Monday, May 31, 2010

Not A Class Act - American Express Card

By: pared

What company would call a consumer on her cell phone on Easter Sunday to inform the consumer that her credit limit was being drastically reduced? Not any company with class. I am not talking about a deadbeat customer; I am talking about a long-time American Express cardholder with an excellent credit rating. Because of this unconscionable action by American Express, this consumer will now see her credit score lowered through no fault of her own.

There ought to be a law against this and I will be forming a grassroots organization to deal with this. God bless America where we can stand up for our rights.

AMEX Blue Cancelled for no good reason

By: TDLoyd

I applied and was approved for an AMEX Blue card in Aug 2008. Today, April 2009, I received a letter stating the account was terminated. The letter described several 'credit issues' that came up during my account review. I called them and explained that the only negative thing in my credit report is from 5 years ago I was late on two payments due to temporary unemployment, and that since acquiring my AMEX card my credit score has not changed (in fact I substantially reduced my debt during that time-frame).

They were neither friendly nor understanding.

I am extremely disappointed with the service I received and I sincerely hope that they can calculate the total actualized lifetime value of me being a cardholder and weigh that against the risk of a cardholder that has a decent credit score with 0 delinquent accounts.

Ridiculous Customer Service

By: Mel Fra

I recently received a Skymiles card and made 2 very small purchases. Then I was asked to call to verify my identity to protect against identity theft. The only way to do this is get my bank on the phone. I hold and some woman comes on the line claiming to be from my bank and she won't give any information without getting my account number information - with the American Express representative on the phone! I'm not giving some account representative all of my banking information.

If I don't do that, I have to jump through hoops with bank notarized affidavits to prove who I am. Funny since I've had a Costco AmEx card for years and American Express knows perfectly well who I am. Did they need the bank account information to keep on file for future use? And if they are so interested in identity theft, why would they want my bank account info flying all over those recorded conversations. Very simple minded and absolutely no real customer service. I will never have a good thing to say about the rude customer service reps either. It wasn't a process to protect against identity theft.

It was AmEx crap. Funny, if they don't know who I am - who pays the bill on the Costco card monthly??????????

Canceling Cards Without Reason

By: tdulaney

I have an Amex card and I went on line to check my account and it said my account had been cancelled for no reason. I tried calling them but was just put on hold then I tried emailing them and it will not go thru. I have paid this account off every time I used it. Never had an outstanding balance, never paid late. It made no sense to me.

Has anyone else had this problem with them? I thought they were a good company to have a credit card with.

American Express Blue Nightmare

By: donnajportland

American Express has upped my rate from 3.9% to 27.24% for being 6 days late.
The horrid person on the other end of the phone actually promised to ruin my credit if I did not pay it....

PLEASE BE FORE-WARNED/ADVISED THIS COMPANY IS HORRIBLE TO DEAL WITH!!

My Amex Blue And Clear Cards Canceled For No Reason!

By: KeeferD420

I have had 2 American Express cards (a Blue and a Clear) for 3+ years. On 3/23, I paid off both balances in full. Yesterday I received a letter from American Express dated 4/6/09 stating that they have cancelled BOTH accounts. There was no contact information listed on the letter, so I went online to find the customer service #.

When I called, I spoke with a woman and asked why they cancelled my accounts and she said (via a script) "This is a business decision and we feel comfortable in regards to this account." I asked again, why would they cancel an account that has been paid in full on both cards, with no notice, and she said (verbatim) "This is a business decision and we feel comfortable in regards to this account." I said "Well this is a terrible way to treat a loyal customer in a time such as these economic times, especially after all the Federal Bailouts, paid with my taxpayer dollars." She said "This is a business decision and we feel comfortable in regards to this account."

I will NEVER do business again with American Express - they way they treat their customers is HARDLY American.

American Express Lowered My Limit - CC Limit

By: Pmo52

I have read many reviews about American Express, last night I got the call, the young lady on the other end informed me that they were lowering my credit line from 4500 to 1700, 100.00 over my balance. I asked for an explanation, and she told me I had negatives, it went down hill from there. I have an 800 credit score, pay 3 times the min payment, no negs, no lates, nothing.

I challenged her as she told me that my credit report was showed these so called negs, I pull my credit report while I had her on the line, ZIP, nothing, she out and out lied. I told her if she wanted to reduce it because the company is about to go bankrupt, at least have the balls to just say it, and not lie, or use me as their scape goat.

American Express, along with all credit card companies are making us pay because they *** up all these years handing credit out like it was candy. I hope the hole industry bites it!!

They Did It To Me - Again!

By: FedUpwithAMEX

I have had an AMEX Delta Skymiles card for several years now. Up until recently, they constantly increased my credit limits because of my good credit and STERLING payment record. My limit was $30,000, but I never charged anywhere near that.

In the past six months, they have notified me at least 4 times, most recently today, that they are lowering my credit limit, always to about $100.00 more than I owe.

I pay it down, they lower it again. Finally I just sent them a big wad of money. They left me alone for awhile - then - Voila! I go on a trip, charge the $400.00 hotel bill to AMEX and I get the call the moment I get home that they are lowing my limit another $10,000 (!!!!!) to $200.00 above what I currently owe. There is NO reason for this. I think this is absolutely criminal. I pulled up my credit report and see that they (Amex)haven't reported my history for almost ONE YEAR. However, my score is still above 750.

I know people who would kill for that kind of credit rating. I HATE AMEX!!!!!!!

They Canceled And Took My Reward Points

By: Janharris56

I received the cancellation notice the other day after paying the card off, and making on time monthly payments. I went online to use my reward points only to find they are not available anymore and to send an inquiry, that part of their website wouldn't work for me.

Is this the way it works? Is there anyway of getting the rewards back, I wanted to get the gift cards?

Amex/Experian - Credit Cards

By: sokrfan

4/18/20009 pm, I get a call from Amex (recording) my credit limit is being reduced big time. There goes my credit capacity/credit score. THANKS A LOT AMEX.

Now 4/20, I call Amex to find out why. They tell me that from the summary report they received from EXPERIAN, that it had negative things on it.

That I have a lot of inquiries and have opened lots of accounts. I still have to deal with Experian about this information, but my bigger concern is:

My Amex has been opened for years (YEARS) why is Experian sending them information now!!!? Why is AMEX requesting information!!!? My account is in perfect order, no late payments, no over limit, NOTHING.

I think they are in cahoots with each other also to stick it to the American people.
I am all for starting a group to stop these deceitful practices.

Getting sick of being stepped on.

Canceled Both My Accounts!!!

By: lcavey

So about a month ago I got a letter in the mail stating they were reducing my credit limit on my blue cash account from 10k to 3k due to my bad credit with EXPERIAN!! I don't have bad credit according to EXPERIAN!! I challenged them on the phone and they hung up on me!!

Then yesterday I tried to use my Blue Cash card and it was denied at the grocery store..

So I go home and call AE and they say they have CANCELED BOTH my credit cards (blue and blue cash) that I have had for 10 years!! Because of my bad credit with EXPERIAN!! So I pulled up EXPERIAN and challenged the supervisor and said I have my credit report up in front of me and I have a credit score of 730 so how can that be bad credit?? She said the decision was final and that there was nothing she could do.

In the 10 years with BOTH accounts I never had a late payment nothing AND the last two years I pay the account off in FULL every month!!

I am taking this to the banking commission as well as the Treasury.

This is out right false and inaccurate information.

There needs to be a class action lawsuit!

American Express Is Simply Full Of It

By: ourtoy

I am over it with Amex. They have reduced my limit from 3400 to 1700. They say it's because I have had some negatives on my credit report. Of course I argued with them stating I have never been late with you for the last 13 years. They also gave me a limit on my green card of 1000. I am ready to file a law suit. If anyone knows how to start the process, please let me know. Enough is enough!!!

IRS Income Verification Request

By: azgranny

I also have been an AMEX cardholder since 1995. They have always been the most difficult credit card company to deal with. Now they want me to sign the release for them to access my 2007 and 2008 tax returns to "verify" income. Paid the account in full last month and now the request for verification. What a reward for being a good customer with an 840 credit score. It is such an insult to good customers. I'm all in for a class action.

Does anyone actually give them access to tax returns???? Are any other credit card companies doing this??

Amex Is Horrible - Credit Cards

By: Mau

I have been a card holder of the Clear and Blue AMEX cards for over a year. Always paid more than the minimum due and never late. They recently started lowering my limit from $5,000 to $1500. and the other to $500. Without warning. The other day I went to schedule a payment and the cards were cancelled by AMEX. I have not received a written letter that they were yet and a acceptable reason.

Please help with this horrible thing they are doing to all customers.... They should go under.

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Canceled Credit Card - American Express Gold Card

By: bendabob

I have had my gold card for 5 years. I have never been late on a payment, and pay it off fully every two weeks. I went to use my card yesterday and it declined. I figured this was an error done by the cashier and paid on my other credit card. I called AMEX to make sure and while waiting, the automated voice said no current balance due, no new charges.

I had just paid it off. I got through to a live person, and he simply stated that my card was canceled due to AMX running my credit. He could offer no other explanations except there was a letter sent out yesterday saying my credit card was canceled. I believe this is unacceptable and loyalty and good track records of payments have no bearing on decisions.

I can tell you I was very happy with the service provided, but will never use your services again. I have 3 other credit card and will now use those that appreciate my money and loyalty.

Out Of The Blue - Credit Card Cancellation

By: braintwist12

I recently paid of my American Express Blue card in full. ($2500) I had spent some time paying off other debts first but this was the last to go. I was feeling good about finally being debt free and having a decent line of credit to start using on a regular basis. I was also looking forward to suing those rewards point that I acquired.

