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RichardB815971
Conversationalist ⭐⭐
May 23, 2026

Cards with empty balances

  • May 23, 2026
  • 5 replies
  • 750 views

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?

      5 replies

      SummerOnTheWay1
      SummerOnTheWay1
      Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐
      May 23, 2026

      [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?

        RichardB815971Author
        Conversationalist ⭐⭐
        May 25, 2026

        i thought so, too.  When you have a certificate with no expiration date, it should be that way.

          RichardB815971Author
          Conversationalist ⭐⭐
          June 12, 2026

          @AARPConsumerCare   Is there an answer to my question regarding empty gift cards that have NOT been redeemed?   Is this the security issue that invalidated all our older cards?

          SummerOnTheWay1
          SummerOnTheWay1
          Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐
          May 23, 2026

          [Saturday 5/23/26]

           

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

           

          Anyone else had this happen?

          RichardB815971Author
          Conversationalist ⭐⭐
          May 25, 2026

          It wasn't that way.  I gave a date and they sent that one, not the CInemark one.  I do donate the points...not an additional donation...but the wrong redemption sent to me.  Now I have to suffer calling again or let this system steal all my hard work the past few years.   $5 doesn't buy much so I try to have more than one so I can actually buy something.   That sure isn't working out for me, is it?

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