Unable to log in to forum?

[S Smith]

There have been reports of COG forum users unable to log in. In most cases it was determined the user's subscription expired and must be renewed through the club's membership portal to allow forum authorization. Renewal is required for paid members and complimentary forum subscriptions. Any trouble with renewal should be directed to the club's membership officer.

[MAN OF BLUES]

WOW...
simply, WOW...
so, my current membership expired 2 days ago... no problem, I figured just go online, and send a payment... like always, for the last 14 years  well, for the most part, with exception to when I had zero money, and close friends helped me out by paying...
anyway, I was logged in on my Nook, and posting today... but decided to login on my laptop in a more secure manner..
sweet... not.

absolutely could not log in, using my user name, and my password... tried 8 times... WTH??????

that's simply ridiculous.

went in using my already logged in Nook, and completed the transaction... and then was able to log in on my laptop..
There needs to be some considerable re evaluation of the software, and limits / restrictions / alerts / prohibitions with this ridiculously outdated software being used...

come on folks... it's 2017... get the software updated, and make it work.
I've been trying to see by reading minutes of meetings, if and when new software will be working... but that doesn't seem to effective either lately...

so I tossed another $37 bucks into the kitty... for another year, and as a member, I guess I'm allowed to pose questions and voice my opinion...

Nuttin personal, just wanna see stuff "progress"...

[smithr1]

I like progress too.  I just know from producing it that no software is ever perfect, finished or cheap.  It does seem a reasonable grace period to renew online once expired is a valid request.   

Be careful what you whine for though.  New is not always better, just different.  Hard to know what the software really is until it is launched and running.  That is how we end up with what we have.  The "affordable" solution at seems to fill the job duties.

[Cap'n Bob]

Is there a way to send an email to the user informing he/her that their account must be renewed before being locked out? By that I mean shortly before they are locked out, not when opening an account. It seems like just another one of those COG friendly things we have been exploring to keep/recruit members lately. 

[fred-houston]

Is there a way to send an email to the user informing he/her that their account must be renewed before being locked out? By that I mean shortly before they are locked out, not when opening an account. It seems like just another one of those COG friendly things we have been exploring to keep/recruit members lately. 

There are 3 automated emails that are sent prior to their expiration date.  I think it is 45, 30, and 5 days.  There is also another one sent after their membership expired letting them know their membership has expired.

[MAN OF BLUES]

Is there a way to send an email to the user informing he/her that their account must be renewed before being locked out? By that I mean shortly before they are locked out, not when opening an account. It seems like just another one of those COG friendly things we have been exploring to keep/recruit members lately. 

There are 3 automated emails that are sent prior to their expiration date.  I think it is 45, 30, and 5 days.  There is also another one sent after their membership expired letting them know their membership has expired.

I know this, I got those emails, all of them, but had to wait till money was available, which was within a week...
I was aware.
My comment was driven by the fact that after 14 years, an auto block a week past "pay me" date is /was a pretty petty and insulting thing, seeing as we have so many people here as forum only level...non contributing people, you would think that it meant something...

Maybe a warning in beg red letters, in that last email... explaining just when access will become an issue would have provoked my attention to the matter...

But, its all moot now, water under the bridge, etc., etc., ta da.....
 

[TimR]

I know I'm coming late to the party but let me give it a throw. Recently I received an email reminding me my membership dues are coming up next month. If for some reason why would we lock out a member who didn't renew their membership? Yeah I know most think club dues are not a lot of money and they are not. But we don't always know if a person hit a hardship and has to wait a week or two to pay. My suggestion would be to move membership status from Active to Forum Subscriber.  Why? Because what's the difference between a delinquent  dues renewal compared to Joe Blow the Forum Subscriber who never has paid one red cent to use the forum. The real difference between an expired dues member and a Forum Subscriber is the expired member has contributed. Being listed as a Forum Subscriber for their status might just remind the expired member his dues are due. Or maybe just change the status as delinquent dues. Then too a delinquent member should be kept out of  the Member only sections.  I know if I forgot to renew and suddenly I was locked out of the forum, I would be majorly PO'ed and might be inclined to ever paid dues again. Besides, why would we block a friend? IMHO, Tim

[S Smith]

I know I'm coming late to the party but let me give it a throw. Recently I received an email reminding me my membership dues are coming up next month. If for some reason why would we lock out a member who didn't renew their membership? Yeah I know most think club dues are not a lot of money and they are not. But we don't always know if a person hit a hardship and has to wait a week or two to pay. My suggestion would be to move membership status from Active to Forum Subscriber.  Why? Because what's the difference between a delinquent  dues renewal compared to Joe Blow the Forum Subscriber who never has paid one red cent to use the forum. The real difference between an expired dues member and a Forum Subscriber is the expired member has contributed. Being listed as a Forum Subscriber for their status might just remind the expired member his dues are due. Or maybe just change the status as delinquent dues. Then too a delinquent member should be kept out of  the Member only sections.  I know if I forgot to renew and suddenly I was locked out of the forum, I would be majorly PO'ed and might be inclined to ever paid dues again. Besides, why would we block a friend? IMHO, Tim

Unfortunately, the system  is unable to function this way and can not do what you suggest automatically - it is not a prognosticator of someones intent or need. This is the way most membership software systems work.

Using the link in the renewal reminder emails (there are 3-4 of them), members can choose the membership level they wish, including Forum Subscriber. But if someone neglects to renew, whether paid membership or not, expired is expired to the software, and they will be unable to log into the forum until renewed.