(6300) So I go to use my card knowing that I have a nice cushion of 2600 and it is declined. Figuring it must be a mistake I check by phone and everything was cool. On-line my account is paid. So I try to use it once more. NO DICE! So I called the customer service line and found that my account had been canceled. I asked if it was some kind of mistake and they told me they sent me a letter informing my why. Since I didn't get the letter they told me over the phone that they checked my credit and saw that I had too much debt for the about of credit available.

Well I guess that is what happens when you only have a few credit cards and then get financed to BUY a new car! I get approved for a car loan, pay off all my credit cards, and they think it is in their best interest to close my account! I would think that faithful making on time payments for all my accounts for two years would show some kind of responsibility. I guess they don't want money. I can't believe that they would do such a thing. I would have at least wanted some notice. They have my number they could have called, or I guess they didn't give a crap. Credit card companies only call when they want to hassle some who is down like a big financial bully. Well I am done with them I just wish I had spent my 6300 rewards point before they stole them from me!

I think we all know the big corporations like this have gotten way out of control. Lets hope the snazzy congress of ours can finally come up with some legislation that will put the power back in the hands of the consumers!

The Decline of American Express - Class Action Suit

By: JLD2

Like so many other Amex clients we have suffered from their Gestapo type policies. This once prestigious credit card company has gone to trash. Our company has the highest D&B rating possible and my personal credit score is 801 and yet we have been harassed by phone calls and idiotic letters from Amex. For twenty years we have used their service and have never failed to pay our balance completely each month and always on time. It seems to us that Amex is shooting itself in the foot.

Should anyone know of a class action law suit against this firm pertaining to the above, please let us know so that we can join up also.

JLD

Stressed Out - American Express Sucks

By: derbycity

I have two Gold Cards and One Blue, My typical monthly purchase between the gold cards are $25000.00 with hi months of $55.00 and they are always paid ON TIME. October 08 we get an letter cutting our credit to 21-K TOTAL "Current charges and Due Charges" which will equal approx $10500.00 available per month WTF!, been with them 20 Years.

March, an email lowering our available credit "Which I thought had no limit" to approx $500.00 over our current balance WTF!, 4/28/ lowered again! We use and have depended upon this company for our daily lifestyle and paid promptly monthly and now this. I AM DONE, I will not let a company which I was proud to be a part of pull my financial chain at there whim. Cancelled taking Amex at my company and have opened a CASH debit account thru my bank.

It's been tough to double up cash reserves the past few months but it does feel nice to no longer depend upon Amex. Guys, do the same, it does feel nice!

Same Experience As Most On Here. We Need To File Class Action Suit

By: mbyrnes

I have had a similar experience to many of yours on this site. The only difference is that I was a new customer of American Express. I got my Gold Rewards Plus card in Jan. and they told me that there was no spending limit on the card. I figured that meant that they would review a purchase only if it was inconsistent with amounts previously spent.

I found out I was wrong when, after a month of having the card and making the only payment necessary, I was declined on a $4 purchase. When I called AMEX they said that my account was under financial review. I could not figure out why since they had just approved me a month earlier based on my credit report, but I bent over backwards and sent my financials to them.

That helped to clear my card for about a week or two until they declined me again. This time I call and the lady informs me that the no spending limit card has a limit of (laughable) $500 dollars! I could have got approved for a college credit card and got a larger spending limit then that.

I decided to just quit using the card because I did not need the credit anyways, I was just trying to use it for necessities to build some reward points.

About a month later after I had made all three payments (550, 989, and 454 dollars respectively) way before the due dates I logged into my AMEX account to find out they canceled my card!

They told me, like others of you, that according to Experian my credit score had dropped. I pulled my credit report and there was no change and no new derogatory items in 2 years! I called AMEX and the first lady was so rude and defensive and almost hung up on me! I finally got a supervisor who told me that I had to send the Experian report over so they could match it up to what they had. I told her I was not going to waste my time or hers because I could tell they had already made their minds up.

All throughout the process not one representative even came close to apologizing! What ever happened to customer service? I would encourage all of you on here to report AMEX's behavior to your government officials and also I think that we should get a class action started.

Cancelled Without Notice Or Provocation

By: winstonboy

I have had at least one American Express card since 1969. At times I had as many as three. I have literally charged millions of dollars over the years and have never missed a payment. Last week, I got a notice that the credit limit on one of my cards was cut to $1,000. Then, this week I got a letter informing me that both my cards were cancelled because of a negative credit report.

It is true that my credit score has gone down recently, because I made the mistake of signing as a co-obliger on my son's mortgage, which he has had difficulty keeping up with. After making several payments for him, I decided enough was enough and told him he was on his own. He has his own business and makes enough to maintain most people's lifestyles.

Amex has a right to cancel anyone's card, but to do it to a cardholder of forty years, without any notice, is unconscionable, especially since I have never missed a payment and have liquid assets of over $1,000,000. When I called to complain, I got the standard answer. This from a company that brags about their customer service. Shameful.

Unfair Policies - Credit Card Services

By: suba

American express canceled my credit card/Costco card without a valid reason.
I feel it is time for me to let go it anyway because it is the least trustworthy and least customer friendly credit card company.

I am sure with all the inconveniences Costco customers are going through, your days with the Costco can be counted so will be the days of your future.
Remember no average shop like your card

American Express Cancelled Me - Credit Card

By: CLezama

I received an unsigned letter from American Express stating that my credit card had been cancelled. It seems I am not worthy of holding an American Express credit card because I was 15 days late with my payment to a department store. Yet, incredibly, the department store still values my business. I called Amex and of course, they read me the same scripted answer that so many in my situation have heard.

I asked for a supervisor and he too attempted to read the same script. All I wanted was an address to write to because their gracious letter of cancellation gave no contact information. I only got an Amex because I finally gave in to their countless offers...BIG MISTAKE. And, as if the economy wasn't bad enough and all of us making an honest living aren't working hard enough, Amex will now add their unfounded cancellation to my credit report. Of course! Why not kick us while we're down? Makes sense, right?

Make Sure To Get You Rewards Points If They Cancel Your Account!

By: hejsan

American Express canceled my Rewards Plus account a couple of weeks ago and seemingly zapped out my 51,000 rewards points (51,000 Delta miles or other possible rewards). I was really bummed until I read the following:

American Express Changes Membership Rewards Policy

By Kevin Gipson, New Orleans Consumer Attorney on Mar 31, 2009 in Credit Cards

American Express has announced a policy change regarding its Membership Rewards program.

The policy change permits a cardholder that is in good standing at the time that his card is cancelled to redeem his Membership Rewards points for up to 90 days following the cancellation of his card.

American Express did not define what the term good standing meant, but did state the change in policy was due to its recent decision to cancel the cards of members who were current on their payments but that were considered to be a credit risk.

Before this policy change, if an American Express card was cancelled for any reason, the Membership Reward points were lost.

American Express also announced its intention to honor cash-rebate cards.

If the customer has an outstanding balance on his account, then the cash-rebate will be applied to the balance.

If the balance is less than the cash-rebate, American Express will issue a check for the balance to the customer.

Finally, American Express said customers who had their cards canceled recently, but before the policy change, can contact American Express Membership Rewards customer service for a case by case decision on whether the customer will be permitted to redeem the points.

I called and they instantly credited my Delta Sky Miles account for 51,000 miles. So I'm satisfied - They can give or deny credit to me - it's their money - but they can't take away points/miles I've already earned.

That would be plain wrong. I'll take the miles and take my business elsewhere.

I just wanted to make sure anyone e4lse who has this happen makes sure to claim their miles with the rewards program asap!

Cancelled Without Notice - Gold Card

By: urgh

After 6 years of good standing w/ American Express, my card got cancelled without notice with all my rewards cancelled! I've read that others have experienced the same problem... I would join a lawsuit class action against American Express anytime!

American Express cut down my credit limit

By: Ari K

I have been with AX since 1997 never missed a payment but yet they have lowered my line of credit twice in the last 6 months. This has affected my FICO score. The Glory and the service AX once had is gone. It has become the worst credit card company. They don't give a crap for their customers. After speaking with them three times there was nothing they could do. I'm sure they will lose a lot of people don'nt be surprised if they will go under before the end of 2009. They are number one company in defaults. They have also received 5Billion in Government Aid (tax dollars) so go figure. Bottom line, I will NEVER use them again.

In 2009, AMEX Hates Small Businesses and Independent Business People

By: AMEXBS

My own story is simple, a small business member since 1994, pay on-time, credit availability between three cards of $55,000 and then the games start from AMEX in 2008.

1) Phone calls from AMEX asking me to pay my bill before the due date.

2) With great credit, AMEX starts their "GAME" of lowering limits 1 or more times per month resulting in a) denied business and personal transactions, and b)reducing my credit score.

3) When talking with AMEX's CSR's they state my credit profile has changed.

Yes, they are right, they changed it by consistently reducing my credit levels.

4) In frustration, I call AMEX and cancel the Blue card. What a mistake, my credit report gets whacked again.

Fast forward to 2009.

5) More monthly calls from AMEX asking me to pay before due dates and more reductions in credit limits without any notification or telephone discussion. Also the CSR's state that if I pay immediately then they will make sure I have charging privileges in the future and that if I do not "make a pay by phone" I will have my cards locked.

6) Low Credit limits and lower credit scores for my small business.

7) Insult to injury - An irate AMEX CSR calls my cell phone on a Saturday AM an threatens me to pay the small amount I owe right now or else he will cancel my accounts without me knowing it.

April 2009

8) Discover low and behold that they cancelled the accounts, locked up/eliminated my hundreds of thousands of membership rewards points.

