AARP Online Community and Discussion Forums - Email links requiring log-in, then topic not to be...

LendaL752440 · ‎08-05-2025

I am beyond frustrated with AARP's emails containing links for things I want to read further. The links open in a new window but they require you to log in. There's no log in link on the page so you open a new window to main site and log in. Then do a search for the article you were originally going to read and only get articles that are years old (no way to sort by date). Information changes too quickly for old articles to be of any use.

So, I look for some way to report the problem. Nothing. When you click the "contact" link, there is nothing with an email address to send questions to. It does show a chat option, but it doesn't work/do anything. There's also an option to share your screen. Don't know if it works or not because I don't allow anyone access to my computer.

It's not very often I try to access any articles because most of them are not realistic or are so vague you'd think they were written by AI. Case in point - a recent article about creating a budget complete with downloadable forms. 90% simply did not apply to me. If I had loads of investments and multiple sources of income, I probably wouldn't have the need for a budget plan.

Back to today's issue - The link was "tackle student loans with confidence", "simple ways to begin paying off debt" and "how to spot debt consolidation scams" with the accompanying write up centered around getting control over your finances and 3 different links - none of which are accessible without jumping through the hoops mentioned above. If someone is truly following the student loan/debt news, they would know the rules seem to change weekly and servicers either don't know any better than their consumers or they deliberately go out of their way to hand out misinformation or -- the most used line - tell you they do not have access to that information but you can log in to the student aid website. Calling is even more frustrating because they play off each other, both telling you the other is the one with the information.

So when searching for the article from the email link and only returning articles from 2024 back, it is nothing but a waste of my time and patience.

Could be the AARP website doesn't like my browser (Brave). If that is the case it should be stated somewhere. But, I won't be forced to use Chrome or Edge or Safari. I honestly believe the whole AARP package is overrated by far and, with the headaches every where you turn to try to read anything they put out, it's been nothing BUT a waste of time and money.

DannyM168444 · ‎08-07-2025

Chrome doesn't work either. I had email for birthday rewards and had same issue.

Winter2025VA · ‎08-07-2025

Lenda @LendaL752440 and Danny @DannyM168444 , IF AARP does NOT respond to your posts on this site you may want to call them. They are open weekdays 8am to 8pm ET. Good luck, Nicole!

➡️[*** DANNY @DannyM168444 wrote:
Chrome doesn't work either. I had email for birthday rewards and had same issue.

➡️[*** LENDA @LendaL752440 wrote:
I am beyond frustrated with AARP's emails containing links for things I want to read further. The links open in a new window but they require you to log in. There's no log in link on the page so you open a new window to main site and log in. Then do a search for the article you were originally going to read and only get articles that are years old (no way to sort by date). Information changes too quickly for old articles to be of any use.

So, I look for some way to report the problem. Nothing. When you click the "contact" link, there is nothing with an email address to send questions to. It does show a chat option, but it doesn't work/do anything. There's also an option to share your screen. Don't know if it works or not because I don't allow anyone access to my computer.

It's not very often I try to access any articles because most of them are not realistic or are so vague you'd think they were written by AI. Case in point - a recent article about creating a budget complete with downloadable forms. 90% simply did not apply to me. If I had loads of investments and multiple sources of income, I probably wouldn't have the need for a budget plan.

Back to today's issue - The link was "tackle student loans with confidence", "simple ways to begin paying off debt" and "how to spot debt consolidation scams" with the accompanying write up centered around getting control over your finances and 3 different links - none of which are accessible without jumping through the hoops mentioned above. If someone is truly following the student loan/debt news, they would know the rules seem to change weekly and servicers either don't know any better than their consumers or they deliberately go out of their way to hand out misinformation or -- the most used line - tell you they do not have access to that information but you can log in to the student aid website. Calling is even more frustrating because they play off each other, both telling you the other is the one with the information.

So when searching for the article from the email link and only returning articles from 2024 back, it is nothing but a waste of my time and patience.

Could be the AARP website doesn't like my browser (Brave). If that is the case it should be stated somewhere. But, I won't be forced to use Chrome or Edge or Safari. I honestly believe the whole AARP package is overrated by far and, with the headaches every where you turn to try to read anything they put out, it's been nothing BUT a waste of time and money.

LendaL752440 · ‎08-07-2025

Thanks for the response. However, I am working two jobs just trying to pay bills which makes it difficult to call anyone, even those with extended hours and virtually impossible for those that operate 9-5 M-F.

However, I signed up for a digital subscription. You would think there would be a way to communicate digitally, especially with a company as large as AARP. Frankly, it's my only option most of the time. My day job is in a call center with only inbound calls and no access to personal communication devices. I could only try to do a quick chat or email on a work break when I can use my personal cell phone.

Again, a massive company like AARP and they don't have any means to communicate digitally? Sorry, but that's simply unheard of in this day and age.

Winter2025VA · ‎08-07-2025

[1] Lenda @LendaL752440 , you are welcome!!! 💛

[2] Good morning AARP @AARPConsumerCare , can you help Lenda?

Thanks,

Nicole!

➡️[*** LENDA @LendaL752440 wrote:
Thanks for the response. However, I am working two jobs just trying to pay bills which makes it difficult to call anyone, even those with extended hours and virtually impossible for those that operate 9-5 M-F.
However, I signed up for a digital subscription. You would think there would be a way to communicate digitally, especially with a company as large as AARP. Frankly, it's my only option most of the time. My day job is in a call center with only inbound calls and no access to personal communication devices. I could only try to do a quick chat or email on a work break when I can use my personal cell phone.
Again, a massive company like AARP and they don't have any means to communicate digitally? Sorry, but that's simply unheard of in this day and age.