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michaelg222537
Contributor ⭐
August 16, 2021

beware AARP membership renewal notices

  • August 16, 2021
  • 66 replies
  • 64398 views

AARP sends mass mailings to "valued members" to renew.  Over the years, I've received many of these posted YEARS before my membership is actually due for renewal.  AARP is well aware of this and chooses not to correct this clearly deceptive and predatory practice. 

 

It will be interesting to see if AARP takes down this post.

    66 replies

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    creekclark67
    Contributor ⭐
    February 6, 2022

    We, too, have been scammed! AARP sent a five year renewal approx 3 months before expiration. I promptly paid the full $63 for 5 yr renewal. Three weeks later more junk mail from AARP....requesting our renewal(same membership) with a new discounted renewal price of $45 for 5 yrs also a 4 piece luggage organizer set upon prompt renewal. THIS IS ASS BACKWARDS!!! Why are we not given the reduced price with goodies to pay early???  I want the $18 credit and the luggage or I will be cancelling for a full refund! We have been member since 2010. 

      AARPJanelleM
      AARPJanelleM
      Community Champion ⭐
      February 7, 2022

      @creekclark67 Thanks for being a member! I appreciate you taking the time to reach out regarding the difference in offer pricing. The membership fee is $63 for 5 years although we occasionally have discounted pricing offered on certain mailings. It seems as though you do not have Private Messaging enabled on this Community Forum for me to send you a private message with more details. Please give us a call toll-free at 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277) so we can discuss the options regarding the membership offers. 

       

      Also, the particular offer that was used to renew your membership did not include a gift. That's no problem! I have ordered you the complimentary 4 piece luggage organizer set and you can expect to receive it within 3-4 weeks by mail. You will also be able to track it online once it ships, learn more here: Where Is My Free AARP Gift?

      michaelg222537Author
      Contributor ⭐
      February 8, 2022

      @AARPJanelleM   I don't want to extend for 5 years.  I don't want any gift.  I want AARP to stop the unethical practices described in this thread.

        DougM312671
        Contributor ⭐
        January 6, 2022

        I, too, have received multiple notifications for renewal of membership dues.  I finally paid for a couple of more years of membership (to insure my elegibility for United Health Insurance).  I now have three membership cards, one for a former wife, all received AFTER I spoke with a lady in member services.  After my last payment was received by AARP (December 2021), I received a notification that I had paid for ADDITIONAL years on top of the two more years for which I had already received credit.  This makes me question how AARP manages funds in general.  

         

        About five years ago, I complained to AARP that they were not crediting me for dues paid in advance.  After months of hearing nothing, I received a check for the overpayment.  No explanation that I recall.  Just the check.  Gotta wonder how much that kind of paperwork costs the association.  

          AARPJanelleM
          AARPJanelleM
          Community Champion ⭐
          January 10, 2022

          @DougM312671 Let's get this fixed. When you have a moment, please give us a call so we can get more information from you:  1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277). We look forward to speaking with you to get to the bottom of this!

          michaelg222537Author
          Contributor ⭐
          February 6, 2022

          The fix is obvious and very simple to implement.

           

          It is clearly unethical to intentionally send such premature notices.  If the practice is intentional, then AARP should review their ethics standards.  I suspect that this practice is also illegal.   It certainly should be.  It's not hard to imagine that a large number of members unwittingly send in unnecessary payments.  It's clear from responses on this thread that AARP is not diligent about returning such payments; and is very slow to return those payments when a complaint is made.  Will it take a class action lawsuit for AARP to correct this?

           

          It's very hard to believe that this practice is not intentional.   AARP could easily do some very simple database programming to base notices on expiration date.  If your tech staff is telling you otherwise, then you need to find some competent programmers. 

           

          Correcting this practice would not only make members less suspicious of your motives, but it would save huge administrative and mailing costs.

           

           

            WebWiseWoman
            WebWiseWoman
            Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐
            August 19, 2021

            Agreed, Michaelg! I have "lifetime" membership bought when I was eligible in 2004 (and have bought for Mom, then Sis and Bro when those two became eligible) so we have to patrol Mom's mail for these renewal notices.

             

            I spoke to AARP when I received the first one for me and they attempted to blame it on data issues; I haven't wasted my time on the following notices (15+ years or so). At some point some shyster lawyer will launch a class-action suit, I'm sure...

             

            #StaySafe

              gm94
              Contributor ⭐
              August 16, 2021

              . . . and to that the 'free gift' of an AC/DC power charger which lasted for 10 minutes before it stopped working can be added!

                Therapist4u
                Therapist4u
                Community Champion ⭐
                March 20, 2022

                Hi @gm94    I had to laugh at your comment “the 'free gift' of an AC/DC power charger which lasted for 10 minutes before it stopped working…” ☹️

                as I had a “Bluetooth speaker” which sounded like a practical & useful bonus gift….yet at 4 inches high you could barely hear anything…& worse…it only worked with a device that’s less than 10 feet away…..

                so much for MEH bonus gifts! 😄

                 

                Take care ~Allen 

                  Austin874
                  Contributor ⭐
                  September 30, 2022
                  • I received the offer for the free charger if I auto renew for 2 years, so I did. Then I saw a message in my inbox for the 5 years for $45 so I cancelled the auto renew. When I went back to my inbox the message was there but when I clicked it it didn't do anything. The next time I went into my inbox it was gone. I will not renew unless I can get it for the 5 years for $45. My subscription expires in April. On a side note I did receive the free charger, so now I will have to keep an eye on my account so it isn't charged. I don't really care about the free gift. I would rather get the 5 year discounted price. I will say that I purchased over $3000 worth of gift cards for a vacation I am taking next year and I instantly saved 10%, or over $300, so there is definitely value to being a member, but I agree that the discount offers are not timed well. I hope there is an offer for 5 years at the discounted price before my expiration date or I may let it expire.
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