Defer payment until application is approval
I think it would be helpful to have an online application with an option of deferring the membership fee until the applicant has been approved for membership.
This would allow them to complete an application, which would enter the system as a Pending status. Once they have been approved, and the record is marked as Approved, then they would receive an email requesting that they then pay for the membership.
Our group has certain guidelines that must be met for membership. There are also other documents (proof of insurance, etc) that must be sent in for review. Once these items have been verified, then they can become a member. (Another requirement is that they've been in business at least two years).
In this case, there is a possibility that someone would apply and pay, only to get denied membership, requiring us to refund the payment.
ON ANOTHER NOTE - it might be nice to allow them to submit files with the app, such as the insurance certificate, etc.
djtommye
shared this idea
Evgeny Zaritovskiy
responded
For now, this is not something we’re going to change – not sure if ever.
Workaround to use: create a special “entry” free level to apply to, and close “normal” ones for application. For the entry level, create also a dropdown field where a potential member can choose a level they want to apply to. Add other fields you need to assess the application. When application is successful, your admin is to change membership level to required one and generate membership invoice (membership upgrade invoice). The member will be emailed with the invoice and can pay.
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Mike Davison
commented
I have a two-phased membership application process that is currently not supported in WA. Phase I - member applies and is interviewed to see if they meet my member criteria Phase II - member is approved and pays membership fees
I found out that I couldn't just post an annual membership application on the public part of my site because potential members could submit payment before I had decided if they were qualified to join.
WA suggested a "workaround" - I create 2 types of members; a "free" membership level that was open to the public with no fee, and an "annual" membership that is not open to the public with my annual fee ($250). I manually change the "free" members into "annual" members after I confirm their qualifications and set their renewal date to today's date.
This workaround is confusing because the email notifications and the payment screens are talking about "renewing" when this is a brand new member. It also distorts my membership renewal stats since all new members are "artificially" renewed.
WA already has the concept of a 2 phased membership approval. It just needs to give me the option to separate the initial application workflow from the payment workflow and allow me to initiate the payment workflow after I have verified the qualifications of a potential member.
I would expect that there are other member groups out there that need to review/evaluate applicants before they accept them as members - if you have this issue, please chime in.
