I only refer to Unikon rings, but if you try to register an ETS ring that is already issued to another fancier, the loft No of the true owner will show and you have to tell it to overwrite. No secy should issue such rings without a letter or something to say that the ring has been passed to that fancier. I think this is a rule with the RPRA. Then again it could just be badness from someone that does not use ETS