Why are our gift card links dead?

[RichardB815971]

This is VERY annoying.  A call is required and one waits on hold for a very long time.  

Some cards I print immediately to use and others that would be used online I keep in an online folder and save the expense of printing.    

I imagine most people won't bother to call and SOMEONE is getting a windfall from unredeemed cards.  The industry calls that slippage.   

What are the "security" issues?   

We who are seriously inconvenienced should be told what has happened to result in this bothersome situation.

[RichardB815971]

Still no answer to this question.  WHY are our links dead when previously they remained for years?  

What are the security issues and has our info been compromised?   

[SereneSeagull]

@RichardB815971 
I think they’ve just made the link a temporary one now, so always print it or load it as soon as you get it. It can get reissued, but you’d need to call to get email resent.  So print, reload, screenshot right away.  

[Quizzes2do2000]

you have to screenshot your gift card # as soon as you get it. I was adding to my apple wallet but then that would randomly delete cards so now I screenshot and add to a photo album on my phone then delete once I've used one. Links have always been problematic and they don't fix.

[a170938b]

Since last year mid year or so, the cards sent should have links good for 18 months according to AARP (before it was only for 6 months); however some glitch happened this past January that made all the links invalid. Calling AARPRewards, they sent me the original emails again without problems except for the one for a sweepstakes won about 10 days before the glitch, That one took me more than 6 weeks and quite a bit of efforts on my part to obtain.

[RichardB815971]

That is not the case.  I had them last for years previously.   The people give stock answers who don't know the history of the program.

[RenateW69623]

I've always wondered why they can't just include the direct link for the gift card in the email, instead of having this other link that expires after a certain amount of time. Just one more annoying thing about this rewards program.

[jg26872222]

I have been fighting for weeks to get a link resent on a sweepstakes win. Tried 4 times now and still nothing.

[a170938b]

I had the same problem with a sweepstakes I won in January 2026. I called several times, was told they could not escalate anymore after the first 10 working days passed, asked for and talked to a supervisor, escalation again and finally an email from that team asking me if my problem was resolved; it was not but I could now detail in writing the problem incurred (bullet points 1 through 7 very clearly detailed!) and miracle the following day they find a way to send me the link information. It took a good 6 weeks to get there. It took patience, perseverance, and a tight rein on my annoyance to obtain that successful outcome!

[SereneSeagull]

@a170938b  I admire the detail and perseverance on your part.  AARP makes a point for us to be proactive in all aspects that affect seniors.  They maintain their own advocacy even for us as well. I’m not sure if they think we roll over on this issue or what, but it’s that type of perseverance that you showed that is needed. And it shouldn’t have to be, right?  But glad you did, 😃👍

[SereneSeagull]

Hi @jg26872222   Did you call?  The person I spoke with waited on the phone until it came through to my email.  

[a170938b]

It is not everyone's experience. After the loss of links at the end of January, I had no problem with a dozen cards resent right away during my call to AARPRewards, However a card for a sweepstakes won that same January took more than 6 weeks of calls, escalations, and complaints before the problem got resolved.

[SereneSeagull]

@a170938b  Yes, I agree.  I’ve been reading all of the stories here and I also think the way in which it’s handled is very poor.  The sweepstakes one in particular and the amount of calls it seems to take.  It’s not just a few cracks in the system.  Their legal department will be having lots of issues if this keeps going the way it has, I’ll bet.  

[a170938b]

I so agree! At some point I even asked a supervisor if I should contact my state's AG for help. This is when the escalation which was not possible to happen again happened swiftly. It still took some more time to resolve the problem.

[SereneSeagull]

Yep @a170938b , that’s what I’m talkin’ about! 👍 They know they have a mess. They want us to be proactive for ourselves…, there you go!

[SereneSeagull]

@RichardB815971 
The link in the emails only last for a bit it seems.  As soon as I get my emails for the card I print it out.  

You can also save it to your wallet or notes app on your phone, but I prefer a paper copy. 

I was lucky when this first happened to me recently in calling customer service one time I didn’t remember to print one out.  I was able to get through right away, the person was able to resend the email with link and waited till I got it before our call was done.  I know I’ve heard of others having long wait times.

print them as soon as you get them or save them to wallet or notes app on phone.  Don’t let the email sit long, since that link will expire and you’ll need to call and get it resent again.  

[RichardB815971]

I have been doing this for years in the current program and the one before that and that has never been necessary. We used to get actual gift cards, not links.   I will print all now as the links can no longer be trusted.  I've had some last for many years.  Until now.  Someone has changed the protocol for "security" reasons we haven't been told about.  Our links are invalidated and I think we have the right to know why and whether our personal information has been compromised.

That was the point of my post.   

[SereneSeagull]

I agree.  👍