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.

[CliffordL912405]

I pay my Dad’s bills and AARP sends out renewal notices all year long. My Dad’s renewal is in February and he just got a renewal notice today in August, 6 months in advance. They even included new cards that ironically expire in February. AARP takes advantage of the people they are supposed to be looking out for. Shame on you AARP!!!

[AARPConsumerCare]

AARP sends renewal notices to accounts that expire within 6 months, @CliffordL912405. 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. Some members may also have their life insurance or other insurance polices linked to their AARP membership, and it could be detrimental for it to lapse. We have found that many members prefer to renew far before the actual membership expiration date at a time that is convenient for them, and we send promotional offers that many members enjoy taking advantage of. If your dad would like to reduce the amount of renewal notices he receives please have him contact us by chat, text or phone. You can find our contact information online at https://aarp.info/3epCObA - Brandon C.

[LeoM283275]

If I renew for the 5 year membership (@ $55). does it start when my current membership expires (Feb 2026), or will it start now (thereby losing 6 months membership)?

[AARPConsumerCare]

LeoM283275 I'm happy to share more info! Renewing your membership early does not cause you do lose any time currently left on your membership. So, if your membership is paid through February 2026, your membership will be extended through February 2031. - Christy C. 

[WebWiseWoman]

Sorry, Brandon, but this is incorrect. I've had a "life-time" membership since November. 2004 ($250 at that time) and I've received multiple renewal notices monthly, via the site and e-mail, for the last 20 years and 10 months...

Perhaps AARP should consider some of the suggestions in these posts?

"Thank you for your attention to this matter."

[AARPConsumerCare]

I've sent you a private message @WebWiseWoman, so I can check on the notices for you. We appreciate you being a member. - Brandon C.

[SereneSeagull]

Love tag line

[Winter2025VA]

Clifford @CliffordL912405 , all they need to do is USE software that TRACKS each member's renewal. Not sure why this has not been done. Annoying, Nicole!

➡️[*** CLIFFORD @CliffordL912405 wrote:

I pay my Dad’s bills and AARP sends out renewal notices all year long. My Dad’s renewal is in February and he just got a renewal notice today in August, 6 months in advance. They even included new cards that ironically expire in February. AARP takes advantage of the people they are supposed to be looking out for. Shame on you AARP!!!

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[SereneSeagull]

When I pay my membership I keep the top part of the statement, and write the date I paid.  When I get all the early renewal notices, I double check to make sure not time to renew yet, then shred the renewal notices.  

[nctarheel]

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@SereneSeagull wrote:

When I pay my membership I keep the top part of the statement, and write the date I paid.  When I get all the early renewal notices, I double check to make sure not time to renew yet, then shred the renewal notices.

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When it is time for me to renew, I call AARP and negotiate my membership fee.

Prior to this period I am presently in, I got them to give me FIVE YEARS for $31. At the time, they were charging over $60 for the same five years. 

When my membership came up for renewal for the present period, I called again, negotiated $45 for five years at a time they were charging $14-$16 a year.

I negotiate all subscription type things such as XM RADIO.... save hundreds each year. And TIME MAGAZINE, where I get a weekly magazine for $30 for 3 years. That's 156 issues for $30!!!!

I also refuse auto-renewal and require these entities to bill me. I pay by check after receiving an invoice because many companies, once you start on auto-renewal, it is hard to get them to stop billing your credit card.

You can save a lot of money negotiating subscription rates. The organizations are desperate for big numbers of subscribers and are usually very flexible on the price of a subscription.

[SereneSeagull]

I’d rather pay what they ask and keep them alive.  Not interested in negotiating with them.  I don’t mind paying full price for services I appreciate. Too many other things more important to save money on than trying to cheap out on them.  You can do you in blue

[nctarheel]

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@SereneSeagull wrote:

I’d rather pay what they ask and keep them alive.  Not interested in negotiating with them.  I don’t mind paying full price for services I appreciate. Too many other things more important to save money on than trying to cheap out on them.  You can do you in blue

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In my opinion. an argument can be made that AARP has morphed into a for profit, non-profit.

It has so many connections with insurance companies, hospitality entities, and other large industries that their intent to represent folks can come into question.

For example, they, at one time represented only those above 50 years of age. Now they accept anyone 18 and over as members. This has to have diluted their operational efforts.

Also, their discount benefits have almost reached a level of worthlessness. Many of their discount entities also have Loyalty Programs and those entities don't allow "double dipping" of the use of their loyalty programs and AARP discount at the same time.

The AARP REWARDS PROGRAM has always been a farce in my opinion. Let me give you one example that I experienced several years ago. There was an on-line coupon book in the AARP REWARDS PROGRAM. A coupon appeared for the first time for a local golf course's green's fee Buy One, Get One. Not only was this coupon worthless because the golf course was defunct, IT HAD BEEN CLOSED FOR A YEAR!!!! The course was covered with trash and weeds. The course was padlocked by local government due to spurious activities that were conducted at the golf course. Remember, I said the coupon appeared for the first time. I had several other instances where I produced a coupon and the retailer refused to honor it because they had never heard of the AARP REWARDS PROGRAM.

It isn't a matter of cheapening out on them; it is a matter of sometimes you DON'T GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR!!!!!

[Winter2025VA]

@SereneSeagull , that is a good way to keep track but AARP really needs to redo their system to save in paper and man hours. Geez, so many trees with the junk I get from them every week. Mail that cannot be stopped in spite of what they say on this site. The same with emails. Lol, glad I can send those to spam but it is getting old having to do all this. Maybe after I am gone, all this will stop.  🙄  Take care, Nicole!

➡️[*** @SereneSeagull wrote:

When I pay my membership I keep the top part of the statement, and write the date I paid.  When I get all the early renewal notices, I double check to make sure not time to renew yet, then shred the renewal notices.  

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[AARPConsumerCare]

IluvVirginia To update your email preferences and select which types of emails you'd like to receive, you can go to the "My Account" section of your AARP Online Account, select "Communication Preferences" then under "Manage Newsletters" you'll be able to uncheck the box next to newsletters you'd rather not receive. I've sent you a private message to help with updating your mail preferences. - Christy C. 

[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!