beware AARP membership renewal notices

[michaelg222537]

AARP sends mass mailings to "valued members" to renew.  Over the years, I've received many of these posted YEARS before my membership is actually due for renewal.  AARP is well aware of this and chooses not to correct this clearly deceptive and predatory practice. 

It will be interesting to see if AARP takes down this post.

[JosephC206913]

Agreed!  Every time I get a "renewal" notice, I check and it's at least MONTHS before the renewal is due.  It's a SCAM to get seniors to send money!

ALSO the "renewal" notices DO NOT STATE THE RENEWAL DATE .. which is RIDICULOUS!

[MaryC598724]

I  I am amazed that AARP is STILL practicing predatory renewalson us: I in fact DO keep track of my renewal dates and not only do I start getting this notices amny months ahead of time, the price keeps going up. I paid $36 July 21 2023 and started getting renewal notices in early 2024 telling me my subscription ends in Sep 2024. A current statement states: 1 yr = $16; 3 yrs = $43; My $36 from 1 year ago  should be good for 2+ years (late 2025!).   Phooey! Keep track for yourself and you'll save some $ for your heirs. AARP should keep their adm costs down and apply them to their 'service.'

[AARPConsumerCare]

@MaryC598724 Thank you for being a valued part of our family! The standard membership pricing is $16 per year and $43 for 3 years. Since you received a mailing that states your membership expires in September 2024, but as you said, you renewed for 3 years in 2023; it sounds like you may have two memberships in error. When you have a moment, please send us a private message or contact us using one of these methods, so we can check on your membership: https://aarp.info/3epCObA  - Janelle M.

[WarpedRecord]

 I just received a similar notice. No way am I going to send a canceled check or scan a QR code. I was wondering whether it actually came from AARP because it’s so sketchy-looking. It doesn’t even have the expiration date of my account, which you would think would be provided here.

I was wondering when my membership actually expired, so I got out my card. It said March 2024 — two months from now. But next to it is my other membership card, expiring in March 2029. So my membership’s not due for five years, and AARP wants me to auto-renew now? Not gonna happen.

In addition to this being a scam, I suspect AARP is trying to raid its members’ bank accounts in perpetuity after they die. If I’m around in five years, I won’t be renewing then.

I shredded the notice and will have to live without the bonus gift, a five-port charger. This is unconscionable. 

[amcoffiebean]

 I came seeking an answer to another membership question and ran into this post. I am disgusted with this practice of premature renewals also. The ironic situation is that AARP writes and cautions so many individuals not to fall for fraud and illegal and unethical schemes. Many magazine subscriptions are also guilty of premature renewal notices that imply a membership is about to expire and my elderly Mom was baited into several. When we moved her into assisted living we discovered she had a paid up membership for years. ( 6 or 7) with Readers Digest. She paid a renewal form every time she got one in the mail. At that time they were delivered in an address sleeve that was always tossed away, she was never online, didn't know how to go online. It's the seniors who really get taken advantage here. Come on AARP, practice what you preach and what you try to warn seniors NOT to fall for. 

[GillianG268558]

HEY AARP.  I COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS YEARS AGO ALSO.  JUST STOP IT. YOUR REPUTATION IS AT STAKE AND LEGAL ACTION IS EVENTUALLY INEVITABLE.  ALSO, I JUST LOOKED AT MY ACCOUNT ONLINE AND IT SAYS MY EXPIRATION IS FEB. 28.  FOR MANY YEARS IT HAS BEEN SEPTEMBER, SO WHERE DID MY HALF YEAR OF MEMBERSHIP GO?

[t608115c]

 I just got another renewal request, claiming my membership expired in October.

But I sent in a renewal back in AUGUST.  Yes they cashed the check.

AND I later realized I'd already sent in a renewal back in March.  Cashed that one too.

I guess they think they've got a real sucker on the line - two renewals in a year, why not fish for a third? 

Shameful that an organization that frequently warns seniors to watch out for scams, would be doing this.   Won't be renewing again. 

