diff --git a/quiztech-assessment-platform.php b/quiztech-assessment-platform.php
index 1be21cc..93ba753 100644
--- a/quiztech-assessment-platform.php
+++ b/quiztech-assessment-platform.php
@@ -307,37 +307,4 @@ function quiztech_register_rest_routes() {
         'permission_callback' => '__return_true' // Allow public access - Stripe needs to reach this
     ) );
 }
-add_action( 'rest_api_init', 'quiztech_register_rest_routes' );
-
-/**
- * Basic logging function for debugging. Allows passing of an object or array for the $data paramater
- *
- * Set the CUSTOM_DEBUG_LOG file in wp-config.php
- *
- */
-function log_to_file2($message, $data = false){
-    // Only proceed if a message is provided
-    if ($message) {
-        // Check if the custom log file constant is defined
-        if (defined('CUSTOM_DEBUG_LOG') && CUSTOM_DEBUG_LOG) {
-            $log_File = CUSTOM_DEBUG_LOG;
-
-            $date = new DateTime();
-            $date = $date->format("Y/m/d h:i:s");
-
-            // Convert arrays and objects to JSON format
-            if (is_array($data) || is_object($data)) {
-                $data = json_encode($data, JSON_PRETTY_PRINT);
-                $message = $message . "\r\n" . $data;
-            } else if ($data) {
-                $message = $message . " " . $data;
-            }
-
-            // Log the message to the specified file
-            error_log("[$date] " . $message ."\r\n", 3, $log_File);
-        }
-        // If CUSTOM_DEBUG_LOG is not defined, do nothing (fail silently)
-        // Alternatively, could log to default PHP error log:
-        // else { error_log("Quiztech Debug: " . $message); }
-    }
-}
\ No newline at end of file
+add_action( 'rest_api_init', 'quiztech_register_rest_routes' );
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Gateways/StripeGateway.php b/src/Gateways/StripeGateway.php
index 6e28677..5648b01 100644
--- a/src/Gateways/StripeGateway.php
+++ b/src/Gateways/StripeGateway.php
@@ -1,7 +1,3 @@
-
-
-
-
 <?php
 namespace Quiztech\AssessmentPlatform\Gateways;
 
@@ -15,7 +11,6 @@ use WP_Error;
  * Handles Stripe payment gateway interactions.
  */
 class StripeGateway {
-    log_to_file2('StripeGateway::initiatePayment - START');
 
     /**
      * Initiate a payment process via Stripe (e.g., create Checkout Session).
@@ -29,12 +24,16 @@ class StripeGateway {
      * @return WP_Error|void Returns WP_Error on failure. Redirects user on success.
      */
     public function initiatePayment( $user_id, $item_id, $quantity, $price_in_cents, $currency, $metadata ) {
-        log_to_file2('StripeGateway::initiatePayment - Secret key retrieved (empty=' . (empty($secret_key) ? 'yes' : 'no') . ')');
+        $log_message_start = 'StripeGateway::initiatePayment - START';
+        if (function_exists('log_to_file')) { log_to_file($log_message_start); } else { error_log($log_message_start); }
 
         // Retrieve Stripe Secret Key
         $options = get_option('quiztech_settings');
         $secret_key = isset($options['stripe_secret_key']) ? trim($options['stripe_secret_key']) : '';
 
+        $log_message_key = 'StripeGateway::initiatePayment - Secret key retrieved (empty=' . (empty($secret_key) ? 'yes' : 'no') . ')';
+        if (function_exists('log_to_file')) { log_to_file($log_message_key); } else { error_log($log_message_key); }
+
         if ( empty( $secret_key ) ) {
             error_log( 'Quiztech Stripe Error: Secret key is not configured.' );
             return new WP_Error( 'stripe_config_error', __( 'Stripe payment gateway is not configured correctly. Please contact the site administrator.', 'quiztech' ) );
@@ -42,19 +41,22 @@ class StripeGateway {
 
