By: ChicagoTed
Last month I was married and we used our American Express Costco Rewards credit card on our honeymoon hoping to rack up a bunch of Costco rewards. Instead, two days after receiving our monthly statement (no change in credit limit on this statement) I went online to pay our bill. To my amazement, I noticed that I had $215 in available credit. On my statement I had $3200. Turns out Amex reduced our credit limit by 23.6% with zero notice. Thank goodness that we hadn't made any purchases going on the assumption that the statement we had just received was accurate.
Saturday, May 29, 2010
Terrible Service - Fraud Department
By: Nunyadb
I had my wallet/identity stolen on may 13th 2009. I had seen on my credit report that someone had tried opening a credit card with American express under my name on June 8th so I called Amex fraud department that day and they told me that if I had sent them a police report they could fax/send me a copy of the online application that this person had filled out for my police investigation.
They wouldn't send it to my new adDress so they said they could send it to my old adDress which wouldn't be beneficial anyways because the person who stole my wallet had my old adDress (which is my mom's house) on my license and was stealing our mail from that mailbox. They said if I didn't receive it in a week to call them back. So two weeks went by and I never received it. When I called them again they had no tracking or information at all on 'this case' after being transferred to 5 different people and holding for a loooong period of time! Then they finally claim they found it but can't fax ot or forward it to my new adDress so therefore I will never receive it because even if it doesn't get stolen by that person who stole my identity it will get forwarded back to Amex and not forwarded on to my new adDress because it is 'confidential.' So my case goes cold :(
I had my wallet/identity stolen on may 13th 2009. I had seen on my credit report that someone had tried opening a credit card with American express under my name on June 8th so I called Amex fraud department that day and they told me that if I had sent them a police report they could fax/send me a copy of the online application that this person had filled out for my police investigation.
They wouldn't send it to my new adDress so they said they could send it to my old adDress which wouldn't be beneficial anyways because the person who stole my wallet had my old adDress (which is my mom's house) on my license and was stealing our mail from that mailbox. They said if I didn't receive it in a week to call them back. So two weeks went by and I never received it. When I called them again they had no tracking or information at all on 'this case' after being transferred to 5 different people and holding for a loooong period of time! Then they finally claim they found it but can't fax ot or forward it to my new adDress so therefore I will never receive it because even if it doesn't get stolen by that person who stole my identity it will get forwarded back to Amex and not forwarded on to my new adDress because it is 'confidential.' So my case goes cold :(
Amex Cancellation without notice
By: AMEXisEvil
I got an Amex card a few months ago at Costco, I have avoided them for a long time due to their annual fees, and my distaste for credit cards in general (thanks Dave Ramsey). I only got the card because of the 3% rewards on dining out and gas, my largest expense category besides my mortgage. I took my family out to dinner and attempted to pay with my Amex.
Come to find out it was denied. I had just gotten back from a business trip so I thought maybe I triggered a fraud alert. I called Amex today and they said they canceled my account! No warning, no letter or e-mail.
This just after I paid my balance in full. To add insult to injury I'm also denied the rewards I earned while I had the card.
Amex has lost a customer for life and I will be sure to tell anyone who will listen.
I got an Amex card a few months ago at Costco, I have avoided them for a long time due to their annual fees, and my distaste for credit cards in general (thanks Dave Ramsey). I only got the card because of the 3% rewards on dining out and gas, my largest expense category besides my mortgage. I took my family out to dinner and attempted to pay with my Amex.
Come to find out it was denied. I had just gotten back from a business trip so I thought maybe I triggered a fraud alert. I called Amex today and they said they canceled my account! No warning, no letter or e-mail.
This just after I paid my balance in full. To add insult to injury I'm also denied the rewards I earned while I had the card.
Amex has lost a customer for life and I will be sure to tell anyone who will listen.
REWARDS POINTS
By: SKIPLONGER
I have been a member of American express since 1993. Over the years I ve gained a lot of points.
close to 400,000.. here I am thinking that my retirement portfolio is growinng. You know trips when I retire and such.
So any how, I had a series of liens put on my credit from sales taxes for my business.
AMerican Express closed my account and made me forfiet all my points. They would not let me use them or transfer them. Just gone!
That is what they must do to everyone who has a lot of points.. There is no loyalty at all.
I feel I earned those points they should be mine. I got rid of those liens and they say it too late there gone.
I have been a member of American express since 1993. Over the years I ve gained a lot of points.
close to 400,000.. here I am thinking that my retirement portfolio is growinng. You know trips when I retire and such.
So any how, I had a series of liens put on my credit from sales taxes for my business.