So now I am not motivated to pay them. QUite frankly I will pay the paltry sum and move on but this firm is evil, lies to its customers, treats its customers poorly at every opportunity and is an embarrasssment to its shareholders, bondholders, customers and the United States.

I hope there is a class action lawsuit soon that sues for damages caused by their "Games."

Class Action Suit Here We Come

By: jaybirdy

Well, here I am another victim of American Express. I have been a cardholder in one form or another for over 30 years. Yesterday my Costco American Express card was cancelled. This was the only American Express Card I had left. I only got it because Costco was touting 3% back if I got the card. I have had it for over 2 years.

It has always been paid in full at the end of the month.

Their reasoning was that I had too many delinquent payments to other companies and didn't pay enough monthly on my balances. I only have 2 VISA accounts, have never been delinquent, always pay a substantial amount over the minimum and have over 800 credit rating.

Also, I did not like the paragraph in their letter that stated this may affect my credit rating and that if I had any late payments to them, they would refer the account to a collection agency. I would like to know how I would have a balance to refer anywhere when the card is cancelled.

I also called Costco to let them know they should disassociate themselves from American Express as they are sullying their reputation.

Anyone out there an attorney? I am ready for a class action suit.

I never write letters like this, but I am spitting nails as I am so mad.

Janice B
Ventura, CA

American Express Sucks

By: uechiwoman

I have had American Express for many years. I ALWAYS pay my full balance each month. I have NEVER been late. They just cancelled my account because they saw one negative remark on my credit report last month that is in error. I lost all of my sky miles. I tried using them before but with all the restrictions it's impossible to find a flight! I spoke to the "supervisor" who only repeated the same lame remarks as the boy who answered originally.

My family income is close to SEVEN figures! I only used this card at Costco!! These people must read from a script because I got nowhere with them!

I am correcting the mistake on my credit report and I will NEVER accept another AMEX card again. I also have a business and I will stop taking AMEX in the future.
AMEX is a rip off. Their "customer service" is a sham! They don't give a crap about their customers! IDIOTS!!

AmEx fails to consider profitability and lifetime value - Credit Card

By: BWF

Here is the letter I sent to a reporter who had an article about American Express' bizarre credit decisions. In addition, I just received a letter that the cancellation could have a negative impact on my credit report. How can that be when I have always been an excellent customer for them? I would happily join in a class action lawsuit.

Sign me up.

Hi David,

Thank you for the article on American Express. My card was canceled today. I am baffled. I have been a member for 7 years, during which time, they started me at $500 credit line. They quickly moved me to $5,000 and then $10,000 where I have been for the past 7 years. I typically run about $5,000 to $10,000 per month on it paying it in full all the time. I never had a late payment or any issue with them. They were definitely my favorite card to work with.

In November of 08, they cut me to 5k with no warning saying that they check credit reports monthly. Then in December, they cut me to $500. Of course, both cuts were when I had paid the balance down, so in essence, they took operating capital from my small business. Loosing the $10,000 of operating room in a 60 day period hurt pretty bad. Then I lived with the frustration of a $500 line. I would have closed it myself, except that I have become dependent on the Hilton Honors points as a part of my business travel budget. I was having to really work it to get the $500 credit line to work with the $20k I needed to keep gold point status. I began paying it off every other day and then using it in smaller chunks. I had several conversations with the reps saying that $500 didn't get me through a weekend of travel or even allow me to book most air tickets.

Then yesterday, they canceled me completely. Again, I asked them why. Since I had checked my credit report in December when they did the first cuts, I had a comparison base.

When I checked it today, my outstanding overall debt had gone down by about $8k in the past 4 months. My credit score had increased 70 points. There were no marks against me except I accidentally went $2 over my credit limit on my smallest visa card this month and quickly got it back below the limit (I had paid it in full at the beginning of the monthly cycle), so I had a possible negative alert that I had gone $2 over a limit for a few days on a different card. That was the only thing I saw that might have triggered their models.

I have some inside insight as I used to build credit and marketing models for USAA and Bank of America. I truly think some JUNIOR analyst at Amex has built a very short sighted and limited scope credit model. The big question is, why is American Express management not seeing that it will run them into the ground very quickly? I found another article that said that their Q1 profit was down 56%. I had a perfect payment history running between 5k and 10k a month through their system at a 4.5% merchant fee per transaction. Did they really think I was at risk of missing a $15 a month minimum payment? That is $180 per year. I made an online or phone payment several times a week of whatever they would let me pay when they dropped me to $500 (trying to maintain my $20,000 per year gold point status means I had to pay off the $500 40 times in a year) .

It would have been virtually impossible for me to miss the $15 monthly minimum payment. And when they dropped me to $500, how big was their risk? Are they cutting risk, or destroying their profit base? I vote for the later. I am 41 and WAS a very loyal Amex customer with decades of high dollar spending left in me.

American Express "Open Minded And Relevant?" May 2009 Way Too Funny!

By: AMEXBS

This just in, on online and print edition of btobonline May 4, 2009 issue. AMEX's VP of Brand Strategy in article "American Express Shinder on marketing to small business."

The VP's comments:

"American Express OPEN is dedicated to helping the business unit's small-business customers survive and thrive during the recession."

"Our key focus in 2009 is on the OPEN charge card [which is pay-in-full, not revolving with APR's] is the right tool for business owners during these times."

"We aim to deliver on this commitment through things big and small - from designing relevant products and services for business, to curating outstanding content to provide business owners with practical advice and insights available through the OPEN Forum."

"We are continuing to invest in OPENForum were hearing more than ever that our business customers are seeking advice about what they can do differently to survive than thrive in a challenging economy.

So I have two simple questions for her.

1) Is she so ignorant of her company's bad business and customer relations practices or is she spreading BS to help prop-up her fleeing customer bases and investor sentiment?


2) Does she really think that small businesses are interested in paying for business advice from AMEX when AMEX is harming small businesses?

You Decide?

Is AMEX lying to itself or in deep denial?

Interest Rate Increase

By: rtaylor837

I would like to inform other who have the AX card to watch their interest rates monthly as I did this month. I have been with AX approx:10 or 11 years and to the best of my knowledge I have never been late. However AX decided to raise my interest rate from 9.99% up to 15.99% so this morning myself along with my wife and her separate account which also has never been late decided to cancel our cards.

And as no surprise to me AX really did not care. Well I also do not care and I'm happy that the card is closed and I or my wife will never own an AX card again. We also are informing everyone we know how AX treats customers that always pay there bills on time. Thank you for this chance to express my feeling on this subject. PS. My credit score is excellent and I just ref. my mortgage this month to 4.5%. So I guess my question is why can AX increase the card without any problem.

Oh I forgot our Politicians allow this type of things because of lobbiest will guess what I and my whole family vote and unless you change thing like this you may just be looking for another Job yourself.

American Express Does Nothing To Ensure They Are Talking To The Account Holder

By: vslacks

So, today my wife went to withdraw money from our bank account and noticed to her surprise that we were over $4000 overdrawn. We then went online to check our account and noticed that there was a large pending payment to our American Express card. We checked the Amex account online and saw the same payment listed there.

But neither my wife nor I had authorized this payment. So we called American Express...

1. The first person my wife talks to at Amex says that she'll have to open a billing inquiry and it could take up to six weeks to resolve. My wife said that was unacceptable and asked to speak to a supervisor.

2. The supervisor said that they called a number (they wouldn't even tell us what number) associated with our account and that the person they spoke with authorized the payment. My wife said that neither of us had spoken to anyone and the supervisor said that he would pull the tape of the call and would call us back within the hour.

3. The customer service representative (not the supervisor) who called us back said that they had reviewed the call and related the transcript to us. It's important to understand that my wife has an unusual first name that someone could take for being either a male or female name:

Amex Rep: Is this ?
Man at unknown phone number: "Yes, this is .
Amex Rep: Do you authorize a payment of $XXXX on your account?
Man: "Yes, you can take the money out of my bank account."
Amex Rep: Would that be the account ending in xxxx?
Man: Yes, that's the account.

Based on this crack display of identity verification, Amex says they would not be refunding the money. We said we would be putting a stop payment on the transaction and would be contacting a lawyer and the media.

So, apparently if you have a phone number that used to belong to an Amex account holder and Amex calls you asking for payment, all that is required to authorize money be removed from that person's bank account is to say "yes, that's me" and "yes, that's my account".

No verification of social security number. No asking what the last four digits of the bank account is. No "what's your mother's maiden name".

My wife and I are outraged. It is unbelievable that Amex makes no attempt to verify that they are talking to the right person. Heck they could have even called our home phone number and if someone else (a babysitter, a mother--in-law, etc.) answered, all they would have to do is pretend to be one of us and they could authorize a payment!

AMEX Deliberately destroys your credit and attacks your business

By: plumbshocked

I had 2 AMEX Blue accounts for 2 different businesses with credit lines of 55,000, and 13,000. I always paid the balance in full for the the 55,000 card. The card with 13,000 had a balance of $5,000 from a balance transfer offer with a very low interest rate and I paid the minimum, never late. Without warning, AMEX dropped the 50,000 limit to 11,000 (that month's purchases).

When I paid the 11,000, the limit was dropped to 1,000 (for a card with monthly purchases of 6,000 to 28,000 and used by 8 employees in purchasing). The other card was dropped to the balance. This hurt my company and disrupted my operations. When the going got tough, my "business partner", AMEX, ran and left. My charges on those cards over the last 8 years were $985,000 (all paid in full each month). As a responsible business owner, I need credit issuers that stand by me in hard times and base their decisions on my payment history, not some knee jerk corporate risk assessment. Since this happened, I have stopped taking AMEX in my operations. I only take VISA, MC and Discover.

