Issue with AARP and Hartford Insurance

[LiL712645]

I joined AARP recently. Did an auto quote online with Hartford Insurance using the link provided by AARP a few days ago. As the phone number is optional for the quote, I provided email only. At the end, the quote is about 10% higher than my current premium, so I did not proceed. Hartford Insurance keeps sending me emails. Unsubscribe does not work, so I have to block it as spam. To my surprise, I received two calls from Hartford Insurance today! AARP, can you tell me who gives my phone number to Hartford Insurance? What a shame!

[LawrenceL46503]

Hi Gail- I'm not sure whether your reply was directed to me, or to Lil.  But if to me, than I assure you I'm well aware of everything you shared in your email, and can also assure you that 've never made the mistake of making any kind of inquiry to one of their partners. 

As such, the info that you shared - while helpful to anyone not familiar with it - doesn't bear on  my fundamental assertions that ones communications preferences shouldn't be changed upon renewal, or that communications preferences for emails from AARP and its partners should be better structured and more granular (e.g. even when I'd whittled my subscriptions down to two weekly or monthly emails, AARP still managed to send me just under 30 emails per month).

[GailL1]

@LawrenceL46503 

Actually it was just a general comment - not to you or Lil - directed to those who aren't careful about how they do their inquiries  - anywhere, not just AARP.  Sorry if you took it otherwise.  

I agree with you about a company changing preferences when one renews - Do you think in this AARP case,  it is a tech thing or on-purpose by design?  Might be worth the ask to the powers that be -  by email 😉

I am not a current member so I don't get any emails nor any "benefits".  

[LawrenceL46503]

Hi Gail-

Normally I'm able to decipher whether an organization's "misfires" are intentional or inadvertent (e.g. an IT bug) by working my way up through the customer service chain. But having been somewhat unsuccessful in doing so when I've had a couple prior other issues with AARP- I didn't even bother with this issue.  I simply asked customer service to remove me entirely from email communications and asked the rep to communicate the issue through the channels that were available to her.

BTW, I love your use of quotes with the word "Benefits" 🙂  When I first joined way back when, I actually did a couple of the kind of comparisons that you recommended in your initial note, and quickly concluded that they weren't "beneficial" to me at all ... And since then I simply haven't wasted my time with any of them- finding that I can do better elsewhere and on my own.  But that said, what doesn't work for me could indeed work for someone else.  So heeding your admonition to be a smart and cautious consumers is unquestionably the way to go for all of us... Cheers, Larry

[srk5cats]

I'm pretty sure AARP sells the phone numbers of their members to various companies. Ever since I joined AARP, I've been getting phone calls from MedAlert at least twice a week, all from different numbers so I can't block them. I opted out, which lasted about 2 weeks. Now, I'm getting prank calls from them which hang up as soon as they announce their name.

[srk5cats]

Yes, that happened to me as well. I don't know what this MedAlert is, but if they think they're encouraging buyers with this harrassment, they are very wrong. I also opted to be on their 'do not call' list and that lasted about 2 weeks, like you said. Basically, I do not answer my phone anymore unless the call comes from one of my contacts. I've also had other bad experiences with products AARP endorses, such as Consumer Cellular and Optum RX. The only 'benefit' I get from AARP is their magazine, which I read on the toilet. It also doubles as toilet paper if I should run out (but I don't flush it). I also enjoyed their 'Movies for Grownups' before the pandemic. I tried watching one remotely, but apparently, they haven't figured out the technology yet.