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

Has anyone else been concerned about the closing of our current AARP credit cards and its effect on our credit scores? We've had our VISA for many years and have built a lot of history with them. Now AARP is going to CLOSE those accounts and replace them with a new one that won't have any history. Just closing the account will lower our scores significantly. We, for one, don't want to use the Barclay cards, which offer significantly less rewards, so the total amount of our credit will be reduced, another factor in the building of our credit scores.

 

What do you think?

 

POST-  Postscript 09-21-21: To head off what I was sure would be a catastrophe, and after looking up references on Barclay, we created a new Chase CC account (on August 12th, received it on the 15th), set up our auto-pay bills, and set up the new account for auto-pay from our bank. We paid off the balance on the old AARP account by 09-08-21, and cashed in all our rewards. Then today, we activated the Barclay account (online) and immediately canceled it (by automated phone call). We're in the process of setting up a second Chase card to compensate for the first CC account lower credit limit. Guess we're  lucky to have managed to get through to our Barclay account. Keep trying, folks, and don't hold back on your comments to both companies. They certainly could have done a better job of planning all this. Giving their customers a voice in the choice should have been STEP NUMBER ONE.

 

AND yet another POSTSCRIPT on 09-24: Today Barlcays was daring enough to send us a 'welcome' email with a reminder to activate our card, to which we replied,

 

"Thanks, but no thanks!

 
We didn't, and don't, want your card. We have already activated and immediately cancelled our Barclay cards.
 
For those poor folks who are, to this day, still trying to activate their card or just talk to a live person at your company, we extend our sympathy. Your company has made what should have been a direct and automated process so overly labor-intensive for so many seniors that you won't soon be forgotten or forgiven.
 
Shame on AARP for choosing you and shame on you for being so ill-prepared to handle the conversion.
 
Signed, 'notsoyoung'
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Community Concierge

@MachelleH205186 Great news, Machelle!

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Periodic Contributor

Yes, all lines are locked up.  One odd thing I noticed when trying to activate--I have 2 people on my account & the numbers on the cards are different.  This is the first time I've ever experienced that.  Seems odd, as do so many things surrounding this change.  Best wishes in getting through this debacle.  😒

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Contributor

Am experiencing same.   I just opened a new Chase VISA and intend to close the Barclays MC as soon as I can.   This is a disaster.  

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Contributor

I just called chase and opened a new acct.same as the old one ,i bet aarp instituted the channge!

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Honored Social Butterfly

Read my post below then read this update on what is happening.

Tonight when I went to the Chase website to check my card and what was posted there was nothing. Everything had been removed. Called Chase to make sure my card was still good. Never could talk to a person but got the message the account was closed and transferred to Barclays Bank and call them. They gave me an 800 number which was the same as the number we got in the mail for help.

Called Barclays at that number. Could not talk to a person. They message said Monday morning they would take over, and ended the call. I could not confirm anything about my current card till Monday. If it good or not? I do not want to have problems trying to use it this weekend. Looks like I will since Chase has dumped it and Barclays will not pick up servicing as Chase said they would till Monday.

Called the AARP 800 help number. They new nothing and said they could create a report and someone would call me back in 3 days. Talked to a supv. who just stuck to that line. They read me all the info we have gotten and seemed to have little appreciation of what could be developing for the next 2days. I am sure there are a lot of members who have the credit card and could have problems and that is why I called the 800 number so they might head off the problem and get some answers now, and the people handling the change over might have been able to do something to fix the problem so members calling the bank could get the help they needed and deserved.

 

 

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Regular Contributor

I had no problem activating my card online, but when I tried to add the card to other accounts they wouldn't accept it. This is a bit of a hassle I don't need. If it continues I will just get another card. I don't really feel comfortable about the way this was so arbitrarily sprung on us.It seems rather disrespectful. 🙁

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Contributor

All of my Chase-AARP info disappeared as well. Went to Chase Bank to pay off card since there was no way to access that account any more. The balance was higher than I showed but have been unable to DL any transactions so not surprised really. AARP has really messed this up. I don't think I'll renew my membership. Not that AARP cares. What poor planning...

