Can’t Purchase Any Giftcards

[JulieF274301]

Went To Purchase Giftcard And I keep getting an error message when In fact I have the funds plus more in my account .. I have cleaned my cookies and also switched to the browser customer support says aarp is compatible with and it’s still not working .. I see similar issues being posted which lets me know it’s a deeper issue I Hope maintenance on wenesday Fixes this !!

[NicholasS198643]

  Hi.  I get the error shown below. I called in and have gone through the steps to allow intrusive ads (ironic?), confirmed no ad blockers, called into Chase after seeing several test charges and Chase confirmed the test charges are being confirmed as "good" to Google/AARP, tried AMEX/Visa/MasterCard, tried a virtual CC, and every time match the name and address at checkout to that of whatever card I'm trying at that point.  Updated my AARP to have no middle name/initial (then it adds a period on it's own, when apparently it's so important to match exactly) and have all but given up.  My cruise is in a couple days, but maybe that's the objective?  If this doesn't work I'll be requesting a refund of the membership fee, which was processed on one of the cards I've been trying without issue.

If I sound frustrated and crabby, it's because I am (as are lots of other people based on the researched I've been doing).

[JeffreyW68256]

They clearly dont want to fix it, there are so many people having the same issue and they clearly just don't want to fix it. I think I am going to report them to the BBB and request a refund of mine and my wife memberships as we literally bought it for the cruise giftcards. 

[AARPConsumerCare]

Hi @JeffreyW68256, please check your most recent comment for our reply. Thanks! - Diana G.

[JeffreyW68256]

the reply is to wait 3-5 business days, i referred many clients to get AARP for the cruise gift cards, it's not just me having this issue. My one client waited 5 days and no resolution to this at all. You are not taking it seriously. I will never recommend AARP again. I am going to wait my 3-5 days and if no fix i will be filing complaints with the BBB and telling all of my clients to do the same and request refunds of their membership 

[Winter2024]

(FRIDAY 5/3/24 1:50pm ET)

@JeffreyW68256 , BBB is the way to go.

Worked for me!!!  👍 

Someone from the AARP Corporate Office ALWAYS responds to us and gets the issue FIXED...  💃💃💃

Just make sure it is the ▶️*** Washington DC BBB ***◀️ where the AARP Corporate Office is located.

AARP is headquartered in Washington, 601 E St NW, United States per Google.

Reporting to YOUR LOCATION BBB is a waste of time like this site is.  🙄

*** and @AARPConsumerCare , I DO NOT need a response  ***

Good luck @JeffreyW68256 .

Nicole  👵

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[*** JEFFREY @JeffreyW68256 wrote:

the reply is to wait 3-5 business days, i referred many clients to get AARP for the cruise gift cards, it's not just me having this issue. My one client waited 5 days and no resolution to this at all. You are not taking it seriously. I will never recommend AARP again. I am going to wait my 3-5 days and if no fix i will be filing complaints with the BBB and telling all of my clients to do the same and request refunds of their membership ***]

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[LauraR516315]

This is really helpful.  This problem has gone on for years.  I don't want to be involved with any promotions they have:  Life Insurance, Donations, or anything else because of how they have handled this problem.  I have reported them to the BBB as well. 

[Winter2024]

(Friday 5/3/24 10:11pm ET)

@LauraR516315 , I am glad you contacted BBB.

IF you INCLUDED an email address and/or phone number - Corporate will contact you.

BBB has to process your info probably on Monday.

Not sure IF they work weekends.

They will send you confirmation that AARP has been sent your report.

Then in my case a Bruce responded in a few days. Nice guy!!!  👍

From the BBB site I see his name and others.

Good luck @LauraR516315 .

*** and @AARPConsumerCare I DO NOT need a response ***

Nicole  👵

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[*** LAURA @LauraR516315 wrote:

This is really helpful.  This problem has gone on for years.  I don't want to be involved with any promotions they have:  Life Insurance, Donations, or anything else because of how they have handled this problem.  I have reported them to the BBB as well. ***]

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[AmandaL858778]

What was corporates solution? How did they fix it for you? 

[Winter2024]

(Monday 6/3/24 1pm ET)

An update @AmandaL858778 . I had returned to BBB to complain about being LOCKED OUT of this site from Saturday 6/1/24. Lol, they now have @AARPConsumerCare handling that TOO. 🙄🙄🙄 Anyway, just a heads up to let you know things have changed = no more personalized help. Bots as several members have pointed out. Take care, Nicole 👵

(Friday 5/17/24 2:35pm ET) 

Hi, they made sure I received my giftcards.

Take care,

Nicole  👵

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[*** AMANDA @AmandaL858778 wrote:

What was corporates solution? How did they fix it for you? ***]

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[AARPConsumerCare]

I understand your concerns, @JeffreyW68256. However, each scenario is different, and I only can provide you information about your case. If your client needs assistance, please have him reach out to us: https://help.aarp.org/s/article/contact-aarp - Diana G.

