AARP Online Community and Discussion Forums - Rewards Broken since September 1st

HeatherS903342 · ‎09-10-2025

Anyone else encountering this error? I was hoping it would go away.

An error occurred while processing your request.

Reference #97.44c90b17.1757487529.ca2b81af

https://errors.edgesuite.net/97.44c90b17.1757487529.ca2b81af

Whenever I try to enter an instant win, this is what it tells me, or a variation of it.

carolshutt47 · ‎09-17-2025

Day 17 and AARP finally back up. Unless I missed the communication, I discovered this by logging into the site. Where is the AARP communication? We still don't know what happened or why AARP has been so hesitant to explain the situation. Perhaps I am a dinosaur but I expected more from AARP. I had shopped at a local grocery store for 4 decades and it was just one really bad experience with no response from the store that made me turn to alternatives. Will I ever really trust AARP again?

Winter2025VA · ‎09-17-2025

[9/17/25] Hi Carol @carolshutt47 , I found out when a member posted on this site. Then a 2nd member posted (another NEW thread) followed by one from @AARPTeri earlier today. Take care, Nicole!

➡️[*** CAROL

@carolshutt47 wrote:
Day 17 and AARP finally back up. Unless I missed the communication, I discovered this by logging into the site. Where is the AARP communication? We still don't know what happened or why AARP has been so hesitant to explain the situation. Perhaps I am a dinosaur but I expected more from AARP. I had shopped at a local grocery store for 4 decades and it was just one really bad experience with no response from the store that made me turn to alternatives. Will I ever really trust AARP again?

HeatherS903342 · ‎09-17-2025

Replying to myself here, not super familiar with these forums. It appears to me to be an issue with whoever provides their rewards services. For example, Merkle is also not working. I think that means Hello World or whoever that other company is that runs promotions for companies. I am not sure why AARP isn't blaming them, because I think this is the real reason why rewards are down. I sent an email to Merkle, no response.

Winter2025VA · ‎09-17-2025

[9/17/25] Heather @HeatherS903342 , today is day number 17 and one of them NEED to do a Press Release. This "silence" is totally unfair to us. Take care, Nicole!

➡️[*** HEATHER

@HeatherS903342 wrote:
Replying to myself here, not super familiar with these forums. It appears to me to be an issue with whoever provides their rewards services. For example, Merkle is also not working. I think that means Hello World or whoever that other company is that runs promotions for companies. I am not sure why AARP isn't blaming them, because I think this is the real reason why rewards are down. I sent an email to Merkle, no response.

carolshutt47 · ‎09-14-2025

AARP Rewards Friends,

What is wrong with this picture? A “temporary” service interruption which now is in day 14. It took AARP 5 days to even provide an e-mail statement regarding the outage and offering limited opportunities to earn points. Not that it seems that you could use them if I understand some of the comments. What other entity do you know has a website down for this long?

You pay an annual fee for AARP “membership” and AARP makes additional money from royalty payments from companies authorized to use the AARP brand and advertising which you are frequently “forced” to view as you complete rewards activities.

This is the organization we trust to promote our rights in reference to Social Security, Medicare and other issues which are important to older Americans? Sadly, I don’t feel like a valued member of AARP at this time.

WebWiseWoman · ‎09-14-2025

Good morning, Carol...

Just fyi, many entities have had lengthy outages (examples in previous posts re: State of Nevada [down since 24-August-2025; finally 90% back on Friday, 12-Sep-2025] and national hospital provider outage a few years ago) BUT those outages were publicly acknowledged within 24-48 hours, or less.

If I recall correctly, it took AARP 3+ days to even admit an issue (and not users' errors, which is the usual go-to here).

I'd say, imo, "trust" is now zero (would be lower if that were actually possible 😉

Any way, we can but hope for some honesty and integrity going forward?

Thanks for your post which hopefully will shake a few trees 😉

carolshutt47 · ‎09-14-2025

I had to smile at both your web name and closing.

