Cards with empty balances

[RichardB815971]

Is this the "security issue" that caused all our older cards' links not to work?

I was embarrassed the other day taking an older card I'd printed in to Penney's only to find no balance.  I had NOT used it.  

Then there is an empty balance on one of my Cinemark cards which I had NOT used.   I had customer service resend two Cinemarks I'd gotten in the past.  One has an empty balance and the other came as "Thanks for donating your points".

This is very upsetting.  

I requested an explanation some time ago about why our links have been invalidated.

I got no explanation.

Have hackers taken the rewards?

[SummerOnTheWay1]

[Saturday 5/23/26]

The donation of your points WITHOUT your "permission" Richard @RichardB815971 got my attention. 😱

Anyone else had this happen?

[SummerOnTheWay1]

[Saturday 5/23/26 9:38am ET]

Richard @RichardB815971 , thanks for posting this. Now I know to check balances BEFORE wasting my time & gas going to Staples or Bath & Body Works (IF they are empty).

NOT an expert and DONOT feel I know anything, but it sounds like Merkle (who handles the AARP Rewards Program) is having issues.

Now TODAY, issues with "some" of their Earning Activities.

*** Was it maybe LAST WEEK you tried to use the cards.

*** In February 2026, I had the AARP Customer Service RE-send my cards (email). I DONOT "own" a printer, so NEVER printed them out. Lol, had thought from what members who DO = this was a guaranteed way.

*** Hello AARP & Merkle, what is going on?