Agree that you should contact ShimLoomis about this. As mentioned, it is a well known issue/defect on the NRX and they should take care of you, hopefully including free shipping and waiving of the $20 fee.

The whole Wildcard deal sounds a lot better on paper than it actually is, as you're finding out. It's nice to have it and all, but you have to learn all the in's and out's of it. For example, the letter they send you with the card specifically says the Wildcard can NOT be used for sending the rod to Loomis, only to be used at an authorized dealer. Yet, ShimLoomis will take them if you send them in. Weird.