I urge you to do the same. It is us small business owners who accept AMEX cards and pay the higher AMEX premium. I will remember this disloyalty forever.

Wish there was a Class Action Suit, 25 Years, Gold Card, Joke!

By: Boscoreo

I have been a loyal American Express member since 1984. I have used the card for years for business purposes and have never missed a payment. Last week, I was checking into a hotel and was informed that my card was cancelled. As I had never been late with a payment and knew the card was current, I was sure that it had to be some fixable error.

I called AMEX to get it straightened out. The exact opposite happened; the non-English speaking representative confirmed that indeed my card had been canceled because of a negative credit report.

Since 2005, when Hurricane Katrina wiped out my business and finances, my credit score has suffered. I have always made sure that I was current on my American Express bill, as I would need that card to help rebuild my future after the devastation of the hurricane. My score right now is the best that it has been in 4 years.
The big question is what my loyalty has cost me. I hope there is a class action lawsuit soon that sues for damages caused by their neglect of loyal customers.

American Express Credit Card

By: crown100

I have had an American Express Credit Card for over 20 years. They cancelled my card on May 7. I found this out since I went to get my tank filled. I use my card for over $30,000 a year in charges. I always pay on time.

This is very bold of them to do this. I could have been with clients offering to pay for lunch or dinner.

I could have been extremely embarrassed since I do not carry any other cards with me.

This is very irresponsible on their part. They told me on the phone that they cancelled my card on May 7th and that the letter from American Express cancelling my card was mailed on May 8th.

I have already secured another card and will never - ever deal with American Express again.

They ask in every telephone call if I been treated Ok and if I have any other questions - but haven't they done enough ? So many people depend on the card to be usable when they want it to be and if it is to be cancelled then they should send a certified letter so the card holder knows in advance. This would have been the only "right thing" to do.

CUT UP YOU AMERICAN EXPRESS CARDS. You could be next!!!

Incompetent Customer Valuation - Credit Card

By: Fr. Steve

My wife receive a cancellation notice of the American Express Platinum card she has held for decades. The notice asserted late payments, inadequate monthly payments, and income and assets are not substantial enough for the debt carried. This to a woman who regularly pays off the whole debt, has never paid as little as a minimum payment, has assets that place her in the top ranks of wealth and enjoys a substantial monthly income. A phone call to AmX ended in a rock hard dead end. What incompetent, bureaucratic stupidity is this? They have enough problems without alienating the few good customers they have left.

Seriously, Can This Be Legal? - Credit Card

By: Valrus

We have been a customer of Amex since 2005. It seems reading through comments, the story is all to common. We are a small business owner and carry a personal and business Amex card. We started getting our credit limit lower back in 2008 on business card, then 2/2009 the personal was lowered from $6500 to $5400.

What took the cake was 4/2009 the lowering from $5400 to $4100. I was irate! The customer service with this company is down right ridiculous, a joke to say the least. Last week a CSR advised that no where could she find a reason why this happened and that it would be reviewed by CSR supervisor, they would get back within 3 days. Never heard back from Amex. I called 5/11/2009 and was on hold, pass to numerous departments of Amex. All departments agreed this shouldn't have happened. I was told that they don't see the credit limit was ever lower on either account, that it was always the lowered amount.

Again the CSR would get with (this time) a manager, then get back with me in 3 days. The next day I received my statement showing my personal limit at $5400. Now I have always been advised that the decisions to make changes on accounts occur before a new statement cuts. I called back on 5/12/2009 to hear my account was reviewed and the reason for the lowered credit limit was due to high balances on other credit cards, etc. How all of a sudden was the reason available? My credit is good and all my accounts are paid on time and paid beyond the minimum due. Amex is our enemy and in this economy who needs them lowering credit scores across the board for consumers and small business owners.

Something needs to be done to put this to an end! Isn't it Ellen who does commercials for Amex? Maybe she would be interested to know how Amex treats their paying customers?

American Express is Horrible - Credit Cards

By: Bacall

I have also been "run over" by American Express. As a matter of fact, my small business has. I have faxed letters to the Senate Committee on Small Business, Chris Dodd, and Barney Frank as well as my congressional delegation. All of you who had issues, take the time to write to Congress. We must put an end to AMEX

Amex/costco rip-off

By: amberfro

After paying off a substantial portion of our Amex/Costco card balance. We received a letter informing us that our card was cancelled! LIVID my husband called them to inquire their reasoning behind the decision. With no late payments and us recently paying off most of our credit card balances (to improve our credit score, mind you) we were told that if we renewed our membership with Costco that our account could likely be reinstated!! I cannot believe that they CANCEL and seriously affect peoples credit scores to bully them into renewing their Costco memberships! What a bunch of corporate, nazi B. S!!!!!

Can't get Late Fees off of My Bill - Added late fees

By: Harrison

My statement shows late fees for 3 consecutive months. I called to find out what they were for. I was late one day and so I am charged late fees for 2 months following.
Where in their disclosures does it state that?
If I cancel my card I lose my points earned.

What to do?

Harrison

Amex continues to screw good customers

By: azgranny

Well they did it. After refusing to give Amex access to my tax returns, they "cancelled" my account and informed me it "May" affect my credit report negatively because of my failure to cooperate with their request. NICE. Wonder how much. Had a 840 score.

Cutback on Credit Limit for No Reason-and a BS letter to boot

By: ReInk

I was shocked to receive an email that our company American Express card limit had been cut to $1000 above the balance. I tried customer service; they said the explanation was in the mail - but it actually was sent out after my call. The stated reasons were: my "total debt with American Express and other creditors" (almost all mortgage debt), credit score and records that had not changed since 2005.

I've been told there is nobody who has both responsibility and decision making authority and referenced to write to Doria M. Camaraza, Senior VP Operations, 777 American Express Way, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33337.

It is not fair - credit line decrease

By: mvigi

I feel better reading about other people, American express has no loyalty for their customers, they lower the credit limit, what about the yearly fee? why we have to paid for a yearly fee when other people has a higher credit limit, their yearly fee is $150.00 for a corporate card, we need to take them to court, lets keep writing and complaining and just don't give up, please write to the President that is what I'm doing lets complaint very loud...

APR increases on Life of Balance balances - Blue Card

By: VIC2

I was fortunate to obtain a American Express Blue Card with a Life of Balance APR of 9.99%. I was also offered in the next year a 6.9% APR Life of Balance.

I paid the BT Balance off and continued to use my card on the 9.99% APR LOB. But I had to continually call AMEX to reverse the increases in my APR back to the 9.99% rate.

Last November I found they boosted my APR to 17.49%. After I called they reduced it back to 9.99%, Jan 2009 they sent out "new cardmember agreements" stating the APR will be 12.99%. I have always paid the balance due on time or early. I thought life of balance meant life of balance. They boosted the entire balance to 12.99% instead of honoring their agreement for LOB. I could understand the new APR for new charges, but I can see now they are in survival mode. On top of doing this to me and probably thousands of others, they are laying off another 4,000 employees after just getting done laying off 7,000. If anyone knows of a class action suit I can get involved in regarding LOB APR changes, let me know. In the meantime, if you have any stocks purchased from AMEX, beware. They are acting scared. The actions they are taking to screw over cardmembers and employees will leave them with a very small cardmember base and not much room for profit for a very long time.

AMEX Knows How To Cover Their Asses - Travellers Checks

By: worldtraveller

In March of 2001 the Wyoming Highway Patrol seized about $10,000. worth of AMEX travellers checks from me. Subsequently they turned the checks over to the US Secret Service. The US Secret Service held the checks for three years until 2004. I was never charged with any criminal offence regarding these checks.
Rather than returning th checks to me in 2004 the US Secret Service returned the checks to American Express.

I have documentation (if you had a place to attach files I could display this) to support this allegation along with a letter from the Secret Service stating the checks sent to American Express belonged to me.

In 2006 I hired a Wyoming attorney named Timothy Kingston of Cheyenne,
Wyoming (307) 638-8885. He wrote letters to the legal department at AMEX demanding a refund for these checks being AMEX got my money and the checks back. I also have documents to support this. He even demanded AMEX show a factual or legal basis for denying me my refund. Never did an attorney respond. He only received emails from someone called Annette Holbrook (legal analyst). I checked with the Utah Bar and there was never an attorney practicing in that state by the name of Annette Holbrook. She said she was denying the claim unless I can produce a receipt or proof of purchase.

Unfortunately being it was five years since I purchased the checks I did not have the reaceipts. However requiring me to produce a proof of purchase before I could get a refund is such a farce. Number one AMEX has records. They know damn well who purchased those checks. For two the checks were held for three years with the US Secret Service. If those checks were not purchased by me clearly I would have had criminal charges filed against me. Three I have documentation
(if you only could allow me to paste documents here) where the US Secret Service clearly and unequivocally state that the checks in question belonged to me.

I purchased them on either February 20 or February 21 at the AAA Office on Arkansas Avenue in Denver, Colorado.

In 2007 my attorney filed a complaint against AMEX with the Office of the Attorney General of Utah. The Utah Attorney Generals Office dismissed the complaint because I am not a Utah resident.

I then upon my own filed a complaint in 2007 with the New York State Attorney General (where I am a resident). The complaint again was dismissed. In speaking with an attorney for the New York State Attorney Generals Office she said we can only resolve disputes if both parties are willing to do so voluntarily. Which is a joke. If the two parties can resolve the issue voluntarily why would one have to go to the attorney generals office.