AMerican Express closed my account and made me forfiet all my points. They would not let me use them or transfer them. Just gone!
That is what they must do to everyone who has a lot of points.. There is no loyalty at all.
I feel I earned those points they should be mine. I got rid of those liens and they say it too late there gone.
Heartless - Green Card
By: OT2
I was an American Express cardholder in good standing since 1974. In late 2006, I had a number of personal problems (Dad with severe Alzheimer's disease, Mom had a stroke, and company I worked for filed bankruptcy.) I ended up up anxiety attacks and depression and was unable to work for three months for which I had to pay COBRA insurance rates to cover my family.
I had to cover a lot of costs for instrumental care for my parents. I couldn't pay my American Express amount due of $2,300 which I had charged up with airplane tickets, renting cars and hotels, etc while trying to care for my parents. I offered to pay what I could but the rude customer representative would have nothing to do with it. I did pay $300 for two months anyway and was finally able to pay the amount due in full when I returned to work - 90 days late(except for the the $300 payments which accounted for nothing to Amex) American Express cancelled my card. Ok, I can live with that. They continued to send me my statements and I continued to pay on the Sign and Travel portion of the card for the last three and a half years on time and often more or double the amount due gradually reducing the balance. They had originally increased my interest rate to 27%. I was able to get it reduced to 15.5% and then 9.9%.
This year, my husband and I tried to buy a townhouse and sell our large family home. We were unable to get a mortgage because of one adverse American Express report of a Collection Account to the credit bureaus.
I had never been notified that this was a Collection Account, I received no collection calls or letters. I receive my statement every month saying "Past Due amount $0, Balance: $1,800 (or whatever it is), and Amount due: $45". I continued to pay off the debt in the best way I could and on-time.
The first I knew it was a Collection Account was on the credit bureau report when we applied for a loan. Since a number of other items were incorrect (including a "Collection" that didn't belong to us) on the credit reports, I thought "Collection Account" was incorrect as well.
I wrote certified letters to American Express and to the credit bureaus stating that American Express was not in collection and was being paid, but was delinquent in 2006. I was paying on time and as agreed since that time. What a nightmare trying to contact or get information from these companies. I talked to a number of very rude customer service reps from other countries whom I could not understand and would not give me information unless I purchased credit reporting packages. American Express never responded to my letters. When my mortgage was denied, I called the American Express credit bureau number again. I was rudely told, "You have called about this before, why are you calling again?" (Could it be because my future is in your hands?) When I asked why they were reporting using the derogatory term "Collection Account". I was told it was an "internal collection" and "All cancelled accounts are collection accounts, everybody knows that." Well, I didn't know that. I asked them if they could at least report the payment history so it doesn't look like I'm just not paying this bill. I was told, "American Express doesn't do that, we only report the outstanding balance" They report as "Past due since July 2006." - with no indication of my payment history.
The customer service representative at the AMEX credit bureau was extremely rude. I think she took lessons from the woman I dealt with in 2006. They would do nothing to indicate that I have been paying off this card. "We can't help you. That's our policy." Even if I paid off the balance in full - the negative Collection Account notation would remain on credit report for 4 more years and I have heard that paying it off can actually lower your credit score.
I worked for a large company that got federal and state government bail-outs, filed for bankruptcy and caused thousands of employees to lose their jobs and incomes. Today, their executives are treated like wonderboys for pulling it off. Now, I am dealing with a credit card company that took TARP funds to bail themselves out. The penalty? Executives get a "verbal lashing" from Congress for their tactics in dealing with credit consumers. Yet, no one is willing to give me the tiniest break.
American Express is unwilling to honor my small request and report that my account was delinquent in 2006 but has been paid on-time and as agreed since then.
Americans should rally and protest their treatment by the credit card companies, banks and credit bureaus. Fair Issac my eye! There is NOTHING fair about these organizations.
I was an American Express cardholder in good standing since 1974. In late 2006, I had a number of personal problems (Dad with severe Alzheimer's disease, Mom had a stroke, and company I worked for filed bankruptcy.) I ended up up anxiety attacks and depression and was unable to work for three months for which I had to pay COBRA insurance rates to cover my family.
I had to cover a lot of costs for instrumental care for my parents. I couldn't pay my American Express amount due of $2,300 which I had charged up with airplane tickets, renting cars and hotels, etc while trying to care for my parents. I offered to pay what I could but the rude customer representative would have nothing to do with it. I did pay $300 for two months anyway and was finally able to pay the amount due in full when I returned to work - 90 days late(except for the the $300 payments which accounted for nothing to Amex) American Express cancelled my card. Ok, I can live with that. They continued to send me my statements and I continued to pay on the Sign and Travel portion of the card for the last three and a half years on time and often more or double the amount due gradually reducing the balance. They had originally increased my interest rate to 27%. I was able to get it reduced to 15.5% and then 9.9%.
