AARP Rewards Complaints and Disappointments

[mi4090]

Hello Rewards Warriors,

This post is intended to serve as a  location where members can share their complaints and disappointments.  Also, let Management know what we want to see in the catalog and voice your concerns. Let's speak up!

Hopefully, with this information in one place it'll be easier for Management to know what paying & non paying members think.

Have a Blessed Day

Marylin

[mi4090]

I'm complaining and disappointed because Hello World and Rewards program consider seniors as Cash Cows.  This is evident when browsing the Rewards catalog.

Where are the Rewards, is there another catalog I'm missing?

[mi4090]

I'm complaining and disappointed that after completing all the Extra Credit activities there's no way to redeem points.  Also, after completing all activities the reward is Sold Out. 

I guess this is an improvement as per Management 😂.

[mi4090]

I'm complaining and disappointed that we know longer have Daily Deals for "Points Only".

@AARPCarlaS  will we have "Points Only" daily deals again?

[mi4090]

I'm complaining and disappointed that some purchased grocery digital gift cards (Safeway, Giant Eagle & Jewel-Osco) don't mention that it's in store only and can't be used on online. Rewards program refuses to issue a refund for disabled members.  BEWARE!!!

[mi4090]

I'm complaining that when the Free Method is used, you get an error asking to refresh and automatically get "Play Again"😡.

IT'S FIXED for you to LOSE!!!

[sa8716]

Have you noticed that unless you live in the city the AARP benefits are not available. Guess they forgot about senior people living outside of the city 

[rednexsrus]

Typical tactic from HelloWorld !!  🤔😱

Just Saying

[AriesGalSr]

Here is a new and serious complaint.  Has anyone experienced this?  I'm a 17+ year member who has used the Rewards program for years to acquire surveys and purchase discounted gift certificates.  I often use them for my charities.  After 17+ years and 2 mil points, someone at rewards looked at my account when I wasn't able to use my points and decided I'm a gamer or scammer...I simply use the site every day and only do the amount of survey/quizzes and videos allowed by the rules.  I complained when I couldn't use points and they were expiring.  Different reps said not to worry & that the site was having issues.  After recurring issues since last summer they send me an email accusing me of fraud or mis0using the site.  I am absolutely not doing that and now all my points ate gone, account deactivated and can't reach a human being who will help me.  What can be done.  I can prove my activity is legit!  Do I need to write the CEO, Consumer affairs...engage an attorney?

[Winter2025VA]

@AriesGalSr .

AARP does NOT work on weekends. Use to work a few hours on Saturdays. They do weekdays 8am ET to 8pm. By EARNING everyday & maxing out your daily limit everyday = yes, software will "flag" you as a bot or whatever they call it. Everyday is okay IF you stay UNDER the limit which I believe is 5,000. Lol, I found that out ONE TIME & ever since NEVER did that again. I knew I was on that WATCH LIST & needed to get off it ASAP. I now keep track of my DAILY points earned. Seems to be working = no emails from them so far about cheating/fraud. Maybe promise to slow down IF they give you another chance. I hope they respond to your post on Monday when they clock back in for work. One NEVER knows IF they will or be ignored. Calling or chat or sending @AARPConsumerCare a PM [private message] is another option. To get past the very annoying & persistent chatbot, keep typing Customer Service Agent to ALL of his QUESTIONS until he/she transfer you to a Chat Human. Good luck!

[BtW751689]

Numerous members are reporting the same thing yet no one absolutely no one in aarp will step up to the plate.  They are all hiding behind this false bot that figures if the bot can't do it then everyone is a cheater.

[OneDayMatisyahu]

"We're sorry...

An error has occurred. Refresh your web browser to get back on track."

What I usually do is either click 'explore' button or delete that page/tab and try again; and this very particular situation only happens on the first initial attempt with an 'Instant Win' play - subsequent plays with 'Instant' Wins'  this 'glitch' does not occur again with the above 'error'

Anyhow, by playing with the 'free method' only, have I won 4 separate "instant wins' within the last 16 months. 

The 'Free Method' doesn't seem too fixed to lose for me. And da/ yes, I do get to see a many 'nyet/ sorry try again.'  

The 'Free Method' of entry for the Instant win is valid and fair  🤔

🤔  -->    Dr. John - Right Place Wrong Time (Official Audio) - YouTube

[mi4090]

@OneDayMatisyahu 

Thanks, I'll try selecting Explore then going to Free Method all over again.  That's the correct method, right?

