Ruining My Life - American Express Gold Card

I opened my American express card account in 1993. I loved this card. It was useful in emergency or when I was low on cash. I had a large sign and travel balance, which I paid along with my regular charges on time until May 2009. I was victim of identity theft. The negative accounts on my credit reports caused my credit card limits to be reduced on most of credit cards as well as my minimum payments doubled on these cards.

I informed the credit companies and they refused to reduce my APR or monthly payments. It took nine months to get all the negative fraudulent information off of my credit report. BUT, none of the credit companies would reverse the APRs or minimum payments. So, I was using the AMEX card to meet my expenses. I realized that now my AMEX card monthly payment was too high for me to pay. I contacted AMEX and advised I was starting to have problems meeting my payment. They advised me to look into their debt management program. In the meantime, I enrolled into the Consumer Credit debt management program (June 2009) this was the only way I could reduce the payments and APRs on my credit accounts. The downside was that I had to close all my accounts. I called AMEX and asked if they participated in this program and was told yes, but I had to make 3 payments to them before they would accept me on this program. I was accepted in July 2009 or August 2009. I continued to get bills that said I was past due on my payments; eventhough my payment history showed that I was paying every month on time. I would call the "customer service number and be told to ignore my statements, because my account was in good standing. AND, the statements would be corrected eventually. BUT, AMEX started to report my account as past due. This lowered my credit score AND put the 1st negative strike on my credit history which I began over 20 years ago.

After 3 days of calling every number I was told to call, I find out that I should have been told in May 2009, that I needed to pay all the outstanding payment "DUE" and if I did not pay it, I would be sent to collections. AND, I found out that the AMEX "debt management Division" doesn't have access to the AMEX "customer service" division information AND although my debt management account is current, I still must pay them $1000 and pay off amount due AND the AMEX Credit reporting division is an entity on to themselves and I must resolve all issues with them (RUDE PEOPLE?NO HELP AT ALL) In December, 2009, they did stop charging me late fees, and they did change my credit report to "collection" instead of "In collection. BUT, today I get a credit alert that AMEX has now stated that my account has been sent for collections and I paid the $983.00 earlier this month.

NOW, I am going to have to spend days calling and writing to AMEX again AND I need to move, but this is going to have my rental applications rejecting. WORST COMPANY EVER!!!!!!!!!!