Then in late 2008 I tried to file a complaint against AMEX with the Federal Trade Commission (The FTC).The FTC would not take the complaint because they say they only deal with class action suits. They referred me to the Office of Thrift Supervision.
In 2008 I filed a complaint against AMEX with the OTS (Office of Thrift Supervision) and they said that AMEX is a bank and that I should go to the FDIC. I went to the FDIC and they said AMEX is not a bank and that I should go to the FTC.

In 2009 I tried to contact an attorney for AMEX to discuss the refund and I get stonewalled. I first tried phoning the 1-800-221-7282 and I got someone from the Phillipines named Christian and he refused to connect me to an attorney for AMEX. I also phoned a Justin Peterson at AMEX in Salt Lake (1-801-945-5146)and he too refused to put me in contact with an in house attorney for AMEX.

It is rather obvious what AMEX is doing. They know how to cover their asses. They know the only way I would get justice from them is by sueing them. And for me to hire an attorney it would cost me more than the $10,000 I am out. I am trying to get the money back. Does anyone here know of any way that I can bring AMEX to justice, have them refund me my $10,000. without it costing me $10,000 to do so. Further there is now telling how many other times AMEX has done this.

American Express is hurting good customers

By: unfortunate

I have been an American express customer for over 5 years now. I have been a "valued customer", as they referred to me. I used my discover card to pay off my balance with American express. For over a month I did not make any purchases. A week ago, I received a letter from American Express informing me that my account was cancelled due to the high debts I carry.

I called them right away. The customer representative said that I had other debts, and they had to cancel my account. I told this perso that that was garbage because I PAID OFF my balance, and cancelling my account made no sense. They cancelled my account because I paid off the balance and did not purchase anything for a while. We need to let people know about the crimes that American Express is committing about good responsible customers.

Thank You.

Claudia

21 year customer - Gold Card

By: Maxson

I just closed my Amex. gold card after having it for 21 years. Use to charge all my day to day charges on the card, I have paid my bill on time and they put a $1600.00 limit on the card and want me to pay $75.00 a year for using the card. I just called them to remove the limit and they won't. They have just lost a good customer of 21 years and they don't care. Good luck AMEX you won't last much longer treating good customers like this.

Michael Maxson

Usury - Dinner

By: Omener

Although we paid our fees within twenty days of receiving the charge we were assessed a late fee which amounted to 20% of the outstanding bill. Such charges are totally unjustified.

We have always paid our fees on time in the ten years that we have had the card.

"Customer service" is a misnomer

By: 0007

I am writing to inform you of my recent experience with your business partner American Express. It is very sad to see Costco, the pinnacle of customer service and customer loyalty, partnering up with a company that has a corporate culture which has no respect for its customer base and considers them totally replaceable.

They do not understand the concept of customer service and have no insight to blatant flaws in their system processes.

Briefly

I changed my autopay banking info on line in a timely manner, clearly documented, however Amex continued to bill/debit my old bank account. The old bank account did not have sufficient funds so they immediately cancelled my card. No discussion with me, a 7 year old customer, credit score of 750+ who always pay his balance in full. I call to discuss and request reactivation, Impossible...automatic hold on card for 7 days, I request direct debits to the old account be stopped since I incur a $30 fee for each attempt since there was no money in that account. Impossible...I would have to pay those charges( my bank has no authority by Federal law to stop direct debits...they must be stopped by the sender!). I asked to pay off my AMEX account in full from the new bank account ...yes you guessed it ..Impossible!I was told I can only make a payment from the old account... I ask the logic behind that..."sir that is all I can offer you"

Three hours later I reached someone who would accept $5700 payment to bring a zero balance to my account. Unfortunately that still did not stop the two subsequent direct debits to my account and a total of $90 in insufficient fees charged by my old bank account.

I asked Amex customer service to to reimburse me for those charges... 5 hours later....Impossible. It was all my fault...I ask why was it my fault?

I obviously did not update Autopay in a timely fashion was the Amex reason.

I updated on April 19th 2009 which was well within the 4 days required prior to the future debit schedueled on MAy 5th 2009.

So now is it still my fault...even when I asked Amex to stop debits an May 7th...which would have saved at least $60 in bank fees.

Amex response was go to our bank... to which I asked...and what should I do when I go to the bank.

Amex response...We cannot advise you what to do..


I had my Amex card cancelled for a week which was a major inconvenience for my corporation, I was insulted by Amex customer "service" supervisors, I incurred $90 in bank fees despite doing everything I was supposed to do in a timely manner. AMEX also decided to charge me $38 in interest and late fees for good measure...why not he' s got the cash and we are hurting for it so screw him while we can....the AMEX motto I believe.

AMEX sucks big time. It is a disgrace that Costco has got into bed with these thieves. Your customers desrve better and Costco name should not be seen next to Amex.

Attached is a further sampling Amex customer relation experiences. I urge Costco to review this matter for its customer sake and renegotiate a credit facility with a corporation with a culture more aligned to Costco

http://www.my3cents.com/companyReview.cgi?compid=235&subcat=6

I appreciate you taking the time to consider this experience

Sincerly

Sorry Customer Service - American Express

By: Lisa1969

To start with back in March of 08 I made my March payment around the 1st it's due around the 9th of March. Then I made an April payment in late March. I usually pay my bills early. Well the company said that I never made a payment for April and after arguing with them they finally got it and said they had fixed the problem.

Not so after at least 3 conversations about the same topic to this day it still says that I was late even though after the end of each conversation with them they supposedly had fixed it. Also back in February of this year they increased my minimum amount without my knowledge. I paid my bill as I always do only to find out when I went to pay the next month that I had a late fee because I didn't pay the correct amount. After making payments on time and over the minimum payment. I get a letter stating that they had lowered my credit limit due to my high revolving accounts. Ok I do have my accounts close to maxed its true. But I do pay ALL of my bills on time and over what I owe. So now they have hurt my credit again.

This company does nothing for customer loyalty and if you pay on time they penalize you I hate to see what they do to someone who doesn't pay their bills. STAY AWAY FROM AMERICAN EXPRESS! BEWARE THEY WILL KILL YOUR CREDIT EVEN IF YOU PAY ON TIME!

Betrayed by American Express

By: anti-americanexpress

I have had two American Express credit cards since 2003. I have never been late to pay my balance and it was full payment all the time. Then guess what? American Express just cancelled my credit cards all of sudden on May 1st 2009. The reason is that I have high debt, which is, they said, my mortgage for my house.

I checked my credit report and score. My credit score is over 740. Everything was in good standing, never late. I can’t still believe it. Nonsense. I guess they may cancel anyone who has a house and pays mortgage since it will be considered as debt, which seems American Express doesn't want to have its business any more.

I can say I have been a LOYAL customer to AMEX. The AMEXs were my major ones about 70% of my total credit cards. All the time I used to use AMEX rather than the others. But then they did not appreciate it at all. They don't know the importance of loyalty at all. It will be an excellent example of customer loyalty for my marketing class. It is not really enough about what I feel now, though. But I am not going to argue this with them since it is not my loss, but their loss.

Kicked to the Curb by American Express

By: Heated in HI

I'm another one of the many that has been carelessly mistreated by American Express. I have had my card since 6/2004, have always paid more than the minimum due (which THEY determined) and never late. In 10/08, a few months after I applied for an American Express Costco card, which they also approved, they reduced my credit limit from $16,600 to $6,000 citing several FALSE excuses.

Only one of their excuses was true - other credit card balances. They also increased my interest rate by 3% at the same time. Shortly after that, they sent me a notice regarding my AMEX Costco card - the credit limit was reduced and the interest also increased. Ironically, I have always promoted AMEX to all my friends & family raving about how they had the Lowest interest rate, not anymore! I have never been so insulted by a credit card company before AMEX. I used to have a credit score of 830, not anymore, thanks to their unfair credit practices. They screwed my credit score but good! (It's comforting to know that I'm not alone.) I continued to pay more than my minimum payment due each month. Six months later, I received another notice that they had once again reduced my credit limit, to $4,800 this time - less than $200 more than my balance. In these bad economic times you'd think they would appreciate consistent paying customers like us but I guess they're just so full of themselves.

I just read today on the reuters.com website that the CEO, Kenneth Chenault stated, in response to the new credit card laws, "will reduce the flow of credit...we will be hurt less than our competitors because 80 percent of our revenues are generated from fees". That explains their callous, arrogant, unacceptable credit practices. It seems they have to screw every cardholder they can before the new law becomes effective.

Well America, let's learn from our appalling experience and stop using our American Express credit card so we can pay it off!

Let's remember this when the economy is once again flourishing and we'll see how many customers they'll have then! I'm sticking with the other credit card companies who appreciated me and have been increasing my credit limit while AMEX is THE ONLY ONE decreasing it! Wouldn't it be great if there was a class action lawsuit against their despicable practices?

Horrible Customer Relations - American Express Green Card

By: mellobello

I closed my account. Less than two minutes later I attempted to reopen the account when I realized there are some small changes that are billed to this account monthly. American Express customer account person was rude, mean and refused to reopen it. I was told there was no way to reopen it once it was closed even though I called back literally two minutes later.

When I asked to speak with a Supervisor I was told there was no supervisor to speak with. I have been an AMEX cardholder for 21 years and have been late making a payment only 1 time in all those years. American Express also cut my credit 2 x in the past year without just cause.

I would love to sue this credit card company. Anyone out there interested in starting a class action suit?

Thanks.

American Express Dumping Debt & Consumer Respect!

By: CaliSB

I was a loyal customer for 23 yrs. Same details as everyone else - paid on time, etc. They took me from no limit down to almost nothing over 3 mos. & now they keep changing the due date when I use it, which surely cannot be legal. I'm done!

