Lynn B Jju

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Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Chicago, Illinois

AARP cust service

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Paid for course that I realized that I didn't need since the one I have is not expired. Asked for refund and they did.

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Maureen Far

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Verified Reviewer
| map-marker Santa Cruz, California

Terrible course

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This has been a waste of time. The redundancy, repetitiveness and having to "watch" a screen for 5 seconds with no audio is absolutely ridiculous.

I am 59 and I think if anyone in their 70's or 80's tried to do this course they would be as miserable as I am. We are not stupid old people. Make a class that is truly worth our time.

I did this partially to help with insurance costs. I am not sure if I will do it again.

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User's recommendation: no...only do it if you want the discout on your insurance.

2 comments
Guest

Fully agree. I timed some segments, most were 1-2 minutes longer than advertised. I know California is a nanny State and requires eight hours, but this course could be done in under five hours and still be effective.

Guest

Thank you for the warnings.

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Anonymous
map-marker Raleigh, North Carolina

This was the most boring, repettive course I have ever attended. And when I asked about the money-back guarantee, I was told it only was available if you didn't complete the course,

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DRead the fine print, people, about the refund before you sign up for this waste-of-time and money course.

Was told you could only get a refund if you didn't complete the course. Would have stopped after first few hours instead of suffering thru all 8 hours - and then NO REFUND!!!Don

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User's recommendation: Don't spend your time and money on this worthless course.

Chandra g Btx

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Verified Reviewer

I am unable to take the course on line, so please issue me the refund.

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Updated by user Sep 17, 2024

satisfied with the service to utmost satisfactions.

Original review Sep 13, 2024

I am 85 years old and, at times, unable to comprehend the questions. It takes too long to listen to the screens and they get repetitive.

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Pros:
  • Good course
Cons:
  • Too long

Preferred solution: Full refund

User's recommendation: takes long time tofinish and course content are repetitive

Anonymous
map-marker Macon, Georgia

Why would any company provide such a horrible product to drivers?

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This course presumes you are a total driving moron. If you don't know what redundancy or insanity is, just take this course.

There should be a law against wasting a human being's time in this way.

They never ask what your driving experience or level is, as in CDL or other designations. In this day of AI, if you need something for insurance discounts or other valid reasons, take a different course like NHSTA, or your state sponsored course or your employer , something else, and NOT this AARP course. These people are taking advantage of insurance company requirements and not interested at all in making you a better driver. The land of the open palm.

Go to your local community center, college, local law enforcement or other community functions. AARP knows better. They should provide links, ways to engage in emergency phone numbers, GPS instructions, and so on. NOT THIS COURSE!

It provides nothing for today's driver.

Grow up AARP. Learn how to be considerate.

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User's recommendation: STAY AWAY FROM AARP DRIVERS COURSE

Resolved
Susan W Wsi

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Verified Reviewer

Resolved: I cannot find how to print my certificate

Updated by user Aug 04, 2024

Company fixed the issue and I have been provided with apology. A computer knowledgeable person resolved my problem.

I was able to print my certificate. My problem was computer information was too complicated for me

Original review Jul 20, 2024

Show how to print certificate right at the end of the course. Not just ending without directions how to print.

I am wasting much time trying to follow directions. None of them bring up certificate!

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Pros:
  • Insurance price reduction

Preferred solution: Easy directions how to print certificate. I have certificate number.

Joyce A Xzn

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Verified Reviewer

Waste of time!

This horrendously designed traffic safety driving course is a complete disaster. Much of it repeats itself.

Six hours of nonstop nonsense.

I will never use this again, nor do I recommend it. Don't waste your time.

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Loss:
$20
Cons:
  • Six hours of repetitive crap

Preferred solution: Get rid of the program!

User's recommendation: Find another source.

1 comment
Guest

I took the course with an open mind and after the first five minutes regretted the decision. Could I please have those 8 hours of my life back?

Written for perhaps a ninth grader with no experience or knowledge. Repetitive, insulting, and frustrating.

Anonymous
map-marker Minneapolis, Minnesota

Waste of time for someone with limited time left in life

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Useless course. Waste of time.

Did not address needs

Condescending

Treated like a child

Unable because of long wait time to even ask for a refund

Bad, very bad PR foe AARP

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User's recommendation: Go elsewhere for your course

2 comments
Guest

Well said, I completely agree with you!

Aayden Cub
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-2585823

saved me $26, thank you!

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Wes N Bqu

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Verified Reviewer

One of the worse courses we have ever seen

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Redundant, redundant and redundant information thats painfully obvious and somewhat insulting.

This is one of the worse on-line training courses I have attended and clearly it was developed and coded by people who are not experienced with Computer Based Training (CBT). Very non-user friendly with poor navigation.

