Billing system for website

LordRogaine

I'm using php with mysql. I have an internet dating site where the members log into the site with their own username and password. There are certain areas of the site I want to keep reserved for paying members. I have looked into several billing systems including iBill. My problem is that I want to set up the site so that when a paying member logs in, that same member does not have to log in again with his username and password when coming to the paid members only section. I know that I can set something up like a "flag" in a column in my database that recognizes that the member is a "paying" member. but how do I get it that when the system is set up for recurring billing on a monthly basis that my site can access (let's say "iBill") and recognize that the member is a "paid member" without having to have the member sign in again with his username and password when entering this area.
I hope I explained this properly. If someone can direct me to a tutorial or guide me in the right direction I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you in advance.

Lord Rogaine

planetsim

I think you should just add an extra field to the user table. With the members status. From there its just a matter of if the added user field is at paid members status to allow them to view that area.

From a billing point its basically the same check the status, when their last payment was etc.

LordRogaine

adding another field to the database table to show the status is not a problem. My problem is how do I have this checked automatically from the billing company to make the change in the field in my database. I have 6,000 members on my site now. I can't check every member everyday manually to see if their membership has expired or not

lee_umney

I know when using PayPal, PayPal returns a success/failure to you cart system when payment has been made/declined, you could use that to change the field in the table. You could set the date and have a script check to see if its been say a month since the last payment and then it changes it back once the member has paid again. I can't help with the code because I'm still looking into accepting PayPal.