Sorting by meta_key different to search criteria?

The value for the value key in the meta query is probably the cause of the problem.

 'value' => get_post_meta( get_the_ID(), 'cancelled', true )

The get_post_meta call actually retrieves the value of the meta key “cancelled” for the current post. So, in your current WP_Query, you’re retrieving all posts with a paypal_recur_profile_status equal to the value of the custom field “cancelled” of the current post.

If you want to get posts that have a profile status of Cancelled, you should check value to be “Cancelled”:

$args = array(
    'post_type' => 'subscription',
    'post_status' => 'publish',
    'meta_key' => 'expiry',
    'orderby' => 'meta_value_num',
    'order' => 'DESC',
    'posts_per_page' => -1,
    'ignore_sticky_posts'=> 1,
    'meta_query' => array(
        array(
            'key' => 'paypal_recur_profile_status',
            'value' => 'Cancelled'
        )
    )
);

Furthermore, caller_get_posts was replaced by ignore_sticky_posts in WordPress 3.1 (so I’ve replaced that), and you can omit the compare key in the meta_query, as that’s = by default.

Related Posts:

  1. Mixing regular and custom post types (with meta_query) on home page
  2. WP_Query() show posts that end later than today
  3. WP_Query orderby custom field then post_date in one query
  4. Filtering a WP_Query meta_query by numeric values isn’t working
  5. Using Query Posts With Multiple Post Types And A Taxonomy
  6. Can’t sort order of wp_query with 2 meta keys
  7. Comparing timestamps in meta query doesn’t work
  8. Display two post types ordered by two custom fields
  9. Combine tax_query and meta_query in WP_Query
  10. query order by date on custom type: wrong order
  11. exclude custom post type by meta key in wp_query
  12. Filter posts with meta_query NOT IN where value has multiple values
  13. Filtering by Post Meta Custom Fields – Performance
  14. Is it possible to apply a meta_query to one specific post type in a query with multilple post types?
  15. Setting proper query for multiple custom admin filters
  16. WP_Query: include custom post type only with specific meta value
  17. Returning a list of custom post types excluding those without a specific meta_value
  18. Two near-identical custom field types – one works, the other doesn’t . What can cause this?
  19. wp_query check if integer exists in custom field’s array
  20. A method for ordering mixed dates in search result loop (theory only, no actual code)
  21. How to do WP_Query with two meta fields with orderby clause
  22. Stuck in Order by more then one
  23. Why is this query not working? (Standard posts + custom post type)
  24. Configuring a meta query with multiple post types that have the same relationship on a single page
  25. Possible to filter custom post type with multiple meta data?
  26. Query based on custom fields start and end date
  27. WP_query – Filter by tax_query and meta_query using multiple select
  28. Getting a custom post’s custom field based on another custom post’s custom field select
  29. find custom post type post by searching its custom field with my string
  30. WP_Query of custom post type sorted by meta_key has unexpected results
  31. Create a WP_Query where if the first value of the first row is equal to the second compare other value
  32. Query Posts, order by meta value
  33. WP_Meta_Query object with conditionals
  34. Using WP meta query to show custom post types by a start and finish date
  35. Two queries – one with checkbox ticked, one without – comparing meta_query
  36. How to order query results based on if a custom field has been populated, then the order by the date of the post?
  37. build child and anchestor three from post parent
  38. meta query condition don’t work
  39. Custom query result empty on page 2
  40. Use WP_query to match post types based on custom field values
  41. meta query multiple values for the same key
  42. Sort custom post archives by a meta value from a different custom post type?
  43. Custom post types – meta_query: search lesson which starts sooner
  44. post type => ‘any’ not applied my custom queries
  45. How to get the posts that my following users are liked?
  46. Meta_Query refuses to return results
  47. Not able to get my custom search result using meta_query and tax_query together?
  48. Querying, storing, and using data from 2 separate custom post types
  49. Query events post type after current date and timezone
  50. Conditional posts in WP_query for search
  51. Selecting posts older than the current Unix epoch timestamp
  52. Custom Query With Multiple Meta Key Value
  53. Trying to combine multiple WordPress queries
  54. Querying meta values within an array
  55. Custom Post Type + Custom Meta Query Not Showing 2012 Posts
  56. Order Wp Query by earliest of 3 dates meta query
  57. WP_Query() displaying past post / event
  58. WP Query Conditionally query meta and taxonomy
  59. Get Posts in a Custom Post Type category
  60. Custom Queries: Joining On Meta Values From Two Custom Post Types
  61. order by meta_value serialized array
  62. How to query for posts (in hierarchical custom post type) that have children?
  63. Should unaltered default loop/query return a list of custom posts belonging to a custom taxonomy?
  64. Query for posts in 2 taxonomies
  65. Display custom post types with custom date field value (before today) & order by custom date field
  66. Parent / Child formatting in a list of post of a custom post type
  67. How do I create an archive page for standard posts?
  68. Multiple post type queries (with specific arguments for each)
  69. Custom Post Type Loop within Shortcode
  70. Combining sorted and random CPT
  71. How to add post_type=value when editing that post type in the WordPress admin?
  72. Custom taxonomies relationship
  73. search suggest – filter post type
  74. WP_Query orderby and tax_query
  75. Different Ways to Query Custom Post Types?
  76. wordpress lists similar type of posts in a custom post type
  77. FacetWP paging custom wp_query
  78. Cannot get custom posts by category
  79. list posts of two post types in a single template
  80. All blog posts are not showing up
  81. Custom post-type custom query – show all posts
  82. Filter posts by their related field’s custom field
  83. Custom post type category returns null
  84. Query a Custom Post Type using SELECT that has ACF fields to compare dates
  85. Tell wordpress to show a single page instead of an archive page
  86. Wrapping an unknown amount of posts inside separate HTML Containers during WP_Query loop
  87. How do I get all authors posts of a custom post type outside loop
  88. minimize wp_query call to database
  89. sorting in wp query based on custom field value
  90. WordPress loop add heading before first of type
  91. Only show current category post
  92. Custom Post Type shows pagination (w/404) or posts_per_page query, but not both
  93. Is it possible to add query parameters on the archive page?
  94. Storing/querying custom date data
  95. Query Posts From Multiple Post Types
  96. Custom Post-type not returning the right child_of
  97. How do I hide single category post on my post page
  98. querying to custom field over ACF REST API
  99. WP Query + custom fields: How to query event posts from the current date backwards 6 months and organize it month by month?
  100. How do I get parameters from the URL?