In my last job, I created CBT sessions and I never made a session as primitive as this one. Anyone with an ounce of common sense will be bored and put into a half comatose state watching this training.

I was also a driving instructor and the 3 second rule of following distance mentioned in this training is misleading. It works for 40 MPG and less on good road surface. If you are driving at 70 MPH, the 3 second distance rule results in a crash.

At 70 mph (common in South Carolina), it should be 7 seconds. Average breaking reaction time is 0.75 to 1.25 seconds. Subtract this time from 3 seconds and congratulations, you get a face full of airbag, a ride in an ambulance or the coroner department.

Being forced to watch the "Lets watch together" videos to continue to the next topic is exhausting. No way to advance to the next slide after you have read it, you just have to wait for the slow pace of the slides time bar to complete.

No option to test out of a section to avoid the nauseating videos.

Even with the 25% discount, I was over charged.

Aarp should pay us to watch this joke of a training course.

My wife and I took this class and agreed, its a bad CBT. Don't bother

Finally, I never received the email informing me my certificate was ready.

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Loss:
$20
Cons:
  • Terrible cbt

Preferred solution: Apology

User's recommendation: Don't waste your time or money

1 comment
Guest

Well said, I completely agree!

Resolved
Amanda S Lcq

Resolved: Awful

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Updated by user Dec 30, 2023

Company fixed the issue and I have been provided with apology.

Original review Dec 15, 2023

In New York, the defensive driving course has a typing based verification system. For whatever reason, it kept flagging my typing speed and locking me out.

I spent hours on this course and was trying to compete it in time when I was locked out.

Customer service won't respond until next week. I'm so upset

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Loss:
$36
Pros:
  • Few good tips
Cons:
  • Lot of repetitive content and glitches

Preferred solution: Full refund

User's recommendation: Do t do it. Course content was poor and you get locked out.

Debra A Zfy

To evaluate the physical class room course #C142688

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On Wednesday 9/6/2023. I attended an AARP Defensive Driving Course (Course ID #C14268) which I do every three years.

Unfortunately, I was 8 minutes late for the class due to reasons that I will be disputing in court. However, from the moment I walked in the classroom. The instructor Jane Smith who had not even started the course, but instead was rambling off topic to a few of her students was unprofessional and started her rudeness the moment that I walked in the classroom. When I asked her for the course materials like the others in the class.

She was very curt, agitated and very annoyed with me from the start. This behavior continue on and off the entire time I was in the class. A few of my classmates who picked up on it gave me sympathetic looks. One of the first things that she said in a very nasty tone was...You need to go sit down anywhere.

I'll give you a work-booklet sometimes after the break (even though there were a stack of them on her desk, that I had to pass taking a seat). When she finally started the class and began to address (what seemed to be her Caucasian students) instructing them to turn to a certain page in the work-booklet. I had to raise my hand and ask her again for class material. She then walked over to the desk where I was seated, and slammed a work-booklet in front of me.

Also, she also made a smirky remark when I asked her for a pen (which the other students had). The way she communicated to me was often times condescending. Her demeanor showed a form of prejudice and indifference, maybe it was from being the youngest African American in her class that had a majority of elderly White students. I don't know.

But, I do know that the respect, energy, interest, and interactions toward her White elderly students was truly stellar. What I don't understand is there were two other elderly Black females that came to class over 30 minutes late were treated a little better (even when these ladies as well as many of the Whites were late returning from lunch). Race as well as age discrimination is an ugly illness. I paid for the course just as everyone else, and I feel that what happened to me was unwarranted.

Mrs.

Jane Smith (Volunteer ID #04088****) doesn't have to like me personally. However, she should treat all of her students the same.

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Pros:
  • It helps sharpen your skills & offers insurance incentives
Cons:
  • Class instructor should be versed on materials

Preferred solution: Apology

User's recommendation: You have a right to ne treated fairly. Be honest in your assessment

3 comments
Guest

I walked in to class late and the instructor was casually talking to others. I was so embarrassed for holding up the class.

I sat down and grew paranoid then had to ask for a pen because I came unprepared. But hey, my mind reading capabilities kicked in and I could determine she was racist. I can just tell she was. I have no proof and no one else in class could tell.

This will be taken to court. (There, I fixed your post for you.)

Guest

Another "it's da color" generated complaint.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-2385246

Must be wonderful to be a protected species....

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MITCHELL P Kwg

This review is written by an individual who has purchased the reviewed product/service and/or confirms being a paying customer of this company. Check our FAQ

Verified Buyer

Worst Defensive Driving Course EVER

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Contains 1 confidential file for company representatives

There are SOOOOO many better options out there to get the insurance discount or points reduction. This is by far the worst course I have ever take.

6 hours?? Good luck completing it in less than 9. There is a reason the reviews are as bad as they are. THIS COURSE IS HORRIBLE!