I don't use the card & won't. Not worth the uncertainty of being denied or worse cancelled. I doubt any of this radical debt dumping will save them anyway.

Another disgruntled AMEX customer

By: JakeF

I had three accounts with AMEX. Platinum business, blue for business and capital line.

Currently, I use/process the cards to the tune of nearly $800,000 per year. No, never, ever been late on a payment. AMEX actually sends me yearly letters thanking me for my "significant" amount of spending. For my business platinum card, it made complete sense.

Not only was is easy to categorize purchases for accounting purposes, but the rewards program was second to none.

Of course, all this changed in November 2008 when AMEX decided to become a bank holding company. (think Bear Stearns) This is when the capital line program was eliminated. Of course, I was one of the foolish ones that actually believed that this credit line would be available during my slower business months. While I'm able to weather this poor decision by AMEX, there are tens of thousands of small businesses who have been severely crippled by this.

Fast forward to the past month. AMEX has lowered my limit on the blue card twice. (I've paid it off since and awaiting them to cancel the thing) For my platinum card, the limit has been lowered to the average amount that I spend monthly (approx. 54k per month on the business card on a yearly average) For the record, last year at this time, my combined balances with this company were around 100k. (and nobody blinked an eye) The irony here that I called last year and the representative who greeted me stated "wow, this is a nice account you have with us".

In the past, the customer service was nothing short of phenomenal. Now? It seems that the 11000+ people that have lost their jobs with this company are the ones who were responsible for this being a formerly great company.

I'm through fighting with American Express. They've made it clear that they do not wish to continue with their business with me.

My business (fortunately) has seen decent growth over the past several years. After analyzing my merchant account, it appears that usage of AMEX cards has decreased a full 20%. Not only that, but the average transaction per card is now much closer to the Visa/MC average than it ever has been. While the higher discount rate (3.5%) for my merchant account used to be worth it, those days are becoming numbered.

Quite frankly, I'm not sure what this means by the actions of this company. I do know, however, that my business has been cutting back it's use on the card and I am sincerely considering to stop accepting the card entirely.

Harassment - AMEX Gold Card

By: Tastebud

AMEX has also reduced our credit limit drastically after 35 years with not one late payment.

I am calling my Congressman. This is just not right. We have excellent credit.

I too had my credit card declined at Costco.

The only thing I can figure out is they may be in a world of hurt and going under. Couldn't happen to a better company after what we have experienced.

Glad I found all these posts, I thought it was just us.

AMEX abuses its loyal customers

By: iulianionescu

AMEX took an action in 2008-2009 by aggressively removing the credit limits for their customers. The move was done without notification and without any regard to the result of their action. More than that, the action was done on long time, stable and good customers, with good credit scores and a steady, healthy credit behavior.

People who had years of good payments and never late. AMEX’s action disregarded the fact that many people have automatic payments linked to their accounts, disregarded the fact that some people may have been on vacation and the fact that the credit scores are looking at the usage ration of the card. By slashing the limit close to the current balance AMEX directly affected the credit scores of the customers and potentially damaged their reputation in the eyes of the other financial institution. And all without prior notice! This shows an utter and complete disrespect towards the loyal customers and proves that AMEX is nothing but a corporate money hungry machine that doesn’t care about the fact that their business is in fact represented by the people who use their card. Given this fact, we will all boycott the American Express Company by no longer using their card and no longer accepting their card at our businesses.

I was one of these loyal good customers, but their behavior made me really sick to my stomach. They are acting just like a cowardly criminal sneaking upon you in a dark alley and hitting you from behind.

In order to so something about it I started a cause on Facebook called "Boycott American Express". Feel free to join and spread the word:

http://apps. facebook.com/causes/289806

UnAmerican Express - Credit Card

By: ferg690

I too was cancelled by American Express. No notice at all, just one day I tried to use the card and it was denied. I owed $60 to them on the card, no late payments ever!

Thanks for making me look stupid at the store when I was denied.

I hope you fail.

Passing The Buck - Travelers Checks

Passing The Buck - Travelers Checks

Hello,

Before I start this post you might want to read my previous review titled

"AMEX Knows How To Cover Their Asses - Travellers Checks"

If you read that review you can see I have encountered some problems (buck passing). At first I tried to file a complaint against AMEX with the Attorney General For the State of Utah.

The attorney general dismissed the complaining because I am not a Utah resident. I then filed a complaint against AMEX with the attorney general for the state of New York where I am a resident. The attorney general said we can only resolve disputes if both parties wish to do so voluntarily. This is a joke. If both parties were able to resolve the dispute voluntarily one party wouldn't have to file a complaint with the Office of the Attorney General.

The attorney general for Utah said to me that I should file my complaint against AMEX with the FTC (Federal Trade Commission). The FTC told me that they only handle class action law suits and not suits involving individuals. They said the proper place for me to go to would be the OTS (Office of Thrift Supervision).

When I went to the OTS the OTS said AMEX is a bank and that I should go to the FDIC.

Then when I went to the FDIC they said that AMEX is not a bank and I should go back to the FTC.

Then the FTC sent me back to the OTS. The OTS sent me back to the FDIC and the FDIC sent me to the FTC.

So I got rather frustrated. On this site a few weeks ago someone suggested that I should contact the OCC (Office of the Comptroller of the Currency). I contacted the OCC and they said the FDIC or the OTS were the proper agencies for me to file my complaint with. Once again passing the buck.

So, as you can see I am getting a big runaround. Does anyone have any suggestions on how this buck passing can be stopped? One idea I thought of is that I could try to contact the Secretary of the Treasury. I haven't tried that yet. Anybody have any other ideas?

American Express Hates American Businesses

By: dcdfiredave

After being a member with American Express since 1982, they one day canceled my card with an email notice. Payments were always made on time along with my flex account. After they suspended my account, they are now calling me days before my payment is due asking if a payment has been made. This is harassment and is unwarranted!

If anyone knows of a good attorney, I think there is a slam dunk case present against this ignorant, rude company!

Saturday, May 29, 2010

Cancelled Card Without Even A Courtesy Call!

By: djayrox

Hello,

I have had AMEX blue card for about 4 years now. The credit limit is only $2500. I have had high balances, but never missed a single payment ever.

Anyways, I was just sick of paying all this money in interest and started paying off one card after the other. About, two weeks back, I paid off AMEX card totally.

Today, we had gone for a company happy hour. When I gave my Amex card for paying the bill of some $30, the waitress came back and told me that the card was declined. I was like WTF? I asked her if she was sure. She told me that she tried it three times.

I then paid the bill using my debit card. I came home and called AMEX and they told me that they cancelled it.

I just asked them one question. Why the F can't you have the courtesy to call and at least let me know about this?? I've been such a good customer of theirs and this is how they pay me back.

Serious jerks.. I was so happy off late since I have been paying off all these credit cards and thought that my credit score would rise. Now, I actually worry that the score might have gone down since they cancelled my card!!

I'm so mad right now... The customer service representative was a biatchhh...

I hate AMEX!!

Hope they rot in hell...

Pissed right now.....
Jay

Poor Customer Service From American Express

By: 1066

A while back American Express cancelled my credit card account due to false information contained in my credit report. Once I had the corrected credit report I wrote to American Express to either have them re-instate my account or remove from my credit report that the account was closed at the creditor's request.

I have sent four letters to two addresses since February and have yet to receive any acknowledgment from American Express.

Horrible Service!!!

By: IHATEAMEX

I wanted a card I could payoff every month so I got an American Express Green card. I payed it off completely every month before the due date. Around Christmas I called them and told then I wanted to buy an expensive item for my son for Christmas and asked for the extended pay on this purchase they told me no problem okayed it before I purchased it and told me what to do after purchasing the item.

I did exactly what they said and they denied the extended pay. So it took me 2 billing cycles to pay it off plus the late fees. Today I made my payment on the card for the total amount and I went to pickup some things at Costco and my card was denied. I called AMEX only to find out my account has been closed. Without any notification!! When I asked why they said it was because of the 1 late payment 6 months ago. I hope they go bankrupt just like the rest of the crooks (banks) out there...They deserve every bad thing coming to them.

I HATE AMERICAN EXPRESS!!! Do not give them your business...and Costco should be embarrassed that they only accept that card. LIARS

Such B S!! - cutting my credit limit and increasing my interest rate

By: Cinzin

I've been screwed by AmEx too. I have been a loyal customer for well over 8 years. I have had late payments, but they were maybe a day late. But...I have NEVER missed one single payment. November 2008 I opened my bill to examine it, as we have been upgrading out home, and used this card for purchases for flooring, paint...etc.

I was informed that my credit limit of $25000.00 had been reduced. And my interest had been increased to almost 28%....yes, 27.98% folks! Unbelievable. I placed a call to Amex to find out why, and they told me that I had been late twice in the last 12 months, and that raises my interest rate. Again, I have never missed a payment, and I always pay well up and over the minimum each month. I have paid my account off in full in the past. Our tax dollars have bailed these credit card companies' asses out, and this is what we get? Screwed over? I have read several of the other complaints. Seems AmEx is due for an awakening. They need to take a step back and appreciate the loyal customers who pay their bill. Stop punishing those who send their checks in. There are a lot more people who have lost their jobs and homes or filed bankruptcy. The rest of us who have the comfort of employment would appreciate a little returned respect.....I will never use Amex again. I have canceled my card and will never look back.