This year, my husband and I tried to buy a townhouse and sell our large family home. We were unable to get a mortgage because of one adverse American Express report of a Collection Account to the credit bureaus.
I had never been notified that this was a Collection Account, I received no collection calls or letters. I receive my statement every month saying "Past Due amount $0, Balance: $1,800 (or whatever it is), and Amount due: $45". I continued to pay off the debt in the best way I could and on-time.
The first I knew it was a Collection Account was on the credit bureau report when we applied for a loan. Since a number of other items were incorrect (including a "Collection" that didn't belong to us) on the credit reports, I thought "Collection Account" was incorrect as well.
I wrote certified letters to American Express and to the credit bureaus stating that American Express was not in collection and was being paid, but was delinquent in 2006. I was paying on time and as agreed since that time. What a nightmare trying to contact or get information from these companies. I talked to a number of very rude customer service reps from other countries whom I could not understand and would not give me information unless I purchased credit reporting packages. American Express never responded to my letters. When my mortgage was denied, I called the American Express credit bureau number again. I was rudely told, "You have called about this before, why are you calling again?" (Could it be because my future is in your hands?) When I asked why they were reporting using the derogatory term "Collection Account". I was told it was an "internal collection" and "All cancelled accounts are collection accounts, everybody knows that." Well, I didn't know that. I asked them if they could at least report the payment history so it doesn't look like I'm just not paying this bill. I was told, "American Express doesn't do that, we only report the outstanding balance" They report as "Past due since July 2006." - with no indication of my payment history.
The customer service representative at the AMEX credit bureau was extremely rude. I think she took lessons from the woman I dealt with in 2006. They would do nothing to indicate that I have been paying off this card. "We can't help you. That's our policy." Even if I paid off the balance in full - the negative Collection Account notation would remain on credit report for 4 more years and I have heard that paying it off can actually lower your credit score.
I worked for a large company that got federal and state government bail-outs, filed for bankruptcy and caused thousands of employees to lose their jobs and incomes. Today, their executives are treated like wonderboys for pulling it off. Now, I am dealing with a credit card company that took TARP funds to bail themselves out. The penalty? Executives get a "verbal lashing" from Congress for their tactics in dealing with credit consumers. Yet, no one is willing to give me the tiniest break.
American Express is unwilling to honor my small request and report that my account was delinquent in 2006 but has been paid on-time and as agreed since then.
Americans should rally and protest their treatment by the credit card companies, banks and credit bureaus. Fair Issac my eye! There is NOTHING fair about these organizations.
Don't get an American Express Card
By: 2xVeryAngry
This company treats its customers with disrespect and as if they are sub human.
I was a long term customer. I never missed a payment. Due to my wedding I was using my American Express to make most of the payments. Just before the wedding I paid off several large amounts one up to $3000 just a few days before the wedding.
We wanted to use that card for our honeymoon. Without notification they lowered my credit available to below my balance. I could no longer use the card. We struggled to come up with the cash to have our honeymoon. Thanks to some good friends and family we did. When I spoke to American express they said we were in good standing but they felt my credit was too high. It is not the company policy to inform its customers until after the available credit has been lowered. After speaking with a representative I cancelled my credit card with American Express and was told I could still see my account on line and get statements. I was also told I would stop getting statements once I no longer owed money. I made regular payments every two weeks for 2 months ranging from $250 - $1000 all well above my min balance. These jerks then called me today. Stating I missed my payment in June. The due date for my account was 5 June. I made payment on May 25 $250 and 10 June $500 and 15 June $1000. Since the 10 June and 15 June were after my due date. This should have been put onto my July statement. However, I got a call today stating I missed my July payment and that it was due today. It turns out American express has a period of 10 days after the due date where any payments made during this time would be on the previous bill. So I am now late due to some crazy policy this company has. Because my account was closed they denied me access to the online account and because I had an online account I no longer get paper bills.
So I no longer get any access to how much money I owe. This company makes no sense. I have seen mentally handicapped children handle a lemonade stand business better. I will not use any of their products again. In fact I avoid places that only accept American express as a result. They treated me like a criminal and lowered my credit score because of some nuts company policy. I hate them and everything they have done to us as a result. I did have perfect credit until these jerk faces came up with insane ideas on how to keep customers. I would use harsher language but don't want to offend anyone. But take it from me. If a company every deserved economic hardship it is these Jerk Faces (man I want to say something worse there.)