It is focused on OLD people, OLD drivers, giving up your license due to AGE, DRUGS, Frailty, etc. Repetitive like you wouldn't believe. So repetitive. They keep repeating the same material over and over.

And it's really repetitive. Complete waste of time. Even after you THINK you've finished there's another 30 minutes of nonsense to complete. OMG I want to scream and/or sue them for wasting my time.

OR BOTH!

Did I mention this course is SO Repetitive? DONT DO IT!!!

View full review
Loss:
$30
Pros:
  • Course content can be read aloud by system avoiding reading
Cons:
  • Too many to list - horrible course - way more than 6 hours

Preferred solution: Apology

User's recommendation: Stay AWAY! Stay FAR FAR AWAY from this course. HORRIBLE!!!!

Anonymous
map-marker Mastic Beach, New York

I have never seen a driving class this bad

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If I could I give you -100 I come to see this driving class was a pre med class. I have taken many 5 hrs classes.

Never have I had a pre med class in it. I feel this class was a waste of money and time. Customer service was nasty and seem not to want to help you if you had a problem.

I will not return for this class its a waste of my time. You should stop giving the class your *** off all of people.

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User's recommendation: Do not take this class waste of time

Anonymous
map-marker Los Angeles, California

5+hrs into a 4hour course ..Locked out for 10th time.. 2+hrs on Hold, Logging, or TRYING to.. STARTS OVER REPEATEDLY after hours of work. and NO HELP after 5 pm Pacific SNAFU!

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Pretty clear above. Repeatedly LOCKED OUT and/or Course GOES BACK TO START "INTRODUCTION" ...

NOW well into the 5th hour of a "4-hour" Course. No less than 2 hours on hold to get help to log on or TRYING unsuccessfully to GET HELP to GET BACK TO THE COURSE ... Using the link stated at the introduction takes us back to the BUY THE COURSE SITE or TO THE MEMBERSHIP SIGN UP PAGE ... NOT AT ALL USER FRIENDLY .

COURSE MATERIAL IS SUPERB ...

EXCEPT Presentation is far too slow. Redundant to the extreme on some of the repetitive info. STILL, I WOULD GIVE THE SUBSTANCE OF MATERIAL PRESENTED A 9 out of 10 ... WELL WORTH THE COST AND INDEED PRICE TO VALUE IS SUPERB.

NOT SO WITH THE TECHNICAL QUALITY -- STARTS OVER OR FREEZES REPEATEDLY ENDLESSLY.

NOW 4 HOURS INTO THE COURSE AND IT JUST TOOK US BACK TO THE INTRODUCTION --- A G A I N --- Attempts to close attached dialog material are an especially aggravating nuisance PERSISTENTLY closing the entire course instead of the subset material windows.

---- GENEROUS with a 2 our of 10 rating the technical performance quality ALL BECAUSE OF ENDLESS RESTARTS, LOCKOUTS, AND FREEZE-UP EPISODES (Multiple to the extreme in every Chapter).

Paid with Visa .. and I doubt this review will be shown because the receipt (required for each review) is not auto-downloaded during purchase -- as I just learned trying to post this factual review.

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User's recommendation: Good Material, Aggravating Tech issues .. Prepare for Frustrations --Marginal Help until 5 pm then NONE AT ALL.

Anonymous
map-marker Portland, Connecticut

Frustrated.

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I would give this a negative 10 if I could. Terrible on line system.

It's not 4 hours - it will be 10 hours (if I ever finish this damn course.)

1) It's way too long and repetitive. Kind of insulting too.

2) I was locked out when trying to answer a personal question and had to wait 48 hours to have the same thing happen again.

3) The customer service replies are automated emails

Waste of time.

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User's recommendation: Don't waste your money or time.

Anonymous
map-marker Houston, Texas

Deep dissatisfaction

Half the time unable to login and pick up where I left off. "Unable to access your record at this time" is msg I get. It took my money fast enough.

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User's recommendation: Save your money

About

Related Companies

AARP, AARP RealPad, AARP International

Summary

AARP Driver Safety specializes in driver's safety. It is a subsidiary of AARP, Inc. The company was founded in 1958. Its headquarters is based in Washington, D.C., USA. The company offers the AARP Smart Driver course for people age 50 and older. After course completion it is possible to get multi-year discounts on auto insurance. The company guarantees to refresh driving skills and reduce chances of getting into an accident. The course covers the following topics: proper use of safety belts, safe driving strategies, and state specific rules. Available payment options are Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover. Customers of AARP Driver Safety can also pay by check or money order.

Aarp Driver Safety reviews and complaints

Aarp Driver Safety is ranked 68 out of 1410 in Courses and Trainings category

Area Served

USA

Payment Methods

VISA

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