Complain about a product or service

American Express

Corporate Card

Abner of Seattle, WA October 31, 2009

To the management team of the American Express, last summer I received a card from [them] with a high credit limit. I was so thrilled when I finally received that card and I began to use it without hesitation and that allowed me to make my monthly payment on time every month. Before I got the card, I had several credit cards by other companies; I was able to get rid of all of them after I received my American Express card because I wanted to save money and accumulated miles on that card.

This past December I went on vacation, the vacation started from Seattle to Baltimore Maryland and Fort Lauderdale Florida. I did not have enough cash to use on my vacation, the only hope that I had, was that American Express card. It was so unfortunate, when I got there to the hotel to check in my card was declined. I asked the front desk Clerk to swipe it a second time she did exactly what I asked her to do for some reasons the card does not seem to be going through. It was 1 a.m. in the morning and I was so tired and wanting to go my hotel room to get some rest--imagine that--I was obligated to call American express to sort things out.

The precious Lady That I was on the phone with me had the nerve to tell me--oh Mr. R. I am sorry to inform you that your limit has been decreased from 16,000.00 to 2,000. 00 dollars, I was shocked when that lady gave me that news. not only I was shocked I also have to admit it was very embarrassing and humiliating on my part. If that precious lady was authorized the hotel bill for me that night. That was the only way I could have stayed there otherwise I would have found myself in big trouble in Baltimore. That vacation went really, really bad upon my check out day, I needed a car to the Airport the fare was 90 dollars. I had to call American express again for a second authorization so I can make it to the Airport.

Before we hung up, I asked her how about when I get to Fort Lauderdale how I am going to get my rental car. That car has already been reserved on that card? She kindly told me that I have to call one more time to get another authorization for my rental. Believe it or not if I knew that I was going to endure this type of tragedy by humiliating myself like that I would definitely stop that vacation for I really did not have to go through all this mess.

It was a Saturday afternoon; I went to get my car from Enterprise. I was authorized 500.00 dollars for the car it was 2 o'clock and enterprise was about to close, I could not get the car the amount was too small for enterprise because they needed to authorize 600 dollars on the card. The clerk at enterprise told me "I am very sorry there's nothing I can do at the moment you will have to wait 24 hours for a second transaction." It will not do you any better whether you call American Express back to authorize more money on your card." On top of that they close on Sunday so I WOULD have to wait until Monday.

I finally gave up; I called a friend of mine to come get me from Enterprise because they were unable to provide me a ride home. It was so hot especially by being in hot stormy weather in south Florida. One of the guys at the office kindly gave me some advice how to catch a bus down the street to my family's house. So I waited and waited the bus never showed up--of course it was holidays the buses do not run as usual. My only obligation was to call that same friend one more time to get me home.

When I got home that evening it was approximately 4 p.m. I quickly crabbed yellow pages and started calling car companies just to find a car to drive for that one week vacation. Everywhere I called was either sold out or over 700 dollars for a car. Luckily I called that one second hand car dealership and they were able to find me a mistreated car that was just returned by a customer. The lady said to me, Mr. R., we're just about to close, this is the last car that we have available this evening, if you do not get here in 20 minutes, you would have to wait until Monday to get the car. So my friend and I rushed to that one place on Highway 95 we were able to make it there in 15 minutes speeding because I was desperate getting my rental. When I finally make it to that place they showed me the car that I was going to drive I ended up paying 400 dollars for that damaged car as compare to 300 I was going to pay for a brand new car at enterprise--can you imagine how mad I was? At least they did not have to authorize 600 but 300 dollars that was how I got my car. All I kept doing was shaking my head back a forth moaning. That car was the most pathetic car I ever saw in my whole entire life as a rental. So in my situation, I had no options but taking the car because I was in the need for it.

All these things happened to me is because of American express. it's been one year since I have been paying high interests on a card that went up to 500 dollars over its limit. I can understand that they were trying to protect their business; they should have the common courtesy to notify me by mail or by a telephone call to let me know that they were going to decrease my limit and I would have though about that trip twice.

I cannot use the card. I am paying high interest and it will take me a long period of time before I can actually use that card again. this is so frustrating for me as a customer and what they did to me is not very nice at all. On top of that, wrote them a letter several months ago, they somehow ignored the letter by no responding to me. Abner Richet

ROY of BX, NY October 21, 2009

I was unemployed and I called Amx to let them know I would like to use the insurance that I paid for several years. The rep told me it was a seperate company. So I called and the ins company agreed to pay the bill until I returned to work. I called Amx and told them this. Amx agreed to let me pay 150.00 per month on my gold card and the ins would pay my cash rebate card. A few weeks ago the insurance company sent my a letter to inform me that my card was cancelled and they no longer could pay my card.

I called Amx and I was informed that they cancelled because I was late with my payment. I told the rep of the agreement I had made. They told me they could not check because my account had been sent to collections. I told them I have been paying the agreed amount since March 09 and never recd any call of my payment being late. They said they could not do anything for me.

I have been an Amx card holder since 1986 and this is the thanks I recd. If I had broken the agreement I made with them I could have understood why they cancelled my cards. They did not have the courtsey to call me. Now I have the collection agency annoying calls all night even on weekends.

