Why is there no general email address for members to contact AARP?

[Davidfstnyc]

Why does AARP go so far out of its way to make it difficult for members to contact them without going to some lame Social Media page? Which also doesn't allow for much real communication!

I'd love to be able to provide real feedback on the pathetic website and app. My guess is AARP doesn't give a rat's patootie what their members think.

[shelley25b]

I'm an additional voice here on this topic.  AARP's web site and the internal membership is very poor.  Additionally, their outgoing marketing is overly intrusive.  I've send my specific complaint to member@aarp.com.  There's also spoof@aarp.com.  I don't expect to receive a helpful response.

[mtstone]

Very true.  I followed the directions to submit a comment to AARP Magazine about their article about Las Vegas, which was nothing for than a free advertisement for Vegas.  I followed the directions to reply at the end of the article, but the reply part was not available. I am also tired of receiving emails from AARP to join auto renewal -- if I wanted to, I would.  The only value I derive from AARP is for Hartford Insurance.

[AARPConsumerCare]

@mtstone Thank you for taking the time to share. When adding a comment to an online article, you will want to select the drop-down arrow then click "Post comment". Learn more here: https://aarp.info/3mmA4gA. We value the comments and opinions of our members and appreciate your feedback. If you'd like to provide me with a link to the article and your feedback, I will ensure your comments are forwarded to our publications staff for review. Also, if you'd like to stop receiving emails from us that offer the automatic renewal option, I invite you to scroll to the bottom of that email and select "Unsubscribe". I'm always here to help!  - Janelle M.

[AARPConsumerCare]

Hi @shelley25b, thanks for reaching out. Our goal is to provide the best customer service, and we found that email was not the best way to do that. How can I help? You can also chat with us, call or text, here you'll find more information: https://aarp.info/3epCObA - Diana G.

[amkaplan]

I don't know how you determined that email was not a good way to do customer service, but perhaps you didn't contact enough of your membership - of my friends, most of us find chatting and texting a pain in the ass for getting anything accomplished in a reasonable time frame, and frankly, insulting.  With an email I can write a reasonable amount of information without being limited to a set number of characters, send attachments, and get the job done if I can't get a human on the phone.

I'm quite disappointed.

[RobertB4107]

I just became a member and was hoping to begin a dialogue with AARP. Defining  idrastic improvements that need to be introduced for the welfare of aged americans. I learned years ago you can only bring change through a group effort.  One person can do so little because it is so easy to quiet one person.. If you dont even have an email how do you properly communicate.  Chat to a computer which I tried and it misinterpreted what I asked for and gave me a totally unrelated answer to my question. Especially from a senior citizen we dont want to talk to some computer.  Im reconsidering my membership since Im questioning the value of it

[GailL1]

@RobertB4107 

AARP is a really big organization with lots of tentacles - sometimes you just have to get to the right place to start.  There isn’t a central email contact for all of these since they are different in their various targets

Depending upon what your targeted subject(s) might be, you would have to research the best place to direct your issues.  

AARP.org - About Us - Social Impact 

Then you may find contacting your state AARP office and officials to be a better one for certain other advocacies.

AARP in Your State - Locator 

Many state chapters work on various issues at the state level.

Then other advocacies are pursued by the AARP Foundation -

AARP FOUNDATION 

There is a listing of their various topics and works on each of these so it just depends on what subject you are talking about as to where your communication needs to be directed.  

They may already be working on something that interest you and then you can offer your volunteer services to whichever group effort.

[AARPConsumerCare]

I can understand your frustration, @amkaplan. If chatting or call us is not a good option for you, feel free to send us a DM with a description of your problem, and we'll provide the appropriate information or guidance. Thanks. - Diana G.

[RuthT810962]

You're not listening to the consumer. Try email.

[amkaplan]

I just got off a very dismaying phone call with one of your agents, whom I must say was simply not intelligent.  She could not grasp any of the issues I was trying to express, even after multiple attempts.  Wow.  And she was a native English speaker.  Ironically, when I asked if there was any email address specifically for complaints, she said she would EMAIL it to me (I have not received anything yet). The real irony here is that your entire system of reaching out to members is based on email (I was alerted to your reply here by email), but members cannot contact you the same way.  I don't know how you determined to eliminate member@aarp.com, but I think you've misread the population you serve.

[LeesaM726019]

Same here... twice!

[JanMarie337]

Here is the problem you have. I called about an issue with Hartford Insurance and was hung up on. I tried chat but it was ended by AARP before I could get my issue written out.. The other member is correct; it is very difficult to make contact with somebody. So we have to use forums like this to get responses. My issue was simple. The Hartford will not write my 2019 Challenger RT using performance capability as a reason. When I called The Hartford, they do write Mustangs, Camaros and even Corvettes. All 3 have equal to more performance capability than my car. It didn't matter that I was 61 , have never had an at-fault accident nor even a ticket in my life. There is no legitimate reason not to write my car. AARP advertised that we can get a discount on car insurance for joining. What can you guys do?