[AARPJanelleM]

@t608115c I hope you reconsider and decide to stick with us. I reviewed your membership and the last payment we received was in 2019. The membership expired on 10/31/2023. You can also check the status of your membership online here: https://aarp.info/3z0B68k. When you have a moment, please give us a call with the info from the canceled check so we can investigate this further: 1-888-OUR-AARP (1-888-687-2277).

[JosephC206913]

 LOL, the URL you provided (https://aarp.info/3z0B68k)doesn't even provide the renewal date!  It's just a link to the general "support" page with REALLY HELPFUL links like "How do I update my payment information?" and "How do I watch an AARP Theater Show online?"

If the renewal date IS there, it sure isn't obvious to me.

[AARPConsumerCare]

Hi Joseph! AARP sends renewal notices to accounts that expire within 6 months and up to 3 months after expiration. Our hope is that our members are able to renew before experiencing any interruption in their membership, including receipt of AARP The Magazine or their AARP Bulletin. Plus, some members have their life insurance, car insurance and more linked to their AARP membership, and it could be detrimental for it to lapse. In fact, we have found that many members prefer to renew far before the actual membership expiration date at a time that is convenient for them. We also send renewal promotional offers that many members enjoy taking advantage of. The expiration date can be found on the membership card, the magazine label and by logging into http://AARP.org?cmp=SNO-LITHIUM---&socialid=13215520156. -Sue J

[t608115c]

Oh, so you have no record of receiving and cashing my checks?  Oh that's different then...  I'll be sure to ring you up and give you all my banking information right away, because obviously AARP can be trusted, and hasn't at minimum failed to credit both cashed checks to my account, and certainly no AARP staff cashed them and stole the money despite all of AARP's clearly stringent financial controls.  You can expect my call on the 31st of Never-mber.

[jp2943823]

I agree. I just attempted to renew online for five years at a reduced price and was unable to. Nor was the online CHAT rep able to help. Kind of like a bait and switch?  I'm very surprised at AARP as I expected more credibilty.

[AARPJanelleM]

@jp2943823 I appreciate your interest in joining our family! Where did you see this reduced rate for membership? If it's a mailed offer, you just need to return it via mail with your membership dues payment in order to take advantage of the offer. If it's an offer you received via email, please follow the link in the email. 

[h589240d]

I paid early renewal and was to get free 3 piece organizer.  I have not received the free gift. On Chat today  was told it was shipped Oct 9 but I have not

received it and was cut off from Chat! Tried to get

back on but was not able to.  So..... what now?

[AARPJanelleM]

@h589240d Your gift was re-ordered when you chatted with us and you can expect to receive it via mail within 3-4 weeks. Let me know if there's anything I can do, I'm here to help!

[Lifegaze]

Is this a scam or spam? I am paid up until 2028 and getting renewal notices. There are enough complaints here that someone higher up should be notified of this. It wastes our time. AARP must be paying out tons of money in unnecessary mailing which could be used to support the AARP Foundation or lower membership costs. Trees are being cut down for these unnecessary mailings. Maybe even use the saved money from unnecessary mailing to improve the computer systems so that it only sends out renewal letters to the people who are coming close to the end of their renewal period. Or an option to only get renewal notices by email. Please, pass this message to someone at AARP who can fix the problem.

[eg4001]

PLUS ~ We receive a new PLASTIC card with every single membership renewal mailing. I Do Not Need another card! And will these cards Ever deteriorate ~ nope! Nor will I need a new one when my membership is up.

I’d prefer if they were paper anyway.

Just please(!) STOP with all the unnecessary mailings and extra cards.

Also ~ stop with the free gift as an incentive to purchase. Unnecessary.

[michaelg222537]

Dear Lifegaze,

It would be interesting to know whether the notices actually stopped after the 4-6 weeks lag mentioned by AARPJanelleM.  Did you notice? 

Let's assume for the moment that AARP is not deliberately sending premature notices.  If true, this suggests that they are manually updating their database - hence the 4-6 weeks lag.  There must be many ways to automate this and drastically cut lag time.  This should be slamdunk easy for online renewals.  For mail renewals, they could barcode the renewal form and batch run them through a hi-speed scanner.  An experienced database programmer should be able to easily modernize their system to handle this.