I've tried refreshing and closing page and reloading to no avail.

[CatherineT72690]

Did you get it fixed? 

[mi4090]

I'm complaining and disappointed that members were so easily lied to about the Rewards program and how much better it would be😡, after losing all our points.

[mi4090]

@AnneG461594 

Was it the $25 Marathon gas card that gives you .25 cents off per gallon?  If that's the card you have then good luck.  I live in the South and I've been to 3 states bordering my state plus my state and nobody will accept it.

Have a Blessed Day,

Marylin

[rednexsrus]

Originally I got the early Marathon cards along with Shell and BP and they were for the full $25 but then they did sneak in the .25 cents off and the same here, none of the stations would honor the cards ( Central MS ). I had to toss my away 😞  😞   

Just Saying 

[BERLYBABY]

 I've been a member for years and there are no places I go that honors this card. I don't travel or stay in hotels, and every year the membership goes up. I'm not renewing my membership, I feel I'm giving money away.

[KennethG683811]

@mi4090 That is frustrating!!! If I remember right I had to burn a lot of points to get that too.  I will go to the two Marathon stations by me to try and use it before I leave.  If they don't work I will try to get it straightened out.  I use the MakeItCount app and almost have enough points to get 50 cents off per gallon - their program pays more than the Exxon Mobil one that AARP pushes here

[mi4090]

I'm disappointed and complaining that $25 gift cards for "Points Only" are gone.

How do you feel?

[AnneG461594]

I kept a $25 Marathon Gas card I got for points only that is REALLY going to help me on that drive down south next week, wouldn't it be great to have them at a time when EVERYONE could use one????

[mi4090]

I'm complaining and disappointed that we as members only warrant a $5 "Points Only"  gift card from the Rewards program. 

Why are all the $10 cards Instant Wins that can't be WON?

[andrewtoo]

We are actually missing top kudo'ed Posts AND top kudo'ed Authors for each forum.  I would like to see them added back to the forums.

We can't just stand back and wait for something good to happen, ya know; that never works.  We have to ask for it, ignored or not.

[rednexsrus]

Add me to that list that would like to see top kudo'ed Posts AND top kudo'ed Authors for each forum return to it's rightful place 

Just Saying 

[mi4090]

I'm disappointed and complaining that valuable features are being removed from all forums that were helpful to members.

[DanZ410729]

• When are new rewards posted? I check in every day at midnight only to see something I would have loved to have redeemed my points for has come and gone already! It happens almost every time!

[KellytheBelly]

'It happens almost every time!' Have you redeemed anything for points, yet? If so, what time did you redeem?  Write it down. If you only check once per day, you need to check more often. Most likely breaking the day into quarters. 🙂 

[OneDayMatisyahu]

From my records it usually starts after noon till about 9 pm. Hardly any during the a.m. hours 'except' the first of each month when members who complete 'extra credit rewards activities' - videos and quizzes - will have early access/ preview to new gift card redemptions. 

For us 'night owls' we do get early preview of the new weekly 'instant win rewards' and you can win in early am hours. Remember if you do play once in a.m. hours, you won't be able to play again during the p.m. day hours till the next day.

😎   < Instant Win $10 Target gift card won in a.m. hours >

[KellytheBelly]

This is incorrect information. There was a new redemption for points just yesterday (Banana Republic), before noon, no matter what time zone in the U.S. It really is hit or miss. Which is why some members complain here. @DanZ410729 Check back more often, RE: New Gift Card Redeems! The resets for dailies, to include instant wins, redeeming points, and earning points, are no later than 11PM Pacific Time. So, checking at midnight, wherever you are, is seemingly too late. Try to check the site for daily resets at/by 11PM, based on your time zone. If on the West coast the reset time is 11PM, reset time for Mountain is 10PM, reset time for Central is 9PM, and reset time for East coast is 8PM. Write it down. As far as when you can win, or anything regarding how or what time, welcome to the AARP group, still trying to figure that out. 😉  

[mi4090]

It's disappointing that members can't get the "Daily Deal" and spending.  Out of luck until middle of next week.  This will be the next thing to go.  It's called an improvement 😮.

[mi4090]

I'm disappointed that the program has decided to remove Kudos from every Forum you can post to in the Community.

We are losing more than we're gaining.  I personally don't see this as an improvement. Status Ranking will definitely be questionable.

It's a nightmare (2) years after it began, with the promise of everything being better😡.