[LauraR516315]

Diana G.  - it makes no sense whatsoever than one day the credit card will work, and the next time it won't.  You are seriously losing credibility because of this issue.  Word is getting out.  BBB has been contacted.  Fix this...PLEASE.

[AARPConsumerCare]

@LauraR516315, did you get an error with one of your purchases? - Diana G.

[LauraR516315]

Yes.  It was the same error everyone gets:  

"There was a problem with your payment.  Please try again or contact AARP......."  

Know this:  Some of my credit cards have my middle initial, some don't.  IT SHOULDN'T MATTER.  

I live in the CITY of TIGARD, but according to the USPS, based on my zip code, I live in the CITY OF PORTLAND.  So, some credit cards may have one city, and other credit cards have another.  Who knows if some company's software CHANGES how they store my CITY based on the ZIP CODE.  ZIP CODE is all that should need to be matched to the credit card.  Not the CITY.  

Please know, that I don't plan on using any other AARP offered benefits due to the inability to fix this problem for over a year.  I also cannot recommend AARP to anyone at this time, until this is fixed.  

[AARPConsumerCare]

@LauraR516315, which gift card (s) were you trying to purchase? Also, are you using an AdBlocker? - Diana G.

[JeffreyW68256]

It's really not if this many people are having the same issue. My card worked fine for 1 purchase now it no longer works. I tried every card I have multiple times. Every one of my clients have the same issue and they have all reached out to support and received 0 help or resolution. 

[CaitlinG810684]

Having the same problem very frustrating as that was the sole reason I signed up. When do you plan to fix this issue @AARPConsumerCare 

[AARPConsumerCare]

Hi @CaitlinG810684, here to help! May I know what error are you getting? And, which gift card(s) you're trying to purchase? Thanks. - Diana G. 

[AARPConsumerCare]

Hi Nicholas. I understand your frustration, and I'm sorry you're not able to purchase your gift cards. Please send a Private Note with your mailing address, so I can look into this.  - Stephen K.

[NicholasS198643]

Sent.  Thank you 

[KaydinceC79944]

I am having the same issue, as is my daughter who literally just signed up and paid with the same card two days ago. Today they've escalated both our concerns whatever that means... I saw on a cruise group about someone starting a class action there were so many comments this seems to be normal. I bought in Jan with no issue

[AARPConsumerCare]

Hi Kay! I read that this was escalated yesterday. Please reach out to us if you do not hear in the time frame that was given. I know when you purchase cruise gift cards, that the AARP membership and name, must be the same on the credit card being used. Like I can't use my credit card to buy thru my husbands AARP membership. I can be quite detailed if a name variation or address. It is a security feature. You can send us a private message when you are ready. -Sue J

[LauraR516315]

You do realize, other companies don't have this "security feature".  You are losing customers.  I have zero faith in your organization because of this issue.  

[LauraR516315]

I have a crazy theory which another person posted.  I think during certain hours of the day, the payment system AARP uses can't handle the user traffic.  So, after 5 tries and on the 5th try I did it early in the morning, it went thru.  So, maybe give that a try?  They have told everyone so far that they have escalated the issue, but this problem is years old.  So, obviously, it's not fixed.  Give early morning or late at night a try.  I would love to hear if it works.  

[JeffreyW68256]

I have tried for days and days with no luck and I have tried every credit card I have, and at many different hours of the day. 

[AARPConsumerCare]

Hi @JeffreyW68256, I've replied to your most recent comment. - Diana G.

[TinaM891382]

I dont get any replies ? smh I'm def not renewing 

[LauraR516315]

This happened to me - I finally got it to go thru with a 4th different credit card and early in the morning.  Just check a couple of things (I don't work for AARP!!).  Logon to AARP and go to your account.  Make a note of your NAME and the ADDRESS they have for you.  Then, logon to your credit card company, and if the name or address don't EXACTLY match, the transaction will fail.  For example, not all my credit cards have my middle initial but AARP DOES!  This is incredibly poor software programming.  They shouldn't care about middle initial or the exact addy, but the zip code needs to match.  

[AARPConsumerCare]

Thanks for taking the time to share, @LauraR516315. Like you mentioned, the name and address we have on file should match the billing statement of the credit/debit card. Glad to hear you were able to purchase your gift cards. - Diana G.

[JeffreyW68256]

All of that matches, I have tried 3 computers, different browsers on each, cleared cache, turned off pop-up blockers, used incognito mode, and used my iPad and phone. I attempted with every credit card I have, including the one that worked last month. Nothing works, I get the same error message every time I do it, so the issue is not on my end or my credit cards. 

[LauraR516315]

As a last ditch effort, try early in the morning or late at night.  After 4-5 failed attempts with 4-5 different credit cards, I finally got mine to go thru on 2/29/2024 in the early morning, but it was with yet another credit card.  My theory is their system can't handle the online traffic.  That's just a guess.