REPLACING OUR AARP CREDIT CARDS WITH BARCLAY BANK CARDS - SEE POSTSCRIPT WRITTEN 09/21/21 and 09-24

We can't activate our cards online because it didn't match to Chase. There's no way we're going to sit for hours on the phone waiting for customer service. Now I don't know if I should pay off my Chase balance. I suppose I should call Chase because my balance won't transfer if I can't activate our cards. Such poor planning and customer service. 

It's now day 5 and no better off than I was on 9/20/21.  Tried on line as I've been doing throughout the day for 5 days now.  I'm beginning to believe that my card will never be activated.  I have no idea how I will be able to pay the last payment on the card.  I'm guessing Barclays will send me a bill eventually.

I know I said I was done, and dropping off - but one last post.  For those of us who remember the NON-WEB - old school way to be heard - Mail, Phone, Fax, even old style email... This may help.. We can do it the old way with letters, calls or whatever - rather than posting into the bit bucket of the internet.. Or... we can just fade away...

Where is AARP Corporate office Headquarters

• Address: 601 E St NW, Washington, DC 20049, USA.
• Phone Number: +1 800-775-6776.

• Press 3 so you don’t have to listen
• Someone will answer, and listen to complaints

• Fax Number: 202-434-2525.
• Email: member@aarp.org.
• Number of Employees: 2250.
• Established: 1958.
• Founder: Ethel Percy Andrus.
• Key People:

• Jo Ann Jenkins., Chief Executive Officer – AARP
• Martha M. Boudreau, EVP and Chieve Communications & Marketing Officer
• Kevin Donnellan, EVP and Chief of Staff
• Scott Frisch, EVP and Chief Operating Officer
• John Larew, President and CEO of AARP Services

The only email I have been able to locate is JJenkins@aarp.com – this address never rejected and recipted - I have sent several emails to this address, but no response at all.

Today is day 4 of the nightmare. They now claim that my mother's card is activated because they can see she used it for purchases. No she did not because it is sitting in the dresser drawer. She lives in assisted living and we are using my Wyndham Visa for her automatic payments. This is beyond disgraceful. I have no words to say how angry I am and what a mess we're in. I was told there was some hardships activating the card because the date of births were not matched up correctly. I fear that they have mistaken her for another person and there will be many more days of this nightmare. Again Shame Shame Shame on AARP for creating this situation and leaving their seniors blowing in the win

After waiting for  hours since they de-activated my Chase card, and eventually Barclays answered after 2 3/4 hours, and I held for another hour and hung up. I spoke to a Barclays rep in another department and he confirmed the nightmare of a technical snafu and the in undated phone system. I then spoke to a rep at Chase who told me it was AARP who changed companies!! If I wasn’t prepared with another credit card I would point out the IRONY that AARP is clearly abusing seniors here by not planning or intervening in behalf of their customers!!! GET ON IT AARP!!!! 

Now it's day 4.  My card is still not activating - tried on line again.  My information doesn't match.  I refuse to make another call to anyone at Barclays and  this morning (Day 4).  It's a waste of hours waiting on the phone.

First I must say that finally got most of my problems worked out with the card.

It is evident the change over was and is a total mess since it was poorly planned by AARP and Barclays. Here are some of my thoughts.

1. AARP membership is older Americans. Many are well over 80 and up. That means they are different than the younger members (I am in that older group.) Age has serious effects on one. What used to be simple is now complex, medical problems are present in most, what were simple problems now are major problems, and you can even have death. Keeping track of things becomes harder. Older people function different than younger so AARP can not use the same methods other org.use when making changes. AARP must make them easy and simple.

2. I have been following the problems of the 85 year old women who had her son try and help her and the bank would not allow this, and the AARP people in here backed the bank up. This is a prime example of what I am talking about. AARP should always insist that an older person can get help with a problem due to AARP being an org. that recruits older people.

3. The results of the problems being caused by this changeover are different and can be long lasting to older members. They can even result in medical conditions, and at worst deaths. I know it has effective me a lot differently than it would have 20 years ago or when I first joined AARP. Today I took my heart problem tablets used when that problem arises. Was out of it for about 3hours. I am in good health for my age to.

AARP and all its employees need to realize who makes up the people they serve and stop saying call back or do something on the computer. AARP needs to get more people answering phones at the bank and AARP, and have those people solve the problems they caused. Rules should be waved so an person helping an elderly person are helped not closed off.

This problem was caused by AARP not doing what was best for all members by allowing the Bank to have rules that hurt not help many members of AARP.

I would ask that the people from AARP posting answers in here take a copy of this post to the person running AARP and ask her to review it, and then answer it to all members.

My hope is she would commit to AARP never again allowing something like this to happen. Retrain the entire Staff as to who makes up the membership, and put people before money.

I look forward to seeing her thoughts brought forth to all members, and employees. That way AARP will survive as the biggest older American support group.

Interesting thing - Today I am getting offers from Chase to open a new card! LOL - Hmmm- are the leveraging the AARP/Barclays problems??

I was totally satisfied with my AARP Chase Card, the cashback benefits and APR it offered - neither BARCLAYS cards come close to fulfilling all that.  We eat out often, get gas etc. We don't shop drug stores a lot nor do we travel extensively so neither card has me excited.  I'm just going to try and cancel this credit card  (although I haven't even attempted to activate it).  I already went to my local Chase bank and received the Freedom Unlimited which is more aligned to our needs. Personally at this point I'm not worrying too much about my credit score. I believe I'll have to quit AARP once my membership expires --- so disappointed in the organization - I do not believe they had the consumer in mind!

This is the third day that I can't get access to my Barclay's account.   Let's keep up the comments of displeasure.   The AARP VP should be fired for this mess.  Keep filing those BBB complaints on both parties.