Understanding the end_date field of a subscription

Tip

The end_date field is a key concept for understanding the actual state of a subscription. This guide explains how it works and its use cases for PrestaShop integrators.

Prerequisites

• Knowledge of the Ciklik subscription lifecycle
• Access to the Ciklik API
• Familiarity with rebill concepts

See also: Subscription management (platform documentation)

Definition

The end_date field represents the subscription expiration date following the last accepted payment.

Important point

This field is populated even for active subscriptions. It does not mean the subscription has ended, but rather until what date it is “paid”.

Cycle operation

Let’s take the example of a monthly subscription:

Subscription: January 15
├── Payment accepted on January 15
├── end_date = February 14 (day before next rebill)
├── Next rebill scheduled: February 15
│
February 15 rebill
├── If payment accepted → end_date = March 14
├── If payment declined → end_date remains February 14

Update rule

• Payment accepted: end_date is updated to the day before the next scheduled rebill
• Payment declined: end_date does not change

Active status vs past end_date

A subscription can be:

• Active status + end_date in the future = Current subscription, payments up to date
• Active status + end_date in the past = “Zombie” subscription - active but never successfully renewed

”Zombie” subscriptions

These are subscriptions that:

• Have the active status in Ciklik
• But whose end_date is in the past (sometimes by several months)

Possible causes:

• Repeated payment failures (expired card, insufficient funds)
• Stock errors preventing renewal
• Technical issues (PrestaShop site inaccessible)

Use cases for API filtering

Identifying “stuck” subscriptions

To find active subscriptions that have not been renewed for a long time:

GET /api/subscriptions?filter[status]=active&filter[end_date_before]=2025-01-01

This returns subscriptions marked as active but whose last successful billing was before January 2025.

Monthly subscription audit

To identify subscriptions requiring attention:

# Active subscriptions with end_date exceeded for more than 30 days
GET /api/subscriptions?filter[status]=active&filter[end_date_before]=2026-01-04

Interpretation warning

A past end_date does not necessarily indicate a payment problem. It could be:

• An out-of-stock situation on PrestaShop side (see Understanding renewal errors)
• A temporary unavailability of the PrestaShop site
• A product configuration issue

Link with PrestaShop customer groups

The end_date field is particularly useful for integrators who synchronize Ciklik subscription status with PrestaShop customer groups.

Typical scenario

You have a “Premium Subscribers” customer group in PrestaShop that provides access to reduced prices or exclusive features.

Recommended logic:

If subscription.status == "active" AND subscription.end_date >= today
    → Customer remains in the "Premium Subscribers" group

If subscription.status == "active" AND subscription.end_date < today - 30 days
    → Consider removal from the group (subscription likely in difficulty)

If subscription.status == "inactive"
    → Remove from "Premium Subscribers" group

See also: Managing your subscribers in a PrestaShop customer group

Best practice

To automate this synchronization, use Ciklik webhooks which can notify your PrestaShop when subscription states change.

Difference with next_payment_date

Field	Meaning
end_date	Until what date the subscription is paid
next_payment_date	When the next payment attempt will occur

Example:

• end_date = February 14 (last payment covered until this date)
• next_payment_date = February 15 (next scheduled payment)

If the February 15 payment fails:

• end_date remains at February 14
• next_payment_date moves to February 18 (next attempt according to the rebill scenario)

FAQ

Q: Will a subscription with a past end_date continue to attempt renewal?

Yes, as long as the subscription has the active status, renewal attempts will continue according to the configured rebill scenario.

Q: How can I force an end_date update without payment?

This is not possible through the standard interface. The end_date field is only updated upon a successful payment. For exceptional cases, contact Ciklik support.

Q: If I cancel then reactivate a subscription, what happens to end_date?

• If reactivation during the paid period: end_date does not change
• If reactivation after end_date: a payment is triggered immediately, and end_date is updated if the payment succeeds

See: Canceling and reactivating a subscription