[AARPConsumerCare]

We're sorry to hear you’re having trouble with The Hartford, @JanMarie337. We are listening and would like the chance to help as soon as possible. Please visit https://help.aarp.org/s/article/contact-aarp to chat, text, or speak with a representative who can get you in touch with our Member Relations team. - Diana G.

[GailL1]

@JanMarie337 

AARP has NO say on what Hartford will or will not insure - that is the decision of Hartford.

The AARP Auto Insurer Hartford benefit says this in its Disclosure.

AARP® AUTO INSURANCE PROGRAM FROM THE HARTFORD 

from the link:  

DISCLOSURES

AARP commercial member benefits are provided by third parties, not by AARP or its affiliates. Providers pay a royalty fee to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. Some provider offers are subject to change and may have restrictions.

*Your savings may vary. Rate difference for AARP members and non-member vary by state and AARP membership tenure. †Terms and conditions apply. 

State Availability

Not available in U.S. territories: Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa, Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Accident Forgiveness and Disappearing Deductible are not available to CA policyholders.

[donl256893]

 I just received a renewal letter in the mail from aarp that they charged $16 to my wife's PayPal account. My wife passed away nearly 5 years ago. They make contacting them such a pain and of course its a Saturday so I have to wait till monday to call since I cannot find any other way to contact them. In fact my search to do so is what lead me to this page... 

[Dzhon66]

Exactly, and I just found out they charged me for an unwanted annual membership. And there is no one living person on a Saturday  to talk about it because they only assist by phone from Mo to Fri. I don't see any benefit from AARP excepting from a lot of junk mailing with special offers that are totally useless. Hey AARP, you charged me yesterday, despite I cancelled my subscription previously, returned my money!!!... your customer service is almost non-existing, your web resources unhelpful, your web site interface unfriendly and if this is aiming elderly people??? Help us God!... I´m feeling scammed and I will make sure this is reposted in main social media networks!

[th585]

David,

I'm totally with you. Why do companies think all this social media crap is so great that they have to ditch email. Maybe they'll lose me as a customer over it.

In any case,  it looks like that's the way it's going.

Thomas

[RuthT810962]

Ironic that the people making these decisions to use social media likely grew up predominantly using social media. AARP please listen to your customers. Use email.

[Dzhon66]

it's wrong David. We shouldn´t accept it. Smells fishy!

[gs1897]

Exactly, same here. If you look around enough a site like Reddit will have it 

[normcOR689022]

One way communication. AARP determines what is important feedback based on their agenda. 

[Dzhon66]

Exactly. And they are collecting $16,  for the annual membership, for nothing but junk mailing me... I think is a huge scam.

[EricC28201]

Thanks for the link @AARPJanelleM .  I checked it out and saved the address.  But since that web page, with all its contact options, doesn't seem to provide Email contact info, it seems to be a bit of a misdirection regarding the original question i.e. Email Address?

Not having a Contact Email seems misguided to me, but at least be up front about it and say something like, 'We no longer have a Contact Email because yadda yadda yadda...'

[AARPJanelleM]

@EricC28201 Hey Eric, I explained in my reply that we no longer have a monitored email inbox. Here's that info again in case you missed it:

" We no longer have a monitored email inbox as we have updated our contact options. I invite you to visit our site to discover the new ways you can get support from us. Whether you prefer to do things on your own time, or to get support from an agent, we are here for you: https://aarp.info/3epCObA"

Please let me know if there's anything I can do, I'm here to help!

[TomCalWriter]

Great. So, now we have to go farther down the rabbit of the tech BS. Emails are a good way to keep records of contact, etc.  Most of us are seniors. Maybe you should wait for the next generation who are attached to their cell phones and texting. Annoyed in Ohio.

[Dzhon66]

Ridiculous and unacceptable answer from "AARP"... whatever it is or whoever it is behind... looks like a huge scam!

[TomCalWriter]

 I'm with you on that.

[rwgast]

  I agree. The communication policy makers at AARP obviously don't get it. We are the customers, not them. They, for whatever reason, refuse to listen. Our only collective option is to drop AARP or ignore their endless stream of emails and junk mail. 

[DianeM682950]

I agree with Eric. I refuse to participate in the political platforms or thievery of social media tycoons. Your Chat, like everyone's, is blind, deaf and dumb. I have a response to an AARP email I received from Reshma Mehta. Why can I not give a pertinent answer to misinformation?