# Post your subscription problem here! **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 1, 2005, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-subscription-problem-here/297297 "2005-04-01T20:28:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2005, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-subscription-problem-here/297297/1 "2005-04-01T20:28:38Z")
If you have had/are having a technical problem getting your subscription or renewal handled in the system, you can report it here. However, if you wish to handle this privately, you may send me an email: [TubaDiva@aol.com](mailto:TubaDiva@aol.com). Please indicate in the title of your email that you’re having this problem. I get a lot of email and these situations get first priority. This is not the thread if you are having problems paying for your subscription: For that, please see here: [Make your “Pay my subscription fee” request here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=245878) \>[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=245878](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=245878) For more information on the promotional subscription offer currently running, please see here: [Super SDMB subscription special](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=309616) \>[http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=309616](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=309616) your humble TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![hlanelee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@hlanelee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hlanelee)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2005, 1:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-subscription-problem-here/297297/2 "2005-04-03T13:17:32Z")
I know this is a hijack but how will I know when my subscription is up? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2005, 1:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-subscription-problem-here/297297/3 "2005-04-03T13:29:33Z")
> [@hlanelee](#): > > I know this is a hijack but how will I know when my subscription is up? Click on UserCP\>paid subscriptions It’ll be on the right side ---
**Author:** ![hlanelee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/3bc359/32.png) [@hlanelee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hlanelee)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2005, 1:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-subscription-problem-here/297297/4 "2005-04-03T13:31:45Z")
> [@Mr. Blue Sky](#): > > Click on UserCP\>paid subscriptions > > It’ll be on the right side Thanks **Sky**. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2005, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-subscription-problem-here/297297/5 "2005-04-03T19:53:54Z")
I’ve been trying to subscribe on behalf of **START**. Problems ensue. What is the correct procedure? ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 4:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-subscription-problem-here/297297/6 "2005-04-04T04:19:49Z")
You need to get START to give you his password. Then you sign in as START, click on “subscribe” in the blue band at the top of nearly every SDMB page, and follow the prompts. Remember, if you use a credit card, it happens very quickly; if you use PayPal, it will take several days to process through (it’s on PayPal’s side, not ours). It’s not a very elegant procedure, but it works. your humble TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-subscription-problem-here/297297/7 "2005-04-04T12:18:18Z")
Jerry sorted me out 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_H](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/a5b964/32.png) [@Bill\_H](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_H)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-subscription-problem-here/297297/8 "2005-04-04T21:30:07Z")
Didn’t see this thread. Just sent this email to Ed Zotti: Hi Ed, I’m “Bill H.” on SDMB. I suspect you’re not the right guy to send this to, but I’m not sure who is. Could you forward appropriately? I tried extending my subscription on the web site, and had problems. First bug: I used a credit card that has the expiration date 4/05. The subscription software believes (incorrectly) that this is an expired credit card and doesn’t bother verifying it. I realize this won’t impact most subscribers, but it may impact a few others besides myself and is probably easy to resolve. Second (more important) bug: I entered the information for a second card, and was sent to a page completely blank except for the Straight Dope header at the top with the URL [https://securesite.chireader.com/cgi-bin/sdmb/subscribe.bat](https://securesite.chireader.com/cgi-bin/sdmb/subscribe.bat). In another window, I checked my membership expiration date and saw it hadn’t changed. I clicked the refresh button in the first window, and got correct confirmation information. Now, my membership looks to be extended for one year. However, I don’t know if I was charged once or twice. Thanks for looking into this. Regards, Bill ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2005, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-subscription-problem-here/297297/9 "2005-04-04T22:15:57Z")
Dear Bill: I’ll forward your description to Jerry. It did take, however; your subscription expiration date is 04/28/2006. your humble TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![Critical\_Mass](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@Critical\_Mass](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Critical_Mass)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-subscription-problem-here/297297/10 "2005-04-05T21:41:27Z")
I had exactly the same experience as **Bill H.** describes. I was sent to a blank window with just the Straight Dope header at the top of the page. Not wanting to risk being charged twice, I did not click refresh. My expiry date still says 4-28-05. I did not receive an email confirming the transaction. Should the expiration date change right away? Should I get some indication that the transaction was a success? Was the transaction a success? ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2005, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-subscription-problem-here/297297/11 "2005-04-05T23:44:24Z")
