diff --git a/test/api/unit/libs/payments/apple.test.js b/test/api/unit/libs/payments/apple.test.js
index a086677292..1aefe2cb51 100644
--- a/test/api/unit/libs/payments/apple.test.js
+++ b/test/api/unit/libs/payments/apple.test.js
@@ -326,12 +326,9 @@ describe('Apple Payments', () => {
     it('errors when a user is already subscribed', async () => {
       payments.createSubscription.restore();
       user = new User();
-      user.purchased.plan.dateUpdated = moment().subtract(1, 'hours').toDate();
       await user.save();
 
       await applePayments.subscribe(sku, user, receipt, headers, nextPaymentProcessing);
-      user.purchased.plan.dateUpdated = moment().subtract(1, 'hours').toDate();
-      await user.save();
 
       await expect(applePayments.subscribe(sku, user, receipt, headers, nextPaymentProcessing))
         .to.eventually.be.rejected.and.to.eql({
diff --git a/test/api/unit/libs/payments/payments.test.js b/test/api/unit/libs/payments/payments.test.js
index 7e306f94fd..48d6325546 100644
--- a/test/api/unit/libs/payments/payments.test.js
+++ b/test/api/unit/libs/payments/payments.test.js
@@ -350,10 +350,6 @@ describe('payments/index', () => {
     });
 
     context('Purchasing a subscription for self', () => {
-      beforeEach(() => {
-        data.user.purchased.plan.dateUpdated = moment().subtract(1, 'hours').toDate();
-      });
-
       it('creates a subscription', async () => {
         expect(user.purchased.plan.planId).to.not.exist;
 
@@ -380,7 +376,6 @@ describe('payments/index', () => {
         user.purchased.plan = plan;
         user.purchased.plan.dateTerminated = moment(new Date()).add(2, 'months');
         expect(user.purchased.plan.extraMonths).to.eql(0);
-        data.user.purchased.plan.dateUpdated = moment().subtract(1, 'hours').toDate();
 
         await api.createSubscription(data);
 
@@ -391,7 +386,6 @@ describe('payments/index', () => {
         user.purchased.plan = plan;
         user.purchased.plan.dateTerminated = moment(new Date()).subtract(2, 'months');
         expect(user.purchased.plan.extraMonths).to.eql(0);
-        data.user.purchased.plan.dateUpdated = moment().subtract(1, 'hours').toDate();
 
         await api.createSubscription(data);
 
@@ -401,7 +395,6 @@ describe('payments/index', () => {
       it('does not reset Gold-to-Gems cap on additional subscription', async () => {
         user.purchased.plan = plan;
         user.purchased.plan.gemsBought = 10;
-        data.user.purchased.plan.dateUpdated = moment().subtract(1, 'hours').toDate();
 
         await api.createSubscription(data);
 
@@ -455,10 +448,6 @@ describe('payments/index', () => {
     });
 
     context('Block subscription perks', () => {
-      beforeEach(() => {
-        data.user.purchased.plan.dateUpdated = moment().subtract(1, 'hours').toDate();
-      });
-
       it('adds block months to plan.consecutive.offset', async () => {
         await api.createSubscription(data);
 
@@ -497,7 +486,6 @@ describe('payments/index', () => {
         data.sub.key = 'basic_12mo';
 
         await api.createSubscription(data);
-        data.user.purchased.plan.dateUpdated = moment().subtract(1, 'hours').toDate();
         await api.createSubscription(data);
 
         expect(user.purchased.plan.consecutive.gemCapExtra).to.eql(25);
@@ -536,7 +524,6 @@ describe('payments/index', () => {
           now: mayMysteryItemTimeframe,
           toFake: ['Date'],
         });
-        data.user.purchased.plan.dateUpdated = moment().subtract(1, 'hours').toDate();
       });
 
       afterEach(() => {
diff --git a/website/server/libs/payments/subscriptions.js b/website/server/libs/payments/subscriptions.js
index 1387d4b5c8..80401f21de 100644
--- a/website/server/libs/payments/subscriptions.js
+++ b/website/server/libs/payments/subscriptions.js
@@ -11,10 +11,10 @@ import { // eslint-disable-line import/no-cycle
   model as Group,
   basicFields as basicGroupFields,
 } from '../../models/group';
+import { model as User } from '../../models/user'; // eslint-disable-line import/no-cycle
 import {
   NotAuthorized,
   NotFound,
-  TooManyRequests,
 } from '../errors';
 import shared from '../../../common';
 import { sendNotification as sendPushNotification } from '../pushNotifications'; // eslint-disable-line import/no-cycle
@@ -80,9 +80,19 @@ async function createSubscription (data) {
   let emailType = 'subscription-begins';
   let recipientIsSubscribed = recipient.isSubscribed();
 
-  if (data.user && !data.gift && !data.groupId && data.customerId !== 'group-plan') {
-    if (moment().diff(data.user.purchased.plan.dateUpdated, 'minutes') < 3) {
-      throw new TooManyRequests('Subscription already processed, likely duplicate request');
+  if (data.user && !data.gift && !data.groupId) {
+    const unlockedUser = await User.findOneAndUpdate(
+      {
+        _id: data.user._id,
+        $or: [
+          { _subSignature: 'NOT_RUNNING' },
+          { _subSignature: { $exists: false } },
+        ],
+      },
+      { $set: { _subSignature: 'SUB_IN_PROGRESS' } },
+    );
+    if (!unlockedUser) {
+      throw new NotFound('User not found or subscription already processing.');
     }
   }
 
@@ -289,10 +299,6 @@ async function createSubscription (data) {
     }
   }
 
-  if (group) await group.save();
-  if (data.user && data.user.isModified()) await data.user.save();
-  if (data.gift) await data.gift.member.save();
-
   slack.sendSubscriptionNotification({
     buyer: {
       id: data.user._id,
@@ -309,6 +315,24 @@ async function createSubscription (data) {
     groupId,
     autoRenews,
   });
+
+  if (group) {
+    await group.save();
+  }
+  if (data.user) {
+    if (data.user.isModified()) {
+      await data.user.save();
+    }
+    if (!data.gift && !data.groupId) {
+      await User.findOneAndUpdate(
+        { _id: data.user._id },
+        { $set: { _subSignature: 'NOT_RUNNING' } },
+      );
+    }
+  }
+  if (data.gift) {
+    await data.gift.member.save();
+  }
 }
 
 // Cancels a subscription or group plan, setting termination to happen later