Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member Latest Breaking News Editorials & Other Articles General Discussion The DU Lounge All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

stopbush

(24,622 posts)
Tue Jan 5, 2021, 11:29 AM Jan 2021

AARP Renewal - read the small print

My wife and I had AARP membership for the past five years or so, but didn't renew because, frankly, we never used it for anything.

Naturally, AARP sends us renewal offers, which I have been ignoring. But I got one last week with a renewal rate of $30 for three years for both of us (plus a free set of cheap nylon luggage tossed in as a bonus), so I figured, WTH, may as well. So I'm doing the online renewal, and I get to the point where you click the button to renew, when I read the disclaimer stating that the three-year renewal will be added on to my membership end date of April2, 2020. 2020? In other words, my first year of renewal will last all of three months?

Er, no. That might be a misprint on the part of their computer program but no thanks.

24 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
AARP Renewal - read the small print (Original Post) stopbush Jan 2021 OP
I could never figure out what they actually do... 2naSalit Jan 2021 #1
I think they sell insurance nt Wicked Blue Jan 2021 #2
I called their insurance for a quote one time... 2naSalit Jan 2021 #3
I have AARP Hartford for my auto insurance csziggy Jan 2021 #21
I was supposed to be able to get a free quote... 2naSalit Jan 2021 #22
OK - I never talked to them on the phone csziggy Jan 2021 #23
No, they just sell mailing lists SoCalNative Jan 2021 #4
I stand corrected nt Wicked Blue Jan 2021 #5
See my post 6. nt Wawannabe Jan 2021 #7
Decide to join the 21st century, got an iPhone with Consumer Cellular with AARP question everything Jan 2021 #11
I already have a phone... 2naSalit Jan 2021 #12
Dude, Wawannabe Jan 2021 #6
Not surprised... 2naSalit Jan 2021 #8
Cong Jim Clyburn said SCantiGOP Jan 2021 #9
NO it is not. lillypaddle Jan 2021 #14
I'm no longer wasting my time and $ on AARP RainCaster Jan 2021 #10
No, they mean it will be 3 years past April 2020 nt lillypaddle Jan 2021 #13
Right, so I'm asked to pay for a full year but would get only three months of benefits. stopbush Jan 2021 #16
Okay. I did the same thing AARP did. lillypaddle Jan 2021 #18
Glad you found a use for AARP (glasses). stopbush Jan 2021 #19
I have little use for them since they worked with the Reagan administration to support reducing SS 3Hotdogs Jan 2021 #15
I quit them several years ago. Mickju Jan 2021 #17
So I called AARP out of curiosity, and they told me their promo stopbush Jan 2021 #20
Yes. Those instructions were written assuming that the Totally Tunsie Jan 2021 #24

2naSalit

(92,318 posts)
1. I could never figure out what they actually do...
Tue Jan 5, 2021, 11:32 AM
Jan 2021

I used to get junk mail from them all the time, never joined.

2naSalit

(92,318 posts)
3. I called their insurance for a quote one time...
Tue Jan 5, 2021, 11:49 AM
Jan 2021

And it was The Hartford company and the asshole wouldn't talk to me without my banking info so I hung up realizing that they weren't going to do anything but drain my bank account.

csziggy

(34,189 posts)
21. I have AARP Hartford for my auto insurance
Wed Jan 6, 2021, 04:41 AM
Jan 2021

It's very good. When my husband got T-boned and totaled his car, their coverage and follow up was great. They are cheaper than any other company I've checked so I'll be staying with them.

2naSalit

(92,318 posts)
22. I was supposed to be able to get a free quote...
Wed Jan 6, 2021, 09:39 AM
Jan 2021

AARP connected me, and the first thing the guy does is ask for banking and other info that I was not willing to provide and would not be necessary to asses a likely rate, has nothing to do with my bank account #. I gathered it was not a business I would use. I'm okay with the insurance I have and that's all I need, and they don't send me a bunch of garbage in the mail all the time.

csziggy

(34,189 posts)
23. OK - I never talked to them on the phone
Wed Jan 6, 2021, 11:10 AM
Jan 2021

Everything was done on paper, then they mailed me a quote. I called the auto insurance company I then had coverage with to see if they could match the Hartford quote. When they couldn't I sent back paperwork to Hartford accepting the quote. At some point I sent paperwork to set up auto pay. I'd gone through a series of surgeries and when I was anticipating another surgery I knew that auto pay was the way to go since my husband wasn't holding it together.

What may be happening for you is that now a lot of companies will not provide coverage if your credit isn't good. By getting your financial information they can check that. Invasive as hell, but they take advantage.

As for the junk mail, there used to be a site to go to opt out of mailings. Here is a list of ways to opt out of mail, calls, and email. https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0262-stopping-unsolicited-mail-phone-calls-and-email

Of course, scammers will ignore any effort to block them so you can't rid of all of it.

2naSalit

(92,318 posts)
12. I already have a phone...
Tue Jan 5, 2021, 01:09 PM
Jan 2021

I pay $20/mo for everything unlimited. I don't need to sign up for all the advertising and selling of my info, my phone doesn't even know my name and I like that part.

2naSalit

(92,318 posts)
8. Not surprised...
Tue Jan 5, 2021, 12:12 PM
Jan 2021

They didn't seem to offer anything besides selling my info while they claim to have my support for their lobbying efforts while I paid them to do it. I wasn't buying it from the start.

SCantiGOP

(14,173 posts)
9. Cong Jim Clyburn said
Tue Jan 5, 2021, 12:13 PM
Jan 2021

That they are one of the strongest and most effective defenders of Medicare and Social Security in DC.
I’ve never heard them described as right wing.

lillypaddle

(9,605 posts)
18. Okay. I did the same thing AARP did.
Tue Jan 5, 2021, 06:13 PM
Jan 2021

They mean April 2021 + 3 years, but you could call to verify that.

I'm going to use part of my $600 check from the government to get new glasses and frames. AARP will be paying $100 dollars toward the glasses and exam. I find them useful when I think to use them, same with AAA. Usually I forget, though.

stopbush

(24,622 posts)
19. Glad you found a use for AARP (glasses).
Tue Jan 5, 2021, 07:40 PM
Jan 2021

I have a Medicare Advantage plan that costs me $0 and provides $340 bi-annually towards purchase of eyewear. I think the exam is free with Kaiser. But getting an additional $100 from AARP toward glasses would allow for a more-expensive frame.

3Hotdogs

(13,343 posts)
15. I have little use for them since they worked with the Reagan administration to support reducing SS
Tue Jan 5, 2021, 03:18 PM
Jan 2021

benefits.

They are nothing but a glorified insurance company.

Mickju

(1,811 posts)
17. I quit them several years ago.
Tue Jan 5, 2021, 06:04 PM
Jan 2021

But they never give up trying to get me back. I hate them even more now. They only exist to make money.

stopbush

(24,622 posts)
20. So I called AARP out of curiosity, and they told me their promo
Wed Jan 6, 2021, 03:13 AM
Jan 2021

was poorly worded and misleading, and that if I renewed today the renewed membership would start today and run for 1, 3 or 5 years, with the next renewal date falling in January.

Totally Tunsie

(10,885 posts)
24. Yes. Those instructions were written assuming that the
Sun Jan 24, 2021, 08:44 PM
Jan 2021

purchaser was renewing while still within an active subscription. In that case, it's just tacked on to the end of the current period.

Nice that they admitted their info was poorly worded, but clarification for others in the future would be better.

Latest Discussions»Support Forums»Seniors»AARP Renewal - read the s...