Having trouble saving your USA Fencing (USFA) or Canadian Fencing (CFF) membership number on AskFRED? This guide covers the most common issues and how to resolve them.
Where to Enter Your Membership Number
Go to My Dashboard
Select the fencer you want to update
Click USFA Settings or CFF Settings
Enter your membership number and save
"This USFA# is already claimed by another user"
This is the most common issue. It means another AskFRED account already has your membership number linked to it. This can happen if:
A parent, coach, or teammate previously registered you on their account
You created a second AskFRED account and linked your membership to the old one
Someone entered your number by mistake
How to Resolve It (USFA Members)
You can resolve this yourself without contacting support:
When you see the "already claimed" error, click the Resolve with your membership card link in the error message
You'll be taken to the Fencer Record Claim page
Download your official USA Fencing membership card PDF from your USA Fencing member profile at usafencing.org
Upload the PDF on the claim page
AskFRED will automatically verify your identity by reading the membership card
Review the information extracted from your card
Click Confirm and Transfer Record to transfer the fencer record to your account
What happens after the transfer:
The fencer record is moved to your account
The previous account holder is notified by email
Your competition history and results stay with the fencer record
Payment records and existing tournament registrations from the previous account do not transfer
Important notes:
The uploaded file must be a PDF (not a screenshot or photo)
The file must be under 1MB
The USFA number on the card must match the number you're trying to claim
A fencer record can only be transferred once every 3 months
If the fencer has an active Fencer+ subscription, contact support instead
How to Resolve It (CFF Members)
Managing Canadian Fencing Federation (CFF) membership numbers in AskFRED can sometimes present unique challenges. The self-service claim feature is currently available for USFA members only. If your CFF membership number is claimed by another account, you will need to follow a manual process to transfer it to your account.
Steps to Transfer a CFF Membership Number
Prove Identity and Ownership
Provide proof of ownership, such as:
A copy of your CFF membership card.
A screenshot from the official CFF membership portal showing you as the owner.
A government-issued ID or other valid identification.
Obtain Consent from the Current Claimant
Once your identity is verified, AskFRED will contact the current account holder who has claimed the membership number.
The current claimant must confirm their approval for transferring the membership number to your account.
Alternative Option
If you can directly contact the person who currently claims the membership number (e.g., a parent or guardian), you can ask them to release it. Once released, you can attach the membership number to your account without going through the transfer process. These steps ensure that the transfer process is secure and respects the ownership rights of all parties involved.
"The uploaded file does not appear to be a valid USA Fencing membership card"
If your membership card upload is rejected:
Make sure you're uploading the PDF version of your card, not a screenshot or photo
Download a fresh copy from your USA Fencing member profile at usafencing.org — look for the option to download your membership card as a PDF
Ensure the file is under 1MB
My Membership Number Isn't Being Recognized
If you enter a membership number and nothing happens, or you get an unexpected error:
Double-check the number — USFA numbers are typically 9 digits. Make sure there are no extra spaces or characters
Check your membership status — Your membership must be active with USA Fencing or CFF. If it's expired, renew it first at your national governing body's website
Wait and try again — AskFRED fetches your membership data from USA Fencing or CFF. If their systems are temporarily unavailable, try again in a few minutes
My Membership Shows the Wrong Club or Division
Your club affiliation and division on AskFRED come directly from your national governing body (USA Fencing or CFF). AskFRED syncs this information from your membership record.
If your club or division is incorrect:
Update it with your national governing body first (USA Fencing or CFF)
After the change is made, go to your USFA or CFF settings on AskFRED and re-save your membership number to refresh the data
See our Managing Your Club Affiliation article for more details.
I'm Seeing "You've made too many claim attempts"
For security, the fencer record claim feature limits you to 3 attempts per hour. Wait an hour and try again. If you continue to have trouble, contact support.
Still Need Help?
If none of the above resolves your issue, reach out to our support team. Please include:
Your AskFRED account email
The membership number you're trying to use
A screenshot of the error message you're seeing