Buying cards almost always almost always errors out

[StnicholasB224079]

I've given up so many times when I wanted an AARP card because it seems like a lottery with this error that has been posted over and over since 2020 😞

Does anyone know of a way to get PAST this? I cannot call because I don't have a phone reception where I am

There was a problem with your payment. Please try again or contact AARP Rewards Support at 1-866-451-6305.

[KathyK737229]

I'm not sure what happened or what changed - but all of a sudden one day - mine started working!!!  Just keep trying.  I tried every day for nearly two months and then all of a sudden - bam!  It started working!!!  

[DominiqueM529335]

I am getting the same message for about the last month now! My cruise is coming up and I really need to get these gift cards! I have already called and that was no help. It's so frustrating.

[KathyK737229]

I'm not sure what happened or what changed - but all of a sudden one day - mine started working!!!  Just keep trying.  I tried every day for nearly two months and then all of a sudden - bam!  It started working!!!    

Just keep trying!  Make sure your address with your bank and AARP match EXACTLY...spaces, commas, abbreviations!  No differences!!!  And then try again and again....

[AARPJanelleM]

@DominiqueM529335 Your escalation was resolved on Sept 8 and there are no issues on your Rewards account. Have you had an opportunity to try a transaction today? You may encounter this error message when a billing mismatch is identified. Please verify that the name and address you entered at checkout exactly match your payment card's billing statement. Common discrepancies include missing building or apartment numbers and P.O. Boxes. Participants can't make a purchase using someone else's credit or debit card. You may also want to try disabling any browser based or third party ad blockers that may be interfering with the transaction. 

[DominiqueM529335]

I have tried multiple cards. I have checked my address on my billing statements multiple times. Still no luck. It is very frustrating. How can this be fixed? I have also made sure my settings are correct!

[AARPJanelleM]

@DominiqueM529335 Have you had an opportunity to try to reach out to our escalations team using the phone # that was in the first email they sent you? 

[ThomasW316733]

I’m also getting the error on a perfectly good card. All my information is correct. “ Something went wrong with your transaction. Please try again or contact AARP Rewards Support at 1-866-451-6305.“

very frustrating!

[AARPJanelleM]

@ThomasW316733 Hi Thomas, thanks for joining our family! Please confirm the name and address in the checkout cart exactly match the info found on your card statement. Also, be sure to disable any ad tracking blockers you may have in your browser settings. If you continue to have this issue, please send me a private message and let me know what browser and device you're using as well as the name of the item you're trying to purchase. Check out how to send a private message here: How do I send a private message

[AndreA261744]

Same error as everyone else. Does AARP not know or listen? This is in June 2023 and it appears to not be fixed. I have tried multiple credit cards, computers, ip addresses, paypal, clear cache cookies, cellphones and nothing. This is a problem with AARP

[AARPJanelleM]

@AndreA261744 I'm here to help! I responded to your private message with more info

[KathyK737229]

I agree; so frustrating!  Same as you...I've used paypal, various credit and/or debit cards...cleared out my cache, my cookies, disabled my pop-ups...used chrome, firefox, edge, and safari...used cell phone, laptop, ipad, desktop - still an error!!!!  And I'm told 'tech is working on it' - no one has called me -and meanwhile I can't buy my cards!

[KathyK737229]

UPDATE:  Hi; I have been able to buy cards online about three weeks after I posted my original issue/complaint all of a sudden one day I said 'let me try again' and it worked!  I called my bank (Chase) and AARP several times - and I was told over and over 'it's not us - it's them' - I even used different addresses; different cards - no luck...but one day it was fixed!!!  I have been purchasing gift cards online on/off weekly since about June 2023!    (8.3.2023)

[AARPJanelleM]

@KathyK737229 Hi Kathy! Your case is being worked on by our team and I see a notation that a voice message was left for you on June 1. Please be sure to reach out to our team if you have any questions regarding the case!

[RyanR564160]

I too just had a problem buying Princess Cruise line gift cards and I was able to get through without an error, but I have not received any emails about it, nor does it show up on past purchases or transactions and it has been a few days. Also, I'm unable to purchase more gift cards (since I purchased my monthly limit of 5) so I cannot try to re-purchase them. Also turned off ad blockers prior to purchasing, entered in my payment details exactly as they are shown on my credit card and credit card billing statements. 

