Daniel,
I had a recent problem receiving a GC I won that was not delivered in promised time. I ran across a CSR named Delores who was a gem straightening that, and another problem out as well. Plus, she sent me a 10 dollar Visa GC for my agrivation. I strongly suggest you place your problem her hands. Her direct line is 562-362-0347. It has been a good month since she straightened things out, but I suspect she might remember me, it can't hurt to let her know how you got in touch directly, drop my name, Ken Bland, and reference her having solved issues I had with both a CVS and Apple GC.
Also, since you mentioned this, I'll take advantage of it to vent. Calling the AARP Rewards general number often results in connecting with a moron. Companies get reputations based on who customers deal with, and not all CSR's are created of equal intelligence. This wait, wait, wait crap you got is so typical. My calls to the general AARP number are often handled with wading through bureaucracy, even if its just a generic question not specific to my account, capped off by this incredibly nonsensical "thanks for being an AARP member for x years like that has anything to do with my haste to get a question answered. Those lamebrains that said wait, wait, wait should be on unemployment. Enough digression. Hope you decide to call Delores and your blood pressure lessens at the end of the nightmare.