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Periodic Contributor

Just saw another unwelcome feature of the change.  Account rewards under Chase could be redeemed for any amount.  With Barclay's, you have to have $25 in rewards accumulated to redeem for a direct deposit, account credit, gift card, or anything else.  I'm not pleased with Barclays being able to earn interest on my rewards $.  It'll take months for me to reach the $25 amount, even with the Chase reward that was transferred.  Very disappointed in AARP for setting this up to happen, especially since Barclays has never had a great reputation in the financial industry.  

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Newbie

I understand your getting money from various companys to send me ads. but when you cancel my relationnship with chase,you've gone a stp too far,stay out of my business!!!

hope others feel the same way.

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Regular Contributor

AARP Member Benefits Team here to help. We certainly understand your concern regarding the service provided by Chase/Barclays credit card services. The contract has ended with Chase therefor we can no longer service those accounts which is why it is transitioning to Barclays. Barclays will be able to service the accounts starting 9/20.  We hope this information was helpful and thank you for being an AARP member.  Have a great day!

 

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Contributor

I would like to see if your compensation inreased compared to what you got from chase,and in an open explanation here or in oneof your publications.

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Regular Contributor

Haha---you better believe AARP got a bundle for turning us over to the worst bank on the globe.

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Regular Contributor

Every communication from AARP over many years to those over 55 has been advice how to handle any type of situation that arises, who to contact for help, which Senators Reps to contact, Medical Care, Investments to be aware of what may be coming in the future & how to avoid when in our Golden Years. I agree with this Member, the CEO, Board, MUST cover all these concerns appearing on AARP Community site. You are obligated, you have used us as a marketing tool for years, we will read every page of the Bulletin due for October. All members must have individual assistance with their Credit Card Confusion.

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Periodic Contributor

The activation process is a complete joke. My 85 year old mom tried to activate by calling the number on the sticker on the new card. The robo system told my mom she gave them the wrong birthday!  Of course my mom knows her birthday. I am an authorized user on the account and attempted to activate my card as well -(and hers)-  both online and by phone - I have been on hold now for just short of 3 hours. And if I try online (again) they tell me "for security reasons" I cannot log in and to call their "customer care" specialist.  This is NOT the way to treat any customers, let alone AARP members, many of who are quite elderly. The previous AARP card with Chase was my mom's ONLY CC. There will be a huge issue when her medications cannot be renewed because the Chase card is no longer valid, and the Barclay card cannot be activated. Oh, and all her auto bill set ups cannot be changed either. I attempted to start to change those - her internet, newspaper, Caremark, grocery delivery etc. Cannot do any of them and the online log ins tell me the Barclay credit card number is invalid! HELP!!!

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Regular Contributor

Contact the office of the AG of your state and file a complaint.  Also the State Banking regulator.

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Community Concierge

@ToddH320656 This issue is a result of a reported outage within the Barclays system. The outage affects customer-facing channels and hold times. Some customers cannot service any of their requests online or via telephony, including AARP Credit Card activation requests. Please try again today. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this has caused. 

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Regular Contributor

"INCONVENIENCE" is a huge understatement.    The outage has been in effect ever since this nightmare began months ago.

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Newbie

This switch to Barclays has been a nightmare. The first time I could sign on to Barclay site, I saw that I had been charged a $29 late fee.  My payment was due September 19 and the late fee was charged that day.  My balance had always been withdrawn from my checking account by Chase on the date due.  When I called Barclay to resolve this situation, I was put on hold for 1 hour and 45 minutes before I gave up.  Today, I am up to 30 minutes and holding .  There are a lot of credit cards vying for my business and I'm about to give one of them a try.

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Retired Moderator

Hi there, here to help. The mailed information regarding the transition advised that 'for payments due to Chase between September 17, 2021 and September 19, 2021, we recommend that you mail it to the Chase address for payments indicated on your AARP Credit Card from Chase statement at least 7 days before it is due.' If this was not done and you see a late fee on your Barclays account after your account has fully transitioned, please reach out to Barclays to request removal of the late fee. Extremely high call volume is causing very long wait times, so I recommend calling later in the evening or another day. If you run into any issues with Barclays refusing to remove the charge, contact AARP and we'll help. 

 

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Contributor

Barclays is a London based "International" bank and should be avoided as they are not in the business of making their customers happy.  You should decline service from them.

