Subscription news and guides
How to manage subscriptions in your apps, what app stores are changing, how recurring billing works, and what regulations require. With the Spanish market as reference.
45 articles
Verifactu and stablecoins: 6 payments stories of the week
Possible Spanish tax agency letters over Verifactu and e-invoice mismatches, USDC settlement in LatAm and what the ECB published.
Coast, cash VAT and AI payments: 5 news stories of the week
What is known about Coast's funding round, why cash payment for renovations could raise VAT to 21% and what TEAC's new criterion on seizures changes.
Stablecoin cards: 4 updates on global payments and taxes
Learn how stablecoin cards, unified payment APIs, the expected Verifactu delay to 2028, and operational savings impact European digital businesses.
B2B invoicing deadlines, offline card payments and stablecoin orchestration
We review the divergence between VeriFactu and B2B e-invoicing, Mastercard's offline payment mandate, and new corporate stablecoin rails.
Cross-border settlement friction, reusable verification, and e-commerce employment standards
European payments navigate cross-border operational hurdles and advances in reusable identity verification, while e-commerce confronts compliance with labour frameworks.
AI risk models, mobile card personalization, and digital money according to the ECB
Plaid unveils AI tools to mitigate fraud and payment risk, Wells Fargo introduces debit card customization in its app, and the European Central Bank addresses tokenization.
Credit access via open banking, invoice fraud protection, and the ECB's policy diagnosis
We examine open banking's role in tackling credit exclusion, Basware's purchase of Trustpair, and monetary challenges outlined by the European Central Bank.
Payment gateway API keys: least privilege, rotation, and leak response
Managing payment credentials requires separating environments, restricting privileges, and maintaining an immediate revocation and audit protocol for accidental leaks.
Embedded finance in operational software and new supervisory decisions
BMO and Mastercard embed virtual commercial cards into business platforms, the ECB issues governance decisions, and a case highlights unmonitored contract risks.
Mid-cycle plan changes: proration, immediate charges, and invoice transparency
We explore the mechanics of subscription proration, the operational trade-offs between instant and deferred billing, and how to display charges clearly.
Unit costs in micropayments, stablecoin settlement trials, and cross-border instant rails
Merchant friction over transaction fees in low-value sales highlights margin pressure, while banking institutions deploy Swift instant schemes and stablecoin settlement pilots.
Interoperability in emerging networks and bank integration of stablecoins
Mastercard advances open payment infrastructure in Africa with Mojaloop, while Circle and Volante bring USDC into mainstream banking workflows.
Cross-border alias payments via Bizum, transfers to digital wallets, and VAT balance scrutiny
Swift links systems like Bizum for international alias-based transfers, BNY introduces payments to digital wallets, and the Supreme Court confirms historic VAT audits.
Tether processor bank accounts seized, AI analytics in fintech, and EU AML scrutiny
US action against a Tether-linked payment provider and an infringement procedure against Spain highlight compliance and settlement risks.
Passkey-driven agentic purchases, cloud instant payments, and stablecoin fee pressure
Autonomous commerce takes its first steps in Europe as instant rail rollouts and digital assets reshape traditional banking revenues.
Cash flow against late payments, new open payment networks, and the ECB agenda
We cover Duqu's funding round targeting unpaid invoices, Atum's open payments launch by a former Visa executive, and the ECB's updates on cash and digital money.
Stablecoin settlement arrives on card networks as P2P options expand
Mastercard and SoFi test blockchain settlement for card programmes, while Moov enables direct-to-card P2P payments. We also cover rising bank deposit yields and fiscal debates impacting businesses.
PSD3 oversight on banking APIs, ECB's Pontes platform, and AI agent payments
Finextra analyses API regulation under PSD3, while the ECB launches Pontes for wholesale settlement and Danske Bank runs purchases via AI agents.
Amending an invoice after a refund: corrective invoices, deadlines, and already declared VAT
Refunding customer funds does not automatically cancel the original invoice or the VAT already remitted. Here is how corrective invoices work, statutory deadlines, and tax adjustments.
Card routing modernization, UK open banking architecture, and ECB consumer expectations
Bank Pekao upgrades its card infrastructure with NCR Atleos, while UK open banking faces credit crunch debates and the ECB releases consumer data.
Apple Pay and Google Pay without the marketing: network tokens and fraud reduction
Far from simple digital wallets, Apple Pay and Google Pay rely on network tokens and dynamic cryptograms. We examine their technical mechanics and fraud impact.
Same subscription on web, iOS, and Android: avoiding double billing with a single entitlement state
Allowing a customer to use their subscription across platforms without paying twice requires anchoring billing to a central account. Here is the architecture needed to coordinate web, App Store, and Google Play.
What changes with PSD3 and the PSR: spoofing fraud, refunds, and transparency
The EU's updated payment framework splits its rules between a directive and a directly applicable regulation. Here is what it means for merchants, gateways, and consumers dealing with social engineering fraud.
