U.S. FAA Certificate Replacement Problem

I recently tried to use the FAA's online procedure for replacing my
paper certificates with the required plastic ones. I had no trouble
at all with my Ground Instructor and Parachute Rigger tickets, but the
site refused to let me replace my Commercial license, citing error #
214.

After some digging around, I found that the problem was the presence
of the 'Aerotow' launch type next to my glider rating. Apparently the
FAA no longer includes launch type on the glider rating, and the
automated process wasn't smart enough to simply remove it.

I wound up calling the FAA Airman Certificate Office at (866)
878-2498, waiting interminably until I got to an actual human, who
then immediately removed the rating(s) from my record. Then I was
able to go through the web process, pay my $2.00 via credit card, and
get my plastic certificate.

Note that if you call the ACB and select menu choice 1 -- 2
("Information regarding replacement of your airman certificate...."),
you will suffer through a long explanation, and then be directed to
the FAA website, without ever having the opportunity to talk to a
human. You must instead choose 1 -- 1 ("Info concerning date of
issue currently being processed..."), suffer through the interminable
wait, and then tell the human what you want.

TA