {
    "allow_tipping": false,
    "subscription_plan_id": "WEO5SYJ6RZMPEMSISRLMYSG7",
    "ask_for_shipping_address": false
  }
}

Response:

{
  "payment_link": {
    "id": "UK5QYERQLQBHIHAT",
    "version": 1,
    "order_id": "6hMSlvp1oLiMX8lg3daUbPzUpq5YY",
    "checkout_options": {
      "allow_tipping": false,
      "subscription_plan_id": "WEO5SYJ6RZMPEMSISRLMYSG7",
      "ask_for_shipping_address": false
    },
    "url": "https://sandbox.square.link/u/MS2HM5fq",
    "long_url": "https://connect.squareupsandbox.com/v2/online-checkout/sandbox-testing-panel/ML61AP0FQMZW1/UK5QYERQLQBHIHAT",
    "created_at": "2023-12-01T04:57:51Z"
  },
  "related_resources": {
    "orders": [
      {
        "id": "6hMSlvp1oLiMX8lg3daUbPzUpq5YY",
        "location_id": "LH7FXP9W6JWHH",
        "source": {
          "name": "Sandbox for sq0idp-VVI-Hb2jI7UGnzqb7smxGQ"
        },
        "line_items": [
          {
            "uid": "8NYKsJKOYYIvwAccjzm9w",
            "name": "test sub",
            "quantity": "1",
            "item_type": "ITEM",
            "base_price_money": {
              "amount": 3900,
              "currency": "AUD"
            },
            "variation_total_price_money": {
              "amount": 3900,
              "currency": "AUD"
            },
            "gross_sales_money": {
              "amount": 3900,
              "currency": "AUD"
            },
            "total_tax_money": {
              "amount": 0,
              "currency": "AUD"
            },
            "total_discount_money": {
              "amount": 0,
              "currency": "AUD"
            },
            "total_money": {
              "amount": 3900,
              "currency": "AUD"
            },
            "total_service_charge_money": {
              "amount": 0,
              "currency": "AUD"
            }
          }
        ],
        "fulfillments": [
          {
            "uid": "nTUyEwVUbe6wgVgkPaNN5C",
            "type": "DIGITAL",
            "state": "PROPOSED"
          }
        ],
        "net_amounts": {
          "total_money": {
            "amount": 3900,
            "currency": "AUD"
          },
          "tax_money": {
            "amount": 0,
            "currency": "AUD"
          },
          "discount_money": {
            "amount": 0,
            "currency": "AUD"
          },
          "tip_money": {
            "amount": 0,
            "currency": "AUD"
          },
          "service_charge_money": {
            "amount": 0,
            "currency": "AUD"
          }
        },
        "created_at": "2023-12-01T04:57:51.244Z",
        "updated_at": "2023-12-01T04:57:51.244Z",
        "state": "DRAFT",
        "version": 1,
        "total_money": {
          "amount": 3900,
          "currency": "AUD"
        },
        "total_tax_money": {
          "amount": 0,
          "currency": "AUD"
        },
        "total_discount_money": {
          "amount": 0,
          "currency": "AUD"
        },
        "total_tip_money": {
          "amount": 0,
          "currency": "AUD"
        },
        "total_service_charge_money": {
          "amount": 0,
          "currency": "AUD"
        },
        "net_amount_due_money": {
          "amount": 3900,
          "currency": "AUD"
        }
      }
    ],
    "subscription_plans": [
      {
        "type": "SUBSCRIPTION_PLAN_VARIATION",
        "id": "WEO5SYJ6RZMPEMSISRLMYSG7",
        "updated_at": "2023-11-30T06:13:32.193Z",
        "created_at": "2023-11-30T06:13:32.193Z",
        "version": 1701324812193,
        "is_deleted": false,
        "present_at_all_locations": true,
        "subscription_plan_variation_data": {
          "name": "Basic Sub",
          "phases": [
            {
              "uid": "5GYQKWQS5GVE2INNAF34RYSS",
              "cadence": "MONTHLY",
              "ordinal": 0,
              "pricing": {
                "type": "RELATIVE"
              }
            }
          ],
          "subscription_plan_id": "FVU2QWVHAV6KQIN4QA3WKFDG"
        }
      }
    ]
  }
}

Also, from the docs it looks like when creating a payment link for subscription I have to use quick_pay and not order.line_items. Is that right? And I have to specify the amount every time. If so , then what’s the purpose of adding Catalog Items to a subscription Plan?

Thank you!

2

Unfortunately, the sandbox experience with subscriptions isn’t a complete experience. We’re constantly working to improve our features based on feedback like this, so I’ll be sure to share your request to the API product team. :slightly_smiling_face:

3

Thanks Bryan, gotcha!
What about the second part of my question?

Also, from the docs it looks like when creating a payment link for subscription I have to use quick_pay and not order.line_items . Is that right? And I have to specify the amount every time. If so , then what’s the purpose of adding Catalog Items to a subscription Plan?

How do I specify the catalog item when creating a subscription payment link?

4

Unfortunately, this is currently a limitation with the the Checkout API’s Payment Links. The new structure of the Subscriptions API supports itemized subscriptions (on version 2023-06-08 or newer), but for Checkout API you’ll need to stick with plans that have static price phases.