have you tried changing:
![NEXTHLPNO] = ![NEXTHLPNO] + 1 'Increment the Help Number
help_Num = rec![NEXTHLPNO] 'Assign new Help Number to a work variable
To:
help_Num = ![NEXTHLPNO] + 1
![NEXTHLPNO] = help_Num
Just in case you are running into issues there. I have in the past is only why I say this. Then again, may not make a differance.