> [@qwest](#): > > I had exactly the same experience as **Bill H.** describes. I was sent to a blank window with just the Straight Dope header at the top of the page. > > Not wanting to risk being charged twice, I did not click refresh. > > My expiry date still says 4-28-05. > > I did not receive an email confirming the transaction. > > Should the expiration date change right away? Should I get some indication that the transaction was a success? Was the transaction a success? Sounds like it didn’t take. I’ll have to refer this one to Jerry for more information. Sorry for your inconvenience. your humble TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![Good\_Egg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@Good\_Egg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Good_Egg)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-subscription-problem-here/297297/12 "2005-04-07T00:56:21Z")
A wonderful poster paid for me to be charter. However, it still says Member. Should I take this to mean he used paypal and it won’t show charter yet? Ifso, okay, I’m not in a hurry to see charter, as long as I am. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-subscription-problem-here/297297/13 "2005-04-07T02:15:50Z")
I’m sorry, but the door has closed on “Charter Membership.” To have qualified for that, you would have had to be a subscribing member in that time period that ended in March of 2004, the original subscription drive. Subscribing now only makes you a member . . . in good standing. Which we greatly appreciate, but we will not be making any more “Charter Members” . . . and have not for over a year. your humble TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![Good\_Egg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/96bed5/32.png) [@Good\_Egg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Good_Egg)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 2:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-subscription-problem-here/297297/14 "2005-04-07T02:49:05Z")
Ah, my misunderstanding. As long as I’m a member, thats good. Thanks for clearing that up. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 12:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-subscription-problem-here/297297/15 "2005-04-07T12:24:43Z")
Still can’t log on… **TubaDiva** , can you e-mail **START** , so we can confab on this? I wanna figure out why this ain’t workin… ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2005, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-subscription-problem-here/297297/16 "2005-04-07T18:40:28Z")
I sent START another email. Let’s do discuss this. Y’all come get me when you’re ready. your humble TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![GawnFishin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/e9bcb4/32.png) [@GawnFishin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GawnFishin)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-subscription-problem-here/297297/17 "2005-04-08T13:49:50Z")
I had the same problem as Bill H but I figured it would sort itself out in the rinse. I checked back later and my membership had not been renewed so I went through the process again and my membership was renewed for 1 year. I’ve just recieved my CC statement and I see that I have been charged twice though my membership still shows it as expiring next year '06 and no credit has been given for the second year. Could you look into this for me please. No biggy really let me know when you can. ---
**Author:** ![Magret](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b782af/32.png) [@Magret](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magret)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 2:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-subscription-problem-here/297297/18 "2005-04-08T14:30:36Z")
Is there anything further on why it thinks credit cards which expire at the end of the month are already expired? Can that be sorted? ---
**Author:** ![jdavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f6c823/32.png) [@jdavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jdavis)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-subscription-problem-here/297297/19 "2005-04-08T15:59:21Z")
> [@Magret](#): > > Is there anything further on why it thinks credit cards which expire at the end of the month are already expired? Can that be sorted? A correction is being worked on. It will probably be available before the end of today. Edit: The correction is now in place and has been verified as working. 04/08/05 12:30 PM CDT. ---
**Author:** ![jdavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f6c823/32.png) [@jdavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jdavis)\ **Post date:** [April 8, 2005, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-subscription-problem-here/297297/20 "2005-04-08T16:05:52Z")
> [@qwest](#): > > I had exactly the same experience as **Bill H.** describes. I was sent to a blank window with just the Straight Dope header at the top of the page. > > Not wanting to risk being charged twice, I did not click refresh. > > My expiry date still says 4-28-05. > > I did not receive an email confirming the transaction. > > Should the expiration date change right away? Should I get some indication that the transaction was a success? Was the transaction a success? There was no record of a credit card transaction for you prior to 04/06/05. I’m assuming whatever you did before the 6th did not take and that you attempted re-subscription on the 6th which did take. We have record of a transaction for $7.48 and your subscription is now good until 04/28/06. Thanks, Jerry [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/post-your-subscription-problem-here/297297.md?page=2)