Strange user group issue and ban problem since upgrade

[stardotstar]

Hi guys,

This has got me tearing my hair out.

Since the 3.8 to 4 upgrade in June I have been having a problem where:

1) Mailny members who registered before the upgrade and who have low or no posts are relegated to the: (COPPA) Users Awaiting Moderation group when they return to the site for the first time.

2) Some instances where new registrations are going into the COPPA group without explanation.

3) As a result of this and/or in addition to this they get the banned/carded message.

This naturally leads to emails complaining about how unfair it is or that they don't know what they (ever) did or even strange confessions to stuff they assume they were banned for!

Now I did a check on the COPPA group (by the way I don't have COPPA turned on as such) there are no members there, and likely only because the problem arises when a member returns for the first time or something about the system that traps certain registration types and sees them as COPPA even though the COPPA is turned off. (NA in Australia)

Its a real headache because each one has to be diplomatically written back to and reassured, then reactivated and sometimes it happens again! "Still the same problem" emails.

I really don't know where to begin with this.

I have turned off the Lurker and Inactive Member mods as well as trying various other group searches and am coming up with blanks.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Best regards,
Will