These Jerks just about ruined my wedding, my honeymoon and now are just calling me nonstop about a payment I haven't really missed except in some fantasy world they have created they call customer service.
If you have a card with American Express, get rid of it fast.
If you are thinking about a card don't
If you think after this you are going to keep your card. Just shoot yourself now and save Darwin the trouble.
This company treats its customers with disrespect and as if they are sub human.
I was a long term customer. I never missed a payment. Due to my wedding I was using my American Express to make most of the payments. Just before the wedding I paid off several large amounts one up to $3000 just a few days before the wedding.
We wanted to use that card for our honeymoon. Without notification they lowered my credit available to below my balance. I could no longer use the card. We struggled to come up with the cash to have our honeymoon. Thanks to some good friends and family we did. When I spoke to American express they said we were in good standing but they felt my credit was too high. It is not the company policy to inform its customers until after the available credit has been lowered. After speaking with a representative I cancelled my credit card with American Express and was told I could still see my account on line and get statements. I was also told I would stop getting statements once I no longer owed money. I made regular payments every two weeks for 2 months ranging from $250 - $1000 all well above my min balance. These jerks then called me today. Stating I missed my payment in June. The due date for my account was 5 June. I made payment on May 25 $250 and 10 June $500 and 15 June $1000. Since the 10 June and 15 June were after my due date. This should have been put onto my July statement. However, I got a call today stating I missed my July payment and that it was due today. It turns out American express has a period of 10 days after the due date where any payments made during this time would be on the previous bill. So I am now late due to some crazy policy this company has. Because my account was closed they denied me access to the online account and because I had an online account I no longer get paper bills.
So I no longer get any access to how much money I owe. This company makes no sense. I have seen mentally handicapped children handle a lemonade stand business better. I will not use any of their products again. In fact I avoid places that only accept American express as a result. They treated me like a criminal and lowered my credit score because of some nuts company policy. I hate them and everything they have done to us as a result. I did have perfect credit until these jerk faces came up with insane ideas on how to keep customers. I would use harsher language but don't want to offend anyone. But take it from me. If a company every deserved economic hardship it is these Jerk Faces (man I want to say something worse there.)
These Jerks just about ruined my wedding, my honeymoon and now are just calling me nonstop about a payment I haven't really missed except in some fantasy world they have created they call customer service.
If you have a card with American Express, get rid of it fast.
If you are thinking about a card don't
If you think after this you are going to keep your card. Just shoot yourself now and save Darwin the trouble.
Canceled cards after 26 years
By: American Express Sucks
I have had both American Express green and gold cards since 1983. Without notification both cards were canceled yesterday. We went into a store to buy something today and the store told us the cards were canceled.....not ever an call or letter from American Express.
My wife and I were both in real estate and have been for many years.
As most people know, the market crashed about 2 years ago. We have spent all of out savings keeping our payments up and have never had a late payment in at least 12-15 years. We now have new jobs and have no problem paying the bills, except...We have a new home (bought 3.5years ago)and can no longer can afford to keep the payments up, so we haven't made a house payment in 3 months and are trying to re-negoate the loan with the lender. Again this the only late payment we have had in many many years. We went on line to Experian for a report. After reviewing the 28 page report, the only negative one was from our lender. Ever other loan stated that our payments were "never late and up to date".
We called American Express and they said that out cards could never be reinstated. WOW.....after 26 years with never a late payment to them or anyone else they kick us in the butt.....
My advise.....NEVER deal with American Express...they could care less about you or your family.
I have had both American Express green and gold cards since 1983. Without notification both cards were canceled yesterday. We went into a store to buy something today and the store told us the cards were canceled.....not ever an call or letter from American Express.
My wife and I were both in real estate and have been for many years.
As most people know, the market crashed about 2 years ago. We have spent all of out savings keeping our payments up and have never had a late payment in at least 12-15 years. We now have new jobs and have no problem paying the bills, except...We have a new home (bought 3.5years ago)and can no longer can afford to keep the payments up, so we haven't made a house payment in 3 months and are trying to re-negoate the loan with the lender. Again this the only late payment we have had in many many years. We went on line to Experian for a report. After reviewing the 28 page report, the only negative one was from our lender. Ever other loan stated that our payments were "never late and up to date".
We called American Express and they said that out cards could never be reinstated. WOW.....after 26 years with never a late payment to them or anyone else they kick us in the butt.....
My advise.....NEVER deal with American Express...they could care less about you or your family.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)