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# Creating AutoBills with deferred start

Subscribe allows you to create `AutoBill` subscriptions that start in the future. Such `AutoBill` are created with status: `Pending Activation` and can have a known or unknown start date. If you know the start date, set the `startTimestamp` field in `AutoBill.update()` to the date you want entitlement and billing to begin. If you do not know the exact date you want billing to begin, leave the `startTimestamp` field empty and set the `unknownStart` flag to `True`. In either case, you can also validate a credit card payment method at the time of creation by setting the `validateForFuturePayment` flag to `True`. These `AutoBills` will be created and validated with an `auth` and put in status: `Pending Activation`.

`AutoBills` with an unknown start date created in this way can be activated at any time by an `AutoBill.Activation()` call.

```

$rc = $autobill→activate
```

This is the only method certified to start billing an `AutoBill` with an unknown start date. The method sets the `startTimestamp` to *today* and begins billing. If the AutoBill is not activated within two years it is automatically canceled. See [Canceling AutoBills with unknown start date](Canceling_AutoBills_with_1#) to cancel the AutoBill during the `Pending Activation` state.

**Parent topic:**[Creating AutoBills](../topics/Creating_AutoBills)


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