And it was Day 5 before the e-mail came out. The allegations I have read regarding hacking as the reason are just that and unless AARP decides to assume a little responsibility and tell us what happened, we won't know.

If it weren't for the fact that I have my Medicare supplement with United and must maintain AARP membership to maintain the coverage, I would seriously consider cancelling my membership.

AARP -- we deserve information! Perhaps my local television station can follow-up. As an affiliate of a national news station, this would make an interesting story. Big AARP hides from its members. Without us, there wouldn't be an AARP!

GailL1 · ‎09-14-2025

@carolshutt47 wrote . . . . . If it weren't for the fact that I have my Medicare supplement with United and must maintain AARP membership to maintain the coverage, I would seriously consider cancelling my membership.

===========================

They CANNOT Cancel your supplemental plan if you do not stay a member of AARP - you only have to be a member of AARP in the year that you purchased the UHC supplemental plan (Medigap) - after that, according to Federal law, the only ways you can lose this Supplemental plan is if you (1) Don’t pay your premiums every month or (2) you have not told the truth when applying for the plan or (3) the insurer goes bankrupt or goes out of business - actually if they go out of the Medigap business also.

Medicare.gov - Learn How Medigap Works

from the link: [copy / paste]

Once you buy a policy, you'll keep it as long as you pay your Medigap premiums. All standardized Medigap policies are automatically renewed every year, even if you have health problems. Your Medigap insurance company can only drop you if:

You stop paying your premiums
You weren't truthful on the Medigap policy application
The insurance company goes bankrupt or goes out of business

IT‘S ALWAYS SOMETHING . . . . .. . . .
Roseanne Roseannadanna

carolshutt47 · ‎09-14-2025

Thank you Gail. United told me differently when I was making a change a couple of years ago.

Winter2025VA · ‎09-14-2025

[9/14/25] Carol @carolshutt47 , I am amazed that the MEDIA has NOT broadcast/printed anything about the AARP Rewards Site drama. Lol, now at age 67, I am NOT too swift with "online" searches = have NOT found any articles/broadcast. Wonder IF they are scared of being sued by AARP. Take care, Nicole!

➡️[*** CAROL

@carolshutt47 wrote:
I had to smile at both your web name and closing.

And it was Day 5 before the e-mail came out. The allegations I have read regarding hacking as the reason are just that and unless AARP decides to assume a little responsibility and tell us what happened, we won't know.

If it weren't for the fact that I have my Medicare supplement with United and must maintain AARP membership to maintain the coverage, I would seriously consider cancelling my membership.

AARP -- we deserve information! Perhaps my local television station can follow-up. As an affiliate of a national news station, this would make an interesting story. Big AARP hides from its members. Without us, there wouldn't be an AARP!

markd894787 · ‎09-12-2025

Hey AARP, can you fess up and tell us exactly what happened?

szostows · ‎09-11-2025

how do I purchase rewards gift cards for cruise lines with the current rewards site down?

Winter2025VA · ‎09-11-2025

[9/11/25] @szostows , from a PREVIOUS "post" by another member asking this = @AARPConsumerCare response was you have to WAIT to purchase ONLINE (when we can "redeem & purchase" AGAIN). Hopefully Awards Site will be fixed BEFORE the weekend. 🙄 Take care, Nicole!

➡️[***

@szostows wrote:
how do I purchase rewards gift cards for cruise lines with the current rewards site down?

JeffL92410 · ‎09-11-2025

AARP should add 7500 points to every members account for every day the system is not up and running.

AARPConsumerCare · ‎09-10-2025

I understand error messages can be frustrating, @HeatherS903342. Can you send us a private message with your name and address, so we may check your AARP Rewards account to see why you're receiving the error? Visit https://aarp.info/47hWcl7 for directions on how to enable private messages. You can also contact us by chat, text, or phone. Visit https://aarp.info/3epCObA for our contact information. - Brandon C.

cheryls211 · ‎09-11-2025

It seems very odd to me that everything else on your website works, except for the Rewards . 11 days is a long time to have this part of the site down unless it's intentional.

