diff --git a/includes/class-wc-customer.php b/includes/class-wc-customer.php
index 6d21b4d6ab2..db153924188 100644
--- a/includes/class-wc-customer.php
+++ b/includes/class-wc-customer.php
@@ -188,6 +188,16 @@ class WC_Customer {
 		}
 		return false;
 	}
+	
+	/**
+	 * Is the user a paying customer?
+	 *
+	 * @access public
+	 * @return bool
+	 */
+	function is_paying_customer( $user_id ) {
+		return '1' === get_user_meta( $user_id, 'paying_customer', true );
+	}
 
 
 	/**