I started getting mail from AARP well before I turned fifty. I always open them to tear up the parts with my name and address and then recycle the paper. This time, I was appalled to find that, according to them, I joined the group a few days ago and owe them $16.00 for my first year of membership.
The bottom section of the welcoming letter on cardstock was titled AARP MEMBERSHIP INVOICE and, below the "Invoice Date: 05/03, " it said, Thank you for joining AARP!" (The "!" is theirs.)
On the flip side the "invoice" disclosed, "When you join, AARP shares your membership information with the companies we have selected to provide AARP member benefits and support AARP operations." It does say I get to opt out of this perk, although other complaints on usacomplaints.com report that that is not possible.
I thought I may have inadvertently clicked on something by accident, perhaps on MyPoints, a site where members click on ads to earn points that can be used for purchases. I called AARP to tell them that I had no intention to join and will not pay the money they say is due.
The woman who answered the phone said I am not listed as a member. I asked why I was sent an invoice if I am not a member. She told me it isn't an invoice, it's an ad. I told her it says very clearly that it is an invoice and that I owe $16 for my membership. She repeated that it's just an ad.
I said, "It's a lie."
How can this group advocate for old people when they are sending fake bills to the same vulnerable people they claim to be helping? How many of their members never joined until after they received the fake bill?
AARP needs to be put out of business by governmental consumer protection agencies.
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