         // Ensure Stripe library is loaded (via Composer autoload)
         if ( ! class_exists( '\Stripe\Stripe' ) ) { // Check with leading slash here is okay as it's a general check
-            log_to_file2('StripeGateway::initiatePayment - Stripe class check FAILED.');
+            $log_message_lib_fail = 'StripeGateway::initiatePayment - Stripe class check FAILED.';
+            if (function_exists('log_to_file')) { log_to_file($log_message_lib_fail); } else { error_log($log_message_lib_fail); }
 
             error_log( 'Quiztech Stripe Error: Stripe PHP library not found. Ensure composer install was run.' );
             return new WP_Error( 'stripe_lib_error', __( 'Payment processing library is missing. Please contact the site administrator.', 'quiztech' ) );
         }
 
         try {
-            log_to_file2('StripeGateway::initiatePayment - Attempting to set API key.');
+            $log_message_set_key = 'StripeGateway::initiatePayment - Attempting to set API key.';
+            if (function_exists('log_to_file')) { log_to_file($log_message_set_key); } else { error_log($log_message_set_key); }
 
             Stripe::setApiKey( $secret_key );
 
             // Get the URL for the Manage Credits page
-            log_to_file2('StripeGateway::initiatePayment - Attempting to get manage-credits page.');
+            $log_message_get_page = 'StripeGateway::initiatePayment - Attempting to get manage-credits page.';
+            if (function_exists('log_to_file')) { log_to_file($log_message_get_page); } else { error_log($log_message_get_page); }
 
             $manage_credits_page = get_page_by_path('manage-credits'); // Assumes page slug is 'manage-credits'
             if (!$manage_credits_page) {
@@ -64,9 +66,9 @@ class StripeGateway {
 
             $success_url = add_query_arg( 'purchase_status', 'success', $base_url );
             $cancel_url = add_query_arg( 'purchase_status', 'cancelled', $base_url );
-            log_to_file2('StripeGateway::initiatePayment - Success URL: ' . $success_url);
-            log_to_file2('StripeGateway::initiatePayment - Cancel URL: ' . $cancel_url);
 
+            $log_message_urls = 'StripeGateway::initiatePayment - Success URL: ' . $success_url . ' | Cancel URL: ' . $cancel_url;
+            if (function_exists('log_to_file')) { log_to_file($log_message_urls); } else { error_log($log_message_urls); }
 
 
             // Create a descriptive name for the line item
@@ -75,7 +77,8 @@ class StripeGateway {
             $credit_amount_display = isset($matches[1]) ? $matches[1] : $item_id;
             $item_name = sprintf( __( 'Quiztech Credits - %s Pack', 'quiztech' ), $credit_amount_display );
 
-            log_to_file2('StripeGateway::initiatePayment - Attempting Session::create.');
+            $log_message_create_session = 'StripeGateway::initiatePayment - Attempting Session::create.';
+            if (function_exists('log_to_file')) { log_to_file($log_message_create_session); } else { error_log($log_message_create_session); }
 
             $session = Session::create( [
                 'payment_method_types' => ['card'],
@@ -101,11 +104,22 @@ class StripeGateway {
 
             // Redirect to Stripe Checkout
             if ( isset( $session->url ) ) {
-                log_to_file2('StripeGateway::initiatePayment - Session created. Redirecting to: ' . $session->url);
-                error_log("Quiztech StripeGateway: Attempting redirect to Stripe URL: " . $session->url);
+                $log_message_redirect = "Quiztech StripeGateway: Attempting redirect to Stripe URL: " . $session->url;
+                if (function_exists('log_to_file')) {
+                    log_to_file($log_message_redirect);
+                } else {
+                    error_log($log_message_redirect);
+                }
+
                 wp_safe_redirect( $session->url );
+
                 // If execution reaches here, exit() failed or was bypassed.
-                error_log("Quiztech StripeGateway: CRITICAL - Execution continued after wp_safe_redirect and before exit().");
+                $log_message_critical = "Quiztech StripeGateway: CRITICAL - Execution continued after wp_safe_redirect and before exit().";
+                 if (function_exists('log_to_file')) {
+                    log_to_file($log_message_critical);
+                } else {
+                    error_log($log_message_critical);
+                }
                 exit;
             } else {
                 return new WP_Error( 'stripe_session_error', __( 'Could not create Stripe Checkout session.', 'quiztech' ) );