Today I received a letter thanking me for renewing my membership. To my suprise it included a new Membership Certificate. The new number is 3786. My old number issued on October 31, 1996 was 10810. Are they isuing new certificates with lower numbers upon renewral? Has this happened to any one else? Is this good or bad? The old certificate is much more elegant.

Harry

Harry,

Are you sure you didn't overlook a digit? I also received a new certiciate but is 39086.

Dave

Our number also changed. It went from 33000 to 42563.

It is #3786 on the Membership Certificate, Redemption Certificates, and pocket cards.

Harry

Mine stayed the same at 86562. I have only been a member since 2002.

I also received a new, totally different number. While I was on the phone with Harbour Lights about my society redemption piece I asked about the new #. I was told that the we were issued new numbers because they went to a new computer system. This one will be much better at tracking information. So the old number is out and the new number is in.

Several weeks ago when I received my membership shipment, I too got the new Membership Certificate. I was concerned because mine was about 4000 lower than my original membership number (member since '96). I called HL and was told that the number on the new certificate is merely a "Customer Number" which was forced on them by the new software they are using. I was told that my original Membership Number was still my Membership Number and I could use either number when contacting them. My quess is that this will cause mass confusion down the road.

Regards,

Lighthouse Ghost

Mine went up from 35xxx to 52xxx ( I don't have it here in front of me), I emailed HL but have not heard back. I register every piece and want to make sure there are no problems.

I just got my package- as expected I have a fairly high number 11299 and now have Membership # 56898 from #32593.

Here's an interesting little point-

If you take a look at the nicely printed Redemption Certificates and go to just above the Signature of Member line it tells you to "present this certificate to... or visit ww.HarbourLights.com"

Hopefully anyone would know to add another "w" to that for it to work. I guess the proofreader missed that.

Dennis

I went from being a charter member at #1281 to 16,371!

When I called HL to find out the story, they explained about the computer system and said you can use both numbers.

According to the 'official word' from HQ in El Cajon, your original membership number is still YOUR membership number. The computer system created a 'customer number' which appeared on the certificates.

Maybe we should just send back all these new certificates and BY can paper the walls of his office with them?

Got my membership package today and they gave me #90961

I was wondering what all you folks were talking about, so I took a second look into the Collector Society gift box. Yup, it's there! I received #36097 instead of my original number which was somewhere in the mid 16000's. Neither number is a real keeper so to speak if you're into numbers.

I emailed Harbour Lights, on June 5th, asking about what happend to my autoship number on the society gift, and would the same thing happen on the East Brothers piece. Two weeks have passed and no reply. Earlier this year I was contacted by HL and asked if I wanted my autoship# on these pieces. I told them, "Most definitely!"

Since the first piece came through with a number in the 10000's, I even offered to pay for a second membership if I could get my autoship#. I'm still waiting to hear.

I admit I'm not a happy customer right now, but I'll be patient and wait to see what happens.

Bob

The "new" certificates state membership number, not customer number. If both numbers are still valid, the printout on the certificate should state customer number and member number. American Express cards honor the customer by saying "member since xxx"

I'm sure the lucky person who got the first society number outside the HL staff won't be very happy to be honored with #30,371 now!

Poor move by HL of sending these out with no explanation whatsoever.