An alternate explanation is that they deliberately send excess notices, as others here have suggested.  The 11/3/23 message from Txcy512895 is disturbing.  That member paid twice in 1 year, and still receives notices.

Any lawyers out there care to weigh in on this?  I'm not sure whether these reports from members conclusively prove anything illegal, but it sure looks suspicious.

[AARPJanelleM]

@Lifegaze Thank you for your valued membership. No scam here! The renewal notices you're receiving are due to a lag in our renewal processing system. It can take 4-6 weeks for the notices to stop once your payment is processed because pre printed labels are used. I see your 5 year renewal was processed on 2/9/2023. Anything you are getting was printed before your payment was received. I'm always here to help!

[AARPJanelleM]

@GillianG268558 Hi Gillian, your last renewal made in Oct of 2021 credited your account for 16 months. You can also check your membership info online if you'd like: Show Me My AARP Account Information

[CindyE11097]

I have the same complaint. AARP will constantly send renewal notices months before your membership expires. I find this practice extremely irritating and because of it, I have stopped contributing to other causes that AARP champions for. I’m wondering if others feel the same way?

[marieern]

I constantly receive renewal notices sometimes a year or more before renewal is needed, I questioned this and asked them to discontinue the constant notices but still receive them, I just throw them in the garbage.

[rednexsrus]

@michaelg222537  I suspected something was odd with all the many early renewal notices I was also receiving, but sadly chose to ignore what was revealed as a deliberate and misleading practice. I am appalled that the Board of Directors of AARP.org a (non-profit) decided to overlook these actions in favor of monetary gain. 

I have always accused the administrator of the AARP Rewards Program for it's unsatisfactory performance in the programs activities i.e. Rewards Instant Wins, Points Only gift cards, Daily Deals, Sweepstakes and discounted gift cards only to realize management may be instructed to keep the $ value of all rewards as mediocre as possible. Just Saying 

[IWF2RETIRE]

I agree with you.  I would like to use my 2,079 points toward my renewal.  Still looking into it, but I bet they don't allow it.  They would say they didn't make any money.  Points, that whole thing is a joke.  A few points get nothing and everything else is expensive and you AARP just make money off of it.  I need AARP to help me and others not hinder us.

[BrooksNYC]

AARP's shady billing practices are precisely what bring me to the site today, although I've been complaining for years. What makes these practices unconscionable is the fact that some elderly people (those with cognitive problems, say, or folks who may not keep careful records) won't realize that they're forking over cash to AARP for no reason.

Whenever I've complained, AARP has responded with an "oops" letter of apology, but nothing changes. It's hard not to wonder if the company's billing practices are not, in fact, deliberately misleading.

[jp2943823]

Exactly!  I just voiced my disappointment with an online chat and pointed out that this is especially questionable since they are dealing with senior citizens. It seems very unethical even if what they are doing is legal.

[creekclark67]

We, too, have been scammed! AARP sent a five year renewal approx 3 months before expiration. I promptly paid the full $63 for 5 yr renewal. Three weeks later more junk mail from AARP....requesting our renewal(same membership) with a new discounted renewal price of $45 for 5 yrs also a 4 piece luggage organizer set upon prompt renewal. THIS IS ASS BACKWARDS!!! Why are we not given the reduced price with goodies to pay early???  I want the $18 credit and the luggage or I will be cancelling for a full refund! We have been member since 2010. 

[PatriciaG267634]

I just got scammed as I got my notice and It showed different pieces of the luggage I think about 4 pieces. I paid online and they never sent the gift and mine was not any type of organizer at all it was luggage. I'm very disappointed in AARP  and will never renew again. They won't even answer my questions nor are of any help whatsoever. #BoycottAARP due to the lies

[AARPJanelleM]

@PatriciaG267634 Hi Patricia, thank you for taking the time to reach out- I'm here to help. AARP has never offered luggage as a complimentary membership gift. The 4 piece set is luggage organizers. They can be used to organize your smaller items within your luggage while traveling. Here is a link to an offer that shows an image of that gift: https://aarp.info/renew35-luggage  I sent you a private message to assist further. Please don't hesitate to reach out if you need anything!