> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://help.peoplevine.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://help.peoplevine.com/products/control-panel-overview/applications-overview/prevent-application-resubmission.md).

# How to Prevent Previous Applicants from Re-Submitting

### Before you begin (Prerequisites)

* **Permissions**: You must be an **Administrator**, **Supervisor**, **Manager**, **Support**, or **Account Rep**. See: [How to Manage Users and Permissions](/products/control-panel-overview/admin-overview/manage-roles-permissions.md).
* **Application Form**: An application must already exist. See: [How to Set Up a Membership Application Form](/products/control-panel-overview/applications-overview/setup-application-form.md).

### Instructions

1. Navigate to [**ENGAGE > Survey & Forms > Manage Applications**](https://control.peoplevine.com/survey/groups).
2. Click **Edit** next to the application you want to configure.
3. Check the **"Verify applicants haven't already applied and are not a member before continuing through the application."** checkbox.
4. Click **Save** or **Update**.

When enabled, applicants are prompted to enter their e-mail and/or mobile number before continuing. The system checks whether they already exist in the CRM as an existing applicant or member — if so, it displays a notification preventing duplicate submissions. This was designed to prevent situations where a spouse or Executive Assistant using the same e-mail and/or mobile inadvertently overwrites another person's data.

> **Note**: The check matches on e-mail address and/or mobile number. If an applicant uses different credentials, the system treats it as a new application.

### Best Practice

Enable this setting for most application forms to prevent duplicate submissions and reduce administrative overhead. If your club allows reapplication after rejection (e.g., after a waiting period), leave this checkbox unchecked and use the review process to identify returning applicants manually.

### What Happens Next

* **On the system side**: Applicants who attempt to re-submit are blocked at the form level. No duplicate record is created. The original application record in [**ENGAGE > Survey & Forms > View Applicants**](https://control.peoplevine.com/survey/group/0/responses) remains unchanged.
* **Next step**: Set a password on the application to restrict access. See: [How to Set a Password on an Application](/products/control-panel-overview/applications-overview/set-application-audience-permissions.md).

***

*Last updated: 2026-05-24*


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