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Contributor

As directed through AARP and Barclays, on 9/20 I activated my new credit card.  I checked my profile information and discovered that the bank I used for payments with the Chase card had been changed and showed an account belonging to someone other than me.  I called to speak with Customer Relationship Manager and was on hold listening to their recorded message/music FOR OVER ONE HOUR AND THIRTY MINUTES.  No one ever answered.  I called back today, 9/21, and have the same problem.  I've now been on hold FOR ANOTHER FORTY-FIVE MINUTES!  STILL NO ANSWER.  THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE!!!   NEXT STEP IS TO CANCEL THE CARD!

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Moderator
Moderator

@ronaldl615664 AARP Member Benefits Team here to help. We certainly understand your concern regarding the service provided by Barclays. We’d be happy to forward your concern to the Escalation team we work with at Barclays for their thorough review and investigation if you’d like. To do this, we will need more information. Please send me a private message in the AARP Online Community by clicking this link and entering my username, “AARPLakeisha” into the “Send to” box https://community.aarp.org/t5/notes/composepage. Please provide the following details in your message:

  • Your first & last name
  • AARP membership number (or home address)
  • Best contact phone number

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate you informing us of your concern. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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Newbie

I've had the same problem.  There are a lot of credit cards asking for my business.  I'll give one of them a try.

 

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Contributor

I am also a member of AMAC which is a better outfit if you're not a liberal like AARP. their Visa card is much better than the Barkley's joke we've been sent! Their PENFED cards offer 5% to start with. . . do yourself a favor and check it out! The cads offers artial payment of the AMAC dues!

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Periodic Contributor

Just hung up after 90 mins on hold...  45 mins yesterday on hold.. trying to reach them to correct a problem... just about DONE with this!  

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Moderator
Moderator

@jw14956293 

AARP Member Benefits Team here to help. We certainly understand your concern regarding the service provided by Barclays. We’d be happy to forward your concern to the Escalation team we work with at Barclays for their thorough review and investigation if you’d like. To do this, we will need more information. Please send me a private message in the AARP Online Community by clicking this link and entering my username, “AARPLakeisha” into the “Send to” box https://community.aarp.org/t5/notes/composepage. Please provide the following details in your message:

  • Your first & last name
  • AARP membership number (or home address)
  • Best contact phone number

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate you informing us of your concern. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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Newbie

Let me throw a 'me too' at this, and say I was on hold for over 4 hours and I still don't have the cards activated. According to Barclay's Security desk, there is a problem with the Date of Birth. HOW COULD THERE BE PROBLEM WITH THE MOST BASIC OF INFORMATION!?!? AARP, you guys really messed this up!

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Community Concierge

@DrewD907916 We know how frustrating this is. Please try again later today or tomorrow as Barclays works to fix their system issues. 

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Periodic Contributor

I was on hold 2:13 minutes yesterday waiting for a "relationship manager" to become available. Before that I had tried to call they number on the card and the line would drop out after two rings. Today the call just wouldn't go through. I went to my bank and applied for their Mastercard as at least I can go to the bank if something goes awry. This is a complete disaster - thanks to the crack executive team that made this incredibly bad decision! I'm guessing that AARP is supposed to get slightly more income out of Barclays than they got from Chase - but no one considered the wishes of the members who are supposedly being represented in the negotiations. My wife was embarrassed yesterday when her Chase card was refused and she didn't have the cash necessary to make her purchase. I now have to change all of our online payment accounts to a new card (it WON'T be Barclays) - as a matter of fact it can't be Barclays because I have not received my card and cannot activate my account! My wife has received her card, but apparently her card has a different account number or something - we cannot access the account at all.

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Regular Contributor

AARP Member Benefits Team here to help. We certainly understand your concern regarding the service provided by Barclays. We’d be happy to forward your concern to the Escalation team we work with at Barclays for their thorough review and investigation if you’d like. To do this, we will need more information. Please send me a private message in the AARP Online Community by clicking this link and entering my username, “AARPLakeisha” into the “Send to” box https://community.aarp.org/t5/notes/composepage. Please provide the following details in your message:

  • Your first & last name
  • AARP membership number (or home address)
  • Best contact phone number

We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate you informing us of your concern. We look forward to hearing from you soon!

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