I have a field type of date... within the list view i want to modify the date and do some math. HOWEVER i'm having a problem doing that.

PHP Code:
  'USER_DATE_LAST_PAID_C' => 
  array (
    'type' => 'date',
    'default' => true,
    'label' => 'LBL_USER_DATE_LAST_PAID',
    'width' => '10%',
   'customCode' => ,
  ), 
i was thinking i could do it in the custom code section but when i try something like this

PHP Code:
  'USER_DATE_LAST_PAID_C' => 
  array (
    'type' => 'date',
    'default' => true,
    'label' => 'LBL_USER_DATE_LAST_PAID',
    'width' => '10%',
   'customCode' => substr('{$USER_DATE_LAST_PAID_C}', 0, 3),
  ), 
it outputs "{$U"

idk i had a problem with this earlier its like trying to edit the actual value being passed here isn't possible it needs to be done somewhere else i guess but im not sure where that is.