Card Tokenization: What Merchants Store and What They Don't
Learn what card tokens are, gateway vs network tokens, PCI DSS SAQ A requirements, and how Cifrago charges subscriptions without touching card numbers.
Free versus paid trial periods: technical impact on conversion, payment failures, and churn
Choosing between a free or paid trial alters sign-up rates, card processing workflows, payment failure frequency, and exposure to dispute costs.
The hidden cost of failed payments: return fees, retries, and lost customers
When a recurring transaction fails or a customer disputes a charge, the problem goes far beyond unpaid invoices. Direct processing fees, operational overhead, and involuntary churn multiply the true financial impact.
Personal data in payments: what GDPR says about emails, addresses, and purchase history
GDPR requires limiting data collection to the minimum necessary, but tax laws and fraud prevention mandate retaining transaction records. We analyse which legal bases justify each data point and for how long.
Bizum, card, or bank transfer: which method to offer and what each one costs
We analyse the operational differences, processing fees, fraud risks, and settlement times of cards, Bizum, and bank transfers for an online store in Spain.
Strong customer authentication (SCA) and 3D Secure: requirements, exemptions, and conversion
Strong customer authentication curbs card fraud but introduces checkout friction. We examine when the mandate applies, available exemptions, and how to protect conversion.
Friendly fraud: when cardholders dispute legitimate charges and the evidence that defeats them
Friendly fraud occurs when genuine customers dispute real purchases with their banks. We examine how this mechanism works, the evidence regulations require, and how to contest unjustified claims.
Flat rate or interchange++: which payment gateway pricing model is cheaper for your sales
Choosing between a flat rate and interchange++ determines whether you overpay on transaction fees. We examine how card types and European regulations shape the final cost.
Payment links: when they replace an online store and how to collect via direct channels
Payment links allow businesses to collect quotes and direct sales through WhatsApp or email without a web store, keeping full SCA and security standards.
Simplified vs full invoice in online sales: legal thresholds and required data
Knowing when an online store can issue a simplified invoice and when it must collect full fiscal details is essential for conversion and tax compliance. We examine Spanish regulations and their technical impact on the checkout flow.
What Is an Entitlement: Products, Subscriptions & Access
Learn what an entitlement is and how it differs from products and subscriptions. Check user access across web, iOS, and Android using the Cifrago API.
Payment Retries: 3 Attempts and a 7-Day Grace Period
Learn what dunning is, why recurring payments fail, card network retry limits for Visa and Mastercard, and how Cifrago's 3-retry schedule will work.
Idempotency in payments: how to avoid double charges from retries and duplicate webhooks
Network hiccups or duplicate webhooks can trigger duplicate charges if systems lack idempotency protections. We review the mechanics and database patterns to prevent repeated billing.
Cancelling a subscription in one click: consumer regulations and the true cost of retention tricks
Obstructing digital subscription cancellations not only breaches European consumer law, but also drives bank chargebacks. We examine what the rules demand and how to design clean cancellations.
Key subscription metrics: MRR, voluntary churn, and recovered revenue
Managing recurring revenue requires distinguishing customer cancellations from technical payment failures. We examine MRR calculations, churn types, and recovery workflows.
Preauthorisations and deferred captures: how to hold an amount and charge it later without surprises
Separating card authorisation from final settlement is a standard practice in e-commerce. We analyse how preauthorisation works, validity windows, and how to avoid operational friction.
Risk rules at checkout: velocity, geolocation, and smart authentication
Configuring effective risk filters in the payment gateway prevents fraud without hurting conversion. We examine how to assess velocity, IP, and issuing country to decide when to require 3D Secure.
Refunds and chargebacks: managing disputes to protect your online business
Understanding the difference between refunds and chargebacks is crucial for any e-commerce business. We analyze deadlines, necessary documentation, and effective strategies to reduce dispute rates, minimizing losses and optimizing your business operations.
Payment security: what you must never store, and why webhooks are signed
Most online payment incidents don't come from a sophisticated attack, but from two design decisions: storing card data you never needed, and trusting whatever the customer's browser says.
Invoicing subscriptions in Spain: VAT, renewals, and VeriFactu
A subscription is not a charge that repeats: it is a charge and an invoice that repeat. Who bears the VAT, what happens when the card expires, and what the verifiable invoicing rules demand all change the design from day one.
In-app payments: what the store takes, and when you can charge outside it
App Store and Google Play commissions don't apply to everything you sell from an app. The dividing line is what kind of product you deliver, and knowing where your case falls decides whether you pay 15%, 30%, or your own gateway's fee.
What actually happens inside an online card payment
Between the customer pressing "pay" and the money reaching your account, three separate things happen: authorisation, capture, and settlement. Knowing where each one occurs explains why a payment can show as "approved" and still not be charged.
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