Digital Gift Card Purchases...Buyer Beware

[angelas130477]

If you purchase a digital gift card via AARP's Rewards center, only allow 24 hours to receive it and then contact AARP to complain. They give a very vague "some digital cards may take more than 24 hours to be emailed" (or something like that). Do not allow more than 24 hours.

I purchased a $500 Airbnb gift card on 4/1. My credit card was charged same day. Because of the AARP's vague delivery commitment, I gave them a few days. Unfortunately, I was traveling and could not call until today (4/7) to inquire about the missing digital gift card. Now I am told there is "something wrong with my Rewards account" and the issue "will be escalated to AARP's tech support." But guess what...tech support "may take up to 7-10 days to contact me." That's absolutely ridiculous. Very poor performance, AARP.

Now that I've searched the forums, I understand that delivery of digital gift cards is an issue for AARP. So, buyer beware.

[DouglasW152485]

This issue is still definitely not fixed. I was charged for a gift card over 5 days ago and it still hasn't been delivered. I’ve called in multiple times, but no one has been able to assist. They just keep telling me to wait for an email from a supervisor and reminded me that "all sales are final." Sale of what?! I haven't received anything yet.

Totally not worth the hassle just to save 5%.

[SereneSeagull]

Hi @DouglasW152485 ,

Another reason why I only will use points and not purchase the cards..  I’m sorry this has happened to you.  One gets excited about a card you want and purchased, and then when it doesn’t show, nothing but disappointment.

  You can do a charge back on your credit card, disputing it, for non delivery of goods.  I think you may need to wait a bit longer though, but check with your cc company.  Places don’t like charge backs since they end up eating the fees, so they should be trying to work on this with you, and still may be in the process of doing so.  

[DouglasW152485]

Thanks for the advice. I will end up waiting a couple weeks before filing a chargeback but I am extremely annoyed that I cannot use this Airbnb gift card as intended it has taken so long to recieve it. 

[SereneSeagull]

@DouglasW152485 Yeah, I can imagine.  I’d be pretty irked myself. Leaves a bad taste in your mouth to be sure.  Hang in there, but I get it.

[KallC765857]

I had a similar headache and never really got a clean fix from support, so I just documented everything and pushed for a refund until it finally went through. While waiting, I distracted myself by freshening up my office with a cologne smell room spray I’d been using, which oddly helped me cool off and stay patient. Keeping screenshots of every step seemed to make the difference for me.

[DylanR661391]

Was this issue ever solved for you? 

[NathanS293374]

We are having the same issue! From 3 different accounts!!! My wife, myself & a family member all purchased Royal Caribbean gift cards & have not received them! Probably going to have to file a complaint with our Credit Cards for charge backs unfortunately