TimW61 · ‎09-13-2025

I agree. I also hope they are not going to take away any unused/expired rewards points since this is THEIR issue and no fault of our own!

BtW751689 · ‎09-11-2025

how can you check this if the site is not functioning?

Winter2025VA · ‎09-11-2025

[9/11/25] @BtW751689 , I am sure there is a SEPARATE "database" for checking our Rewards Accounts by an AARP Employee. The Rewards Site "crashing" will NOT affect it. Nicole!

➡️[***

@BtW751689 wrote:
how can you check this if the site is not functioning?

carolshutt47 · ‎09-10-2025

"Earning points is limited. Yes, you can watch the videos and do the quizzes to earn limited points but if you use the regular AARP website and search for opportunities, it is a "hit or miss" challenge. But if you don't remember what you have already done, you can waste time. Am I missing something? This is DAY 10 of the site being down. It makes no sense that the site can't be fixed in 10 days!

Winter2025VA · ‎09-10-2025

[9/10/25] Carol @carolshutt47 , I feel whatever IT (Helloworld, Merkle, AARP) have NO idea what happened = site crashed. Hope we can redeem soon. Nicole!

➡️[*** CAROL

@carolshutt47 wrote:
"Earning points is limited. Yes, you can watch the videos and do the quizzes to earn limited points but if you use the regular AARP website and search for opportunities, it is a "hit or miss" challenge. But if you don't remember what you have already done, you can waste time. Am I missing something? This is DAY 10 of the site being down. It makes no sense that the site can't be fixed in 10 days!

GiannisK745032 · ‎09-10-2025

Were you able to access the reward site and play instant win? How did you get the error message..before the unscheduled maintenance or after?

Winter2025VA · ‎09-10-2025

[9/10/25] I was wondering myself Giannis @GiannisK745032 and thought maybe they had the "links" saved as a bookmark. Nicole!

➡️[*** GIANNIS

@GiannisK745032 wrote:
Were you able to access the reward site and play instant win? How did you get the error message..before the unscheduled maintenance or after?

Winter2025VA · ‎09-10-2025

[9/10/25] Hi Heather @HeatherS903342 , Rewards Site has been DOWN since 9/1/25. We can "earn" points, but NOT "redeem". Did you SUBSCRIBE to the Rewards Newsletter? It arrives by email EVERY Tuesday & Friday about 1pm ET. You should have ALSO received an email from AARP. BOTH announce the site being DOWN. Nicole!

➡️[*** HEATHER

@HeatherS903342 wrote:
Anyone else encountering this error? I was hoping it would go away.

An error occurred while processing your request.
Reference #97.44c90b17.1757487529.ca2b81af
https://errors.edgesuite.net/97.44c90b17.1757487529.ca2b81af

Whenever I try to enter an instant win, this is what it tells me, or a variation of it.

JudyS250129 · ‎09-10-2025

I haven't been able to even earn points.

mm7131903 · ‎09-10-2025

Same here. And yet AARP says, "You can still complete earn activities and continue to accumulate points during this time. We encourage you to keep engaging with available opportunities while we work behind the scenes." Not sure how to do that when we can't get to the activities.

JeffL92410 · ‎09-11-2025

I am having the same issue. Can't earn points if I can't get to the rewards section.

AARPConsumerCare · ‎09-11-2025

I can understand your frustration, @JeffL92410. While you won’t be able to access the activities through the AARP Rewards site at this moment, you can still earn points in other ways. First, go to http://www.aarp.org?cmp=SNO-LITHIUM---&socialid=18152027615 and log in. Then, click or tap the search icon (looking glass) and type "video" or "quiz" and choose the ones with the AARP Rewards badge.

As long as you're logged into your AARP online account and meet the activity requirements for point earning, the points will be added to your account automatically. Once the site is back up you can review your Transaction History to view your point earnings. - Diana G.

CherylC64837 · ‎09-11-2025

How is it possible for a site to be down 11 days? That is not a "temporary interruption." Members need more information than "unexpected technical issues."