Cancelled Card The Day Going Overseas

By: REDDMCJR

I paid my balance to 0.00, was never late, and they cancelled it the day I was going overseas, no call no warning bad company. I will never use this company again, ever. And they expect Delta employees to push their product... [snip]

Amex Autopay - Software changes

By: nnotsoo

5 letters to Amex, last ones to CEO's:
Steve. Squeri@aexp.com
Judson. C.Linville@aexp.com

Auto pay is designed to generate late fees and finance charges. Sign up takes 45 days, any changes you need to cancel and re-apply and that takes another 1.5 billing cycles. Amex computer pay site AND autopay are not linked.

So your bank account info such as default bank, will not be same as autopay,(if you have more than 1 bank account) Two separate companies, yet on same site! Amex is behind the software update time frame. Also notice when you sign up to auto-pay it defaults to the 20 day payment date? That is designed to generate last day to pay bill, so if there is a problem, too late for you to phone or do a computer payment. Zap with late and finance charges. I even tried to pay ahead and Amex won't take $$. For Email addresses go to Corp. site and look at media contact to get email format and then to corp management site to get names!!

Amex suddenly reduced the limit from $10000 to $1000

By: Y&M

We received the letter from Amex, the Amex in USA reduced our limit from $10000 to $100 suddenly. They write the reason is the economic situation.

But if they loan us only $1000, we can not use the card for our travel, usually use over $2000, and it means Amex USA can not collect interests from us much.
I don't think USA Amex is smart with their calculation.

I have no idea where we use the limit $1000 card for.

We can not use this Amex USA for travel at least.

Other countries' Amex is just normal so far, the limit equally
$10000 minimum.

It seems USA Amex is only bad management and so strange to do for good customers.
This is a reason why USA economics system is not working well.

Unbelievable but True.... - Credit Limit Reduced

By: Rasta

We must unite and find a way to expose American express before this happens to others. This is my story... My payment have been late several times and I run a high balance but I pay every month. Often I pay twice a month but I did not realize that you must pay between the 16th and the 6th until finally a customer service representative explained it to me.

My daughters won the national forensic competition and will travel to the states for the nationals. We live on an U.S. island in the middle of the pacific. I called customer service and informed them that I planned to pay down my limit so that I could use my card for my travels. I gave them my travel dates and they assured me that I would not have any problems with my card. Yesterday I was informed that my credit limit has been reduced and I have only $109 available credit. My wife and daughters leave in one week and I leave in two weeks. Plans have been made, I have contacted people in the states, my car has been reserved, and they took my family's money knowing what our plans were. I have two daughters who won competitions and it is my responsibility to pick one up in Omaha, and the other in San Antonio. They knew exactly what I was planning and they just took away my credit line. How cruel is that? They smiled in my face while choosing which knife they would use. It took me months to plan this trip. And now after the fact, I understand why many businesses do not accept Amex. And the first thing I thought of was to sue which brought me to this site. I had no idea what a monster we are dealing with until I read all of the negative reviews. We must warn people before this happens to others and we must unite and figure out a way to get some justice out of this. This is just wrong!

No Prior notice of card cancellation

By: toodles

I just logged onto my account on the AMEX website and found out that my card was cancelled. I have an outstanding balance on my sign and travel but other than that I have always paid my American Express when it was due. I told a representative at the beginning of the year that because I had cancer and I was paying a lot of copays and medication copays it would be difficult to pay off the balance until summer.

I was told not to worry that I "was in good standing with AMEX." I also had a problem with some of the Customer Service reps who did not understand that a debit and a credit cancel each other out. That took about 4 or 5 phone calls. I am very upset and I would say to those of you who have an outstanding sign & travel balance, Look Out!!!

Worst credit card company ever

By: R1

I have been an American express customer for 3 years now, and have ALWAYS paid my balances in full every month. I went to use my card last night and was told that it was not authorized, embarrasssed I quickly retrieved my debit card and paid for the meal. I go home and log in to my Amex account online only to see that it has been canceled WTF!? So this morning I call them and they tell me after a review they decided to cancel my account because I have not always paid my account in full, and I have a public record on my credit, and because I have had a lot of inquiries on my credit report.

All which are FALSE, I tell the customer service rep, that I don't know if they have me mixed up with someone else, but I have a 700 + FICO score, and I have a clean credit report, within the past 2 months I have had 4 credit inquires as I am searching for the best deal for a new car. She informs me that all she has in front of her was a summary and no specifics, they never sent me a letter or email or anything informing me of what was happening, they just shut my card down, she told me I had to pay the balance in full immediately to prevent going to collections. COLLECTIONS!!!!!!! The balance isn't due until next week, and she said that I have to pay it now. So after I hung up on her I logged on paid my balance in full and shredded the card. I'm done with them, never again!!!!! I had over 250,000 in rewards points that I never got to redeem, if you have an American express card, my advice to you is to pay it off and cut it up, because had I not had my debit card on me I don't know what I would have done, as I don't carry cash. This company will leave you up s%$ts creek and not think twice about it. Now I understand why a lot of places don't accept this horrible card.

AE Did It To Me Too

By: shrimpann

I was a Blue card holder who always paid on time and paid more than the minimum. I did a refinance cash back recently and paid off several cards, this one included. Two months later(6 days ago) I charged $218 and was trying to make another charge when I found out it had been canceled with no notice. How can they continue doing this over and over again with no consequences?????????

Reporting $0 Limit and XXXX balance negative credit impact

By: pwonson

American Express has always reflected my account as having a credit limit of $0, thereby lowering my credit score. When I spoke to them about it, they were nasty to me and I should have followed my gut and closed the account. We were in the process of buying a house so I did not.

However last fall or summer they imposed a limit (I have the statements) but a limit of $0 is still reflected in my credit reports.

(They claim they are reporting it correctly but the report is never corrected.)

This year they started chasing my balance as I paid it, that is lowering the limit as I paid yet still the limit of $0 is reflected.

They also report a closed account, because at one point they reported the flexible and the full payment as separate accounts (?).

All the misrepresented information on my report decreases my score by at least 100 points. And all the reasons they stated for lowering my limit were a directly related to how American Express accounts are reflected on my report.

Credit Card Late fee of $140 because payment was 2 days late!!

By: igs

I always pay my credit card at the end of the month in full, religiously! Recently I paid my credit card 2 days late. I called them up and they said there was nothing they can do!! I have been using American express exclusively as my only credit card since 1999 and they could not reverse out the late charge. Unbelievable. Not only that, but I paid financing charges of 100$ and a late fee of 40$ for the entire month, all the while paying them off in the 2nd of the month, how unfair!! This is the thanks I get for being a loyal card member? I closed off all my Amex accounts. If they keep this up they won't have any customers left.

American Express - Worse Customer Service and Rules

By: rired11

The American Express Gold Card boosts no limit. That is not true. Month after month in 2009 they have denied charges becaues I exceed what they call the normal charge amounts. They charge me $125 a year for this service! I will be closing this card and letting American Express find another customer willing to pay them $125 a year for this terrible service! No wonder the American banking system has gone to the dogs. These type policies discourage good customers ruin the company's reputation.

American Express or American Depress?

By: LessIsMore

To whom it may concern at American Express,

I am writing to express my disappointment and frustration with the American Express company and its poor business practices for small businesses that work diligently to follow the rules and pay on time only to be disregarded as insignificant to American Express.

Below is my story which I am sure will not matter even to the reader of this letter yet I believe change never takes place until people make their voices heard.

Our small business opened an account with American Express in September 2007. We also opened a merchant account for accepting American Express in January of 2008. Excited to be able to take Advantage of no limit, no interest and additional rewards for our small business purchases from our vendors we began using the card. The card was a no limit card (Gold and balance must be paid in full each month) or so we were told but quickly found out that there is in fact a type of limit. Understanding that in a struggling economy it is important for lenders to be cautious we worked within the limits of American Express and policies. We had spent over $10,000 in a single month and paid each bill in full and on time to establish our creditworthiness with American Express like we do with every lender. Our name is important to our business and we work diligently to keep a good name.

April 2009 we tried to use our card with a vendor with whom we do a lot of business and had always used American Express to pay this vendor (which of course costs our vendor more due to the higher merchant fees charged by American Express). The amount was about $9,000 and we had no reason to believe this would be issue since we had spent as much as $10,000 in a single month less than a year ago and had always paid our balance in full and on time.

The card was declined. We contacted American Express to find out why it was declined. Long story short and a few phone calls later we were told that due to the last six months spending pattern they would not approve the charge. We explained that our business was at its peak in the summer and is when the larger charges would be made but were told too bad. We were told to increase our spending in order to increase our spending pattern. The following day our vendor ran the card again (we had not contacted them to tell them to wait for a different credit card from us) and oddly the charge was approved. This restored our confidence in American Express and its willingness to work with small businesses. This of course was temporary due to the rest of the story that follows.

June 2009 another invoice from the same vendor was due in the amount of approximately $8,400. Since we had paid our balances again on time we had no reason to believe this would be issue. Once again and with much embarrasssment the card was declined. Primary card member (name with held for privacy) then got online and made a $4,000 early payment in good faith to American Express and then placed a call to have the charge approved from our vendor. We were told that American Express had placed a limit on the account that day for $3,400 though the balance on the card at the time was $8,000 of which a $4,000 early payment had been made. The representative explained that due to other account balances and negative statements which appeared on our Experian credit report they determined to place a limit on the card that day. We check our credit reports daily and there were no negative comments or delinquencies. HOWEVER $20,000 of debt had been paid off in the past 30-40 days (because we value our good name and credit) due to the increase in our business not to mention no delinquencies reported in many years on any credit report. American Express did not care to review or work with our small business in a timely fashion. They claimed that there was nothing that could be done.

We removed American Express as a payment option for our customers the minute your company made it clear that our business did not matter. Not only will you lose the high merchant fees paid to you by our vendors when we used your card you will no longer receive merchant fees from our sales as we are no longer willing to accept your card.

