Gift Card issues

[JeniferP99027]

 Effective today, I will no longer participate in AARP Rewards due to issues with retailer gift cards purchased (or won) from AARP.  It started with the Walgreens gift card issue. I had purchased several that were impacted by the Walgreens compromise that wiped out the balances. I spent several hours on the phone regarding this issue with continual referral by Walgreens reps who said they knew nothing about the compromise, back to AARP and MULTIPLE Walgreen's customer service phone numbers. Walgreen's reps kept saying only AARP could assist since the gift cards were purchased from AARP.  AARP couldn't help because it was a Walgreens issue. After several hours on the phone, multiple Walgreens reps that had no idea about the compromise, and multiple Walgreens customer service phone numbers, the issue was resolved. Although the compromise was on the Walgreens side, I am upset with AARP for not contacting Walgreens on behalf of those impacted after receiving multiple complaints that the phone number provided in the AARP notification would not get the issue resolved. After already being upset about the time wasted and the potential that I had of losing several hundred dollars, I have another issue with Staples gift cards purchased from AARP in 2024 and 1/01/25. Staples is no longer recognizing the card numbers/PINs even though the balances were checked when I originally purchased the cards, and I had used partial balances on two of the four cards. It isn't that they are showing a $0 balance as if someone used them. They are just invalid now. I spent 2 hours with multiple customer service departments at Staples to find out why the cards are invalid now (has nothing to do with them expiring).  After 2 hours, the end result is that Staples cannot help me with egift cards purchased from AARP. AARP does not service the cards after purchase (or sweepstakes win).

[AARPConsumerCare]

Hi @JeniferP99027. When Walgreens informed us about the compromise they experienced, they provided the contact telephone number for us to share with you. We were assured that their agents are trained to handle the issue and should not be directing you back to us. Although you purchased or redeemed the gift card through our program, Walgreens issued the gift card and will need to assist you with replacing it, as the compromise occurred at Walgreens, not AARP. 
I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. However, I will need to direct you back to Walgreens for assistance. 

In regards to the Staples Card, I have reach out via Private message so that we can look at your Rewards account together but it failed to deliver. You may need to activate Private Messages and then reach out again, and we can see what's going on with that card. Here how to activate Private Messages https://aarp.info/47hWcl7 -Chris K

[bas45dml]

 I also lost over $300 on Walgreens. Zero balance not Walgreens issue so they say.