smarty variables?

[JF1980]

Is there a problem doing this? For some reason in the below code, the notknown template displays variables from $trans.whatever but the known template does not. Driving me mad! lol

$transrow = $transresult->fetchRow(DB_FETCHMODE_ASSOC);

//if success then do the shit
if ($transrow['status']=="SUCCESS"){
	//query to see if already a user
	$email=$transrow['payer_email'];
	$usersql="SELECT * FROM user WHERE email='$email'";
	$userresult = $db->query($usersql);
	if (DB::isError($userresult)) {
	    die ($userresult->getMessage());
	}
	$numrows = $userresult->numRows($userresult);

//if numrows is 0 user doesn't exist post will be to self and will have flag to insert
if ($numrows==0){
//show not exist template
$smarty->assign('trans', $transrow);
$mainframe="notknown.tpl";
}
//else is a user so post forwards to cycle
else {
//show exists template
$userrow = $userresult->fetchRow(DB_FETCHMODE_ASSOC);

//run cycle.php
$userid=$userrow['userid'];
$productid=$transrow['productid'];
$quantity=$transrow['quantity'];
include ('prodcycle.php');
$smarty->assign('trans', $transrow);
$mainframe="known.tpl";
$smarty->assign('user', $userrow);
}
}

Also $user.whatever does show ok in known.tpl it's very weird.

Any ideas?