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

This is the most horrible switchover.  I'm still waiting over 2 hours for Barclay's to answer my call.  Trying to get the system to link to my checking account.   The AARP project manager should be investigated for kickback money and fired for this mess.

Took me 2 tries to activate card. Took hours to see anything online. Selected my Id but found  Bank had selected one for me. Never could talk to a live person. AARP 800 no help either. Watch out for pin code. I think you need one to use card at service stations. Never had anything like this. A real mess created by AARP and members suffer. This months issue of the AARP  monthly news paper has a lot about  how Cos. are mishandling customers and their phone service. AARP broke every rule for good service listed in the articles. This is a total disaster for the Bank, and AARP and the members are hurt.

I’ve been on hold for 2 1/2 hours .......It dumped me because of ‘ birthdate not recognized’ after submitting it correctly twice ......and no instructions as to how to word it .......This is both aggravating and disturbing .....we now have NO credit card ......why would AARP subject members to this ?? Many aren't able to handle online or mobile transactions to start with .....why would there be only one day for all holders to switch ?????? We will most likely get a different provider .....

I have lost all faith in AARP.  Clearly they do NOT have an interest in what happens to seniors.  This credit card debacle will cost off of us.  Shame on AARP.

My wife and I were able to activate our cards this morning but it didn't do much good. As other people have found out when you try to put the new card into your existing accounts as a method of payment it doesn't work. The card cannot be verified. I had a couple of accounts with small businesses that were so small their on-line systems did not verify the card - only recorded the information so it could be used the next time an order was placed. My wife spent three hours on hold with Barclays and finally gave up. I have read in one other post on a person that did get through after a 4.5 hour hold only to be told the card can not be used for 24 hours after activation - this was NEVER mentioned any place that I read. Always it was "use right away after activation". We will be amoungst the many that will not be using our NEW AARP card but will be cancelling it ASAP. The question will be what impact this will have on our credit score as having heard many times that cancelling a card has a negative impact. In this case we have over 20 years of history that was tied to the old Chase card and will now transfer to the new Barclays card. Wll all that get lost when we cancel?

This whole process does not speak well of the AARP administration or for the future of AARP when they place a 1% contribution to the AARP Foundation as more important than their members.

It's the 20th of September and I can't even activate my card. I was literally on a phone call with Barclays for 2 hours and 4 minutes and spoke to a human for maybe 5 minutes. this is horrible. my aarp visa was declined and I can't activate the barclays card.

Well it’s 09/20 & my husband, who is not a very patient person, has been on hold for many hours today trying to activate our new cards. He tried to do it online but got referred to the phone activation route. Can’t believe they “planned” to do all-of these activations on one day. Sure hope this is not an example of the customer service we can expect going forward. 

It's 7:30PM ET  I spent all day trying to get a SecurPass id to get into the new Barclay's account. I still can't get through.

1. I don't care the Chase contract expired. AARP should have tried harder to keep Chase. Why would Chase dump a whole lot of AARP members? 

2. I think the AARP vp in charge should be fired for this big mess.  Just look at the comments before and after me.

3.  It's probably all about costs and illegal kickbacks.  FBI, if you can hear me,  start the RICO investigation.  Follow the money 😎 

--- Update ---

Regarding my suspician, I  hear the kickback "is that Barclays is paying AARP Foundation 1% of our purchases while our benefits are being cut.  " ... FBI/ BBB follow the money!

I used my new card today and it worked which surprised me. Never have had such problems with a credit card. Read my 2 earlier post on the problems.

What really bothers me on this is that I called the AARP 800 number Friday night after not being able to find info on Chase, and Barclays. It was evident there was going to be a disaster with this credit card launch. It was not planned well period.

The AARP 800 center was totally unprepared for the mess arriving. They had no one from the AARP implementation team present to assist them. The 800 center had no information other than what we all were sent. Talked to a supv. who had no interest in doing anything to try and head off what was coming.   All I got from her was it was after 10PM at night and she would file a report and someone would get back to me in 5 to 7 days. I told her what was going to happen and it has.

The time has come for AARP to look at its member service organization which failed just as bad as the bank, and the AARP team who put this program together. AARP should reinstate the 3% dinning discount to all, and give everyone at least a $200 credit. The money could come from the increased funds AARP is making off the new program.

I too, have had Chase AARP card for a long time.  You cannot get anyone on the phone in Barclays.  Waited over 3 hours and hung up.  Paid up my Chase Card and now Barclay took out the balance I paid Chase.  Waiting this morning half an hour.  Do you know another number other than the one listed on the back of the card?