Should I immediately get an confirmation email after purchasing? Since I did not, I don't have any reference to try and escalate other than here.

[AARPJanelleM]

@RyanR564160 Let me help, Ryan! You should receive the gift card email within 24 hours. There is no record of the purchase going through on your Rewards account. Please check your bank statement to confirm that the charge did not clear. You are welcome to try the purchase again, I'm here if there's anything I can do!

[RyanR564160]

Thank you @AARPJanelleM for looking into it. I was able to purchase 5 gift cards yesterday afternoon, and received one of the emails for the cards, but I haven't received the emails for the other four. I see that my card has been charged on my end to show that the transaction went through. Is it possible to resend those other 4 emails?

[AARPJanelleM]

@RyanR564160 You're welcome! Those were re-sent yesterday. Let me know if you don't receive them!

[LeighR342196]

Just commenting to say we’ve had the same issue. Instead of allowing me to purchase over the phone they’ve “escalated my case” … completely unhelpful. 

[KathyK737229]

That is what they did to me too; they escalated my case to tech support...and meanwhile I told her (not her fault) that I have used firefox, chrome, and safari...no luck...tried my ipad, iphone, desktop, and laptop...no luck...i've disable my pop-ups...and I even put my AARP account info side by side with my bank account info on my two monitors at work...no luck...so yes....so frustrated!!!

[KathyK737229]

Hello, I have been trying to buy gift cards for over a week. I keep getting the same error message and Customer Service is not helpful at all!!  my billing info and card info and account information with AARP all matches!!!  I join AARP to get a discount on gift cards and I can’t even buy one

[VanessaV203905]

I am having issues too. I wish I had known that this was a common issue, I wouldn’t have signed up with AARP last week. Has anyone figured out how to fix this issue? I have tried 2 different cards and I am having the same problem. 

[KathyK737229]

No fix for me yet....I had no idea this was issue; and just like you - this is the ONLY reason I joined AARP was for the gift card discounts!  Customer service has been NICE, but they have been unable to help.

[CynthiaE81223]

Having the same problem.  I purchased this morning then went back to get more as I am not at my limit and I get the error message.  I called twice and was told to sign out and wait a hour....didn't work.  They just keep giving the run around on the phone.

[df1146]

Just checking in to say this is still happening. I purchased a few gift cards and it went through fine. About an hour later, I tried to do that same with the exact same info and it doesn't work.  Now it won't work with any credit card or paypal.

"There was a problem with your payment. Please try again or contact AARP Rewards Support at 1-866-451-6305."

[ReginaS262093]

Same

[KellytheBelly]

@AARPJanelleM wrote:

@StnicholasB224079 This error occurs most often when a billing mismatch is detected. Please verify that the name and address you entered at checkout exactly match your payment card's billing statement. Participants can't make a purchase using someone else's credit or debit card. If the name and/or address do not match exactly, please click EDIT to modify (Common discrepancies include missing building or apartment numbers, and P.O. Boxes; also, ensure that there are no missing characters or misspellings). Additionally, ad-blockers can cause this error message. If you are using third party or browser-based ad blockers, please try disabling the ad blockers. 

---

@df1146  Does this (above) apply? Did you try to do the same, but on another account? If not, then there is a problem and you should contact AARP Rewards Support at the number you've provided. 

Hope it gets resolved for you. 🙂

[AARPJanelleM]

@StnicholasB224079 This error occurs most often when a billing mismatch is detected. Please verify that the name and address you entered at checkout exactly match your payment card's billing statement. Participants can't make a purchase using someone else's credit or debit card. If the name and/or address do not match exactly, please click EDIT to modify (Common discrepancies include missing building or apartment numbers, and P.O. Boxes; also, ensure that there are no missing characters or misspellings). Additionally, ad-blockers can cause this error message. If you are using third party or browser-based ad blockers, please try disabling the ad blockers. 

[KathyK737229]

Hello, I am hoping that somebody can help me as well. I have been having the same problem for over a week my card and billing and account information all matches and Customer Service has not been able to help me.

[AARPJanelleM]

@KathyK737229 Our escalations team is working on your case and you can expect a resolution within 3-5 business days. Let me know if there's anything I can do to help!