These are the reasons I am writing to express my deep disappointment and extreme frustration with a credit card company that claims to be on the side of small business yet I find the practices of American Express to speak quite the contrary.

We accepted American Express as merchants from our customers though you charge the highest merchant fees and take the longest to pay the merchants. Visa, MasterCard and Discover all pay the following business day. American Express as long a week may pass before the money is released into the small business person’s account. For small business this creates real frustration and is truly a hindrance financially to accept this card. This is not beneficial to small business in any way. Higher merchant fees and slow pay to the business does not give small business many reasons to accept your card from customers.

Now add to that the lousy treatment of the small business cardholder that is told no limit but this is in fact a lie even for those small businesses that pay balances in full and on time every time. Punished on both sides by American Express has left a bad taste in the mouth of this small business. Realizing of course that as a small business we are not even a blip on your radar or bait in this large ocean of business we have made the decision to no longer do business with American Express.

Apparently spending over $100,000 in a little over a year and half though always paid on time and accepting your outrageous merchant fees and slow pay practices and being charged $170 to even have a card counts for nothing. This makes the taste of doing business with American Express bitter and it will no longer be tolerated by our small business. Punishing the people and businesses that do the right thing and pay on time is not smart business practice in this fragile economy.

We are a very small business aware of how little our business matters to American Express however I wonder how much of American Express’ business is made up of small business and how much will be lost due to these pathetic practices. I always wondered why so many small business owners did not want to accept American Express but the picture is becoming quite clear to me.

The company does not care about the Little Joes that make up a sizable amount of the economy and rather than work with small business or loyal members they prefer to disregard them. A terrible mistake because as our small business grows and it is growing, American Express will not be benefiting from our growth. If you don’t treat us well while we are small then you won’t have our business when we are big.

Trust me that these events are likely to keep us from ever accepting your card as a merchant or using your card as a cardholder. I hope other small businesses do the same once I share my story with them since I am sure you will never share this story on any of your expensive commercials that we as merchants and cardholders pay to view.

After my experiences I did a bit of research online (check www.my3cents.com) for American Express reviews and found that my story is very similar to the stories of multiple disgruntled card members and merchants. It is pathetic the way American Express has treated loyal customers with histories much longer than our own history with your company.

If American Express is planning to ask for bailout money as so many other irresponsible companies are doing then I assure you the voices of current and former digruntled customers and merchants will be heard screaming "DO NOT BAIL OUT AMERICAN EXPRESS"! Why would taxpayers want to bailout a company that treats customers that pay on time as poorly as you have treated us and many other people?

You may wish to consider changing the name of your company from American Express to American Depress which is what you are doing to every small business owner and loyal card member out there by charging higher merchant fees; delaying payment, changing credit limits without notification and restricting cardholders which pay on time. America is a country of freedom and choice and you have chosen to mistreat and disregard our business and other small business owners and loyal members and the same courtesy will be extended to you.

Another disappointed cardholder & merchant,
(Names have been removed for privacy)

How Dare They Drop Our Limit!

By: MadWithAmex

We need your help exposing AMEX for their terrible customer service and
lack of loyalty to their customers. Thank you in advance for reading this
email.

We have been a member of Platinum American Express since 2000. We have
used our cards, which we pay a fee of $400+ each for the privilege of
spending money with them, for our corporations, our personal expenses, and
travel.

Over the years we have probably spent over $700,000 with American
Express! We ALWAYS paid the balance off when due and at times at meant a
$50,000 monthly payment.

During the last 6 months, we have used our American Express cards less and
less. One reason is that we had some charge problems using the card in
Mexico that went largely unresolved for all parties because no one in
India (Which is where their call center is for this "American" company)
could comprehend the intricacies of our problem because it was quite
simply a matter best dealt with by an American. Even someone from Mexico
would have understood it better.

Secondly, we were using other cards that gave us the mileage points we
needed for an airline.

The problem is that because we have NOT been using our cards very much,
they have cut us off at $500! Now that we need it...we got cut off at
$500. For no reason. We have no payment due until July 2nd and our balance
is only $443.27. We have carried balances in the 10s of thousands in the
past and now we can only have $500. Which is less than our annual fee
we've paid this "American" company. What if we were out with clients
wining/dining and our card was declined? That would be so embarrasssing.

So we called and complained. Who did we get? Some smug kid in India who
put us on hold for 20 minutes and told us that "the computer says you have
not used your card much in the last 6 months, so your balance and
available credit is $500." HOW DOES THIS MAKE SENSE WHEN THEY ADVERTISE
THEMSELVES AS A NO SPENDING LIMIT CARD? AND WE ARE PLATINUM CARDHOLDERS TO
BOOT!

I smell class action suit coming - Who's in

By: bballen911

Looks like I am one in a long list of folks who got their credit limit instantly reduced for no logical reason, causing embarrasssment. Balance around 12,200 with credit limit of 15,000. I was using it exclusively (ie my other credit cards have zero balance) because it had intro offer of 0% APR for 14 months AND I got Points towards travel.

Last payment was 2200 a couple weeks ago, never been late have extremely low debt ratio and excellent credit. Never had this happen before. My wife happens to mention the Amex card got declined. I was like no way. Told her to call. They told her we were over our limit. I said thats a lie, cus I knew my limit and my balance. So, was busy Sat/Sun and called Monday. sure enough. the "nice lady" said they reduced my limit to 12200, effectively shutting off the card. They did it because they found something negative in my credit history and because my balances relative to credit limit were high. I mentioned that I have 2 cards with Bank of America with combined credit limit of about 37,000 and zero balance. hmmm, that doesn't sound to high to me...Lets see my only other debt is mortgage totaling 212k on a house worth 380k. NO OTHER DEBT. I told them to close the account immediately, and if they reported me to credit bureau as Over Limit I will sue them. She said they wouldn't but I will still double check. I also was an AMEX stockholder. There stock has been good to me but since I now hate them, I sold that stock (near their recent high, goody for me). I had my grand daughter do the honors and cut up the cards. AMEX is now on the short list of companies I will NEVER do business with again under any circumstances and I will be happy to tell all my friends and family about. If your wondering, the other one is ALLSTATE, but it a similar screw the customer story.

Oh, by the way, the nice AMEX lady said they called 4 times. I asked if they left a msg, she said it was automated and came back as either busy or no answer. but, she said they sent an email also. Which, when I looked as we were talking she was right. Unfortunately, I got none of this information BEFORE my family was impacted. I can only speculate as to why they did it. My guess is I was I had accumulated 58000 points (about $600 worth) AND was borrowing 12k at 0% APR. Essentially, I was beating them at their own game and with the economy turning, they couldn't bear it anymore. Its Ironic how fast this happened. I only got the card less than a year ago (and that little whatever it is on my credit rept didn't bother them, and my debt situation was identical and didn't bother them). What they did shows an utter lack of respect for their customers and put us in a very embarrasssing situation. PLEASE TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS THEY ARE UNETHICAL SCUMBAGS. IF THEY OWN A BUSINESS TELL THEM NOT TO ACCEPT AMEX. IF THEY LIKE TO INVEST TELL THEM NOT TO OWN AXP.

False information by American Express Representative

By: azi

I am furious! my husband and I have had a credit card through American Express for over 5 years. We have always been on time with our payments and have paid our balances on time.

I had an unfortunate situation occur last month where I accidently had my bank send a check to Comcast instead of American express.

When I found out about this, I called American express and spoke to a "nice" lady who indicated to me that she would take off all the late fees and charges. I was very happy to hear that and thrilled about their customer service.

When I received my statement for this month, it appeared that the fees and late charges were still there. I called back and spoke to a supervisor and also the gentlement who supervised him. Both were extremely rude to me and indicated that they had nothing in their records supporting my conversation. They basically called me a lier!!

When asked to pull up the recording of this conversation which blatently supported my position, they said that they do not record all the customers conversations and that they rely on the accuracy of what their agents input into the system.
So basically, if you call the customer service number and you are quoted something, don't count on that statement being correct! The agents at American express well say anything to make you happy and later will not note it on the account. Thereafter, the supervisors will back their agents and will do nothing to investigate the incident.

I found this encounter with American express very diturbing. Its the principle of being lied to that bothers me the most, not so much the fact that they failed to take the fee off.

I'm planning to file a claim with the Better Business Bureau and possibly a formal federal legal action. I'm curious if there is anyone out there who experienced the same type of incident? If so, please contact me. I am willing to take all the steps neccessary to make sure this does not happen again to anyone!

Cancelled my card, paid ontime and IN FULL the last 6 years

By: foolsgold

My husband and I are in a large lawsuit with a company over a fradulent loan and it is effecting our credit score. American Express dropped the balance on my card twice, eventually making it 1/8 of what it was. I could understand their thoughts though I did call them to explain what was going on. Last week they cancelled the card.

Every month I paid off the card completely and on time, since the day I've had the card. They said my explanation didn't matter, they base it solely on the credit score even though I've been a great customer, and I am not eligible for reconsideration. Amex is good if you have a good credit score, but if anything in your life ever goes bad and you actually NEED a credit card for emergencies.. don't make it this one because they will drop you and not think twice about it.

Don't use auto pay with AE

By: Tinsoldier

American Express will cut off your auto pay bills with no warning! It screwed me up on several bills and then got behind without knowing it.

The representative stated that it was because of my 'average' monthly bills exceeded their limit. I asked what my limit was on this Platinum card and they wouldn't give me the info.

Then they sent me an invoice for $450 for the platinum card. I told them to bend over and relax because I was going to put the bill somewhere the sun don't shine. I will not charge on this card anymore and had my wife's store stop accepting these cards.