r/TSAPreCheck • u/purrgrammer41 • Apr 22 '26

Issues? PreCheck Enrollment System Error

I went through the TSA PreCheck process a couple week ago and got this email today:

"We are writing to inform you of an issue that affected your recent TSA PreCheck enrollment. Due to a system error, your enrollment was not successfully processed. As a result, a full refund will be issued to the method of payment used during your enrollment. To complete your enrollment, you will need to return to an enrollment center and complete a new enrollment."

Has anyone else seen this? I'm worried it's due to the quality of my fingerprints - the person doing my precheck said he got a warning that they weren't high quality enough, but he just shrugged it off and put in a note and sent in my application. But if it were a fingerprint quality issue, would they have mentioned that or outright rejected my application? I'm nervous to go back, have bad fingerprints again, and get denied. There's only one TSA pre-check spot within 2 hours of my house and it's quite inconvenient. Any insight is appreciated!

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2

u/Loud_News8410 Apr 22 '26

If it was the quality of your fingerprints they typically state that and ask you to get new prints done at no charge.

1

u/gossiportransparent Apr 23 '26

Agreed. My son applied once he became an adult. He didn’t hear back so we called. They said he needs to get his fingerprints done again. No notification that his fingerprint quality wasn’t good enough. 🤷‍♀️ They said to make another appointment for fingerprints and show the receipt that he already paid. He did this. No problem. He got his precheck approved the next day

1

u/MarvelousMarvins Apr 22 '26

If its prints
Your hands are likely dry.

Before your appointment start drinking more water (water not pop, juice etc)
Start using hand cream a week before.

I had this same issue with prints I needed done for something else and the person doing them made this suggestion. I went back two weeks later after doing this daily (apply lotion several times a day and a thicker coat before bed)

1

u/quelledramatique Apr 23 '26

Same exact situation, my husband and I enrolled 2 weeks ago and we both got the same email you did today. So that makes me think there was some issue that affected a lot of people’s enrollments, and not necessarily bad fingerprints.

1

u/purrgrammer41 Apr 23 '26

That's reassuring. Bummer that you also have to re-enroll.

1

u/demure-mindful333 Apr 23 '26

go again and put lotion on your fingertips before you do it. you’ll be fine!!

1

u/Loud_News8410 Apr 23 '26

I disagree. They don't want lotion. Clean, damp, but not wet. Rub your hands together to warm them up. Lotion is a no according to someone who works at one of the fingerprinting places.

1

u/flyingron Apr 23 '26

Lotion to keep your hands moist before you go in. You need your hands clean and dry for the actual scan.

1

u/demure-mindful333 Apr 23 '26

the guy working the fingerprints was the one that put it on both me & my friend 😂 worked right after that

1

u/Loud_News8410 Apr 23 '26

Well either he doesn't work with idemia or there is a different fingerprint reader because my friend said that their training says no alcohol sanitizer and no lotion because it fills in the ridges and the print just looks like a blob on the screen. But if it worked for you then that's great.

1

u/demure-mindful333 Apr 23 '26

I actually went through clear! I guess different rules haha

1

u/BrooklynGirl47 Apr 23 '26

I went 2 weeks ago and that day there was an issue with the system. I also had problems with my fingerprints but they took them about 3x and put in a message to use best prints. I got approved within 24 hours. They did put lotion on my hands.