Christopher of Stratford, CT October 5, 2009

I received a notice in the mail that AMEX was going to raise my interest rate to 27.9% because of my recent actions. I called them to find out what recent actions caused this astronomical interest rate hike. they responded I was late on last month's payment. I asked by how long they responded 3 days. American express stated I could "opt out" of this interest rate but they would have to close my account. I stated I would not agree to the interest rate hike and they closed my account and all access to my billing history immediately.

I have been a member of AMEX for 16 years with a stellar credit history and a credit score of 820. AMEX closed my account without even discussing alternatives. They are using the interest hike as a threat tactic against good customer to get them to agree to a higher interest rate for a minimum of 12 months. This is an unfair and unethical business practice.

After this decision I now have to contact every company that I have auto-pay with and change my accounts. They have given me no time to do this and other accounts are now late do to their rash actions to close my account for no apparent reason. Also they will not even allow me to review my accounts online to change my auto pay accounts. Please do not enlist in paperless statements as they hold you hostage to your information.

John of cincinnati, OH September 22, 2009

I have had an AE account since 1995. Recently my account limit was reduced from 30,000 to 20,000 without notice. This ironically also made it appear that my account balance was high. AE closed my account, without notice, the "day" after they sent a late payment letter, which it turned out was not late, just an amount paid that was lower than the current bill.

Apparently, this was a tragic mistake. It was my first "late" payment in 14 years. Customer service was not interested in what I had to say, they simply said we are closing the account....unreal! Shameful!

Vicki of Clearwater, MN September 18, 2009

Like most people's complaint, I too was notified by AM EX that my account had been closed because of incorrect info,, I had a 10k credit limit and outstanding balance was 5k. I have never been late with any of bills. I just hoping this does impact my credit rating.

kitty of Tucson, AZ September 15, 2009

Thursday I called Am Ex to verify available funds...more than 800. I sent a family member from Az. to NM with the knowledge he would have funds for food, fuel, and lodging. Two hours later the card was denied twice at a fuel station. I then called AM EX and found after talking with three people that the card was cancelled. I documented the time of the calls and the people with whom I spoke.

I wrote a letter to CEO of AM, CEO of Am Stock Exchange and Customer Services with pieces of the card in each letter explaining my situation and AM EX's solution was to apply for another card as mine had been cancelled. I have not yet received a letter of cancellation.

I called this morning Tues. to pay the balance of my card and they asked for my phone number and I asked why...reason: so it would be on record when I applied for a new card! That won't be happening I said. I had been a member for 33 years. AM EX was my first credit card. I used AM EX almost exclusively for travel, food, fuel for my business. My family member was essentially STRANDED in NM.

I can't wait for a Class Action Suit to be brought against them. After being a member for over 33 years I am shocked, angry and incensed. My credit availability had been consistantly lowered which I didn't mind as it helped me to pay down debt. But for the last year I had 0 balance. So I was totally unprepared for this action on their part.

David of Spokane, WA September 12, 2009

AMEX is really socking it to cardholders now. I've been with them for many years, I have impeccable credit, but when I was two days late on a payment recently, they notified me that my interest rate would now skyrocket to 27%--or possibly more--for at least the next year. Ordinarily, I don't carry a balance. A recent layoff changed that, and these people now have me cornered. So much for all those years with them.

I encourage anyone and everyone to join me in dumping AMEX as soon as possible, and in writing Congress to reregulate these sharks. This is flat out usury.

Randy of Dayton, OH September 12, 2009

This is the e-mail I sent to American Express, it explains everything: My wife was just told that American Express refuses to accept her payment prior to her due date. Yes, you read that correctly. The result is that AE will then be able to raise her interest rate. I think a few lawyers would absolutely love to get ahold of this information for a very LARGE class action lawsuit. A credit card company that blatantly refuses a payment so they can raise a customers interest rate. Sounds like a great story for NBC's Dateline, and a monster image damaging statement for American Express.

A "policy" that American Express has states that if you make an online payment, you can not under any circumstance make another payment for 24 hours. My wife accidentily typed in "20.00" rather than "200.00". As soon as she got the confirmation for the incorrect amount, she attempted to make a second payment for the additional 180.00. That was refused. So she called into customer service which again REFUSED to take a payment.

Now remember, this is still all before the stated due date. Had anyone cared in one small amount, she would have been able to make her payment, been on time, and not been THREATENED to have her interest rate increased. She was told that a "note" would be placed in her account, but that would not guarantee that she would be able to keep her interest rate.

The bottom line here is that American Express specificially refused to accept a payment on time so that a customer's interest rate would be raised. Two things of note here. 1. It seems illegal to refuse a payment in order increase a person's interest rate. 2. If her interest rate does get raised, you can guarantee that I will be making it very public that American Express refused to accept a payment in order to raise a person't interest rate. My wife's interest rate may be raised because they refused to accept her payment.

Mary of Silver Spring, MD September 8, 2009

I had a gold card from American Express. I always paid my payments on time and used alot of money on the card. I earned over 30,000 air miles. American Express closed my account and first of all never let me know that they did until I tried to use my card and it was rejected. I call american express and ask what happened. They told me that american Express had closed my account that management decided on that and that there was no way to reinstate it.

After years of paying my bill within a 30 day period they decided To close. I asked for my air miles and they did not give them back to me. Now I received the calls at my work from a collection agency and ask for payment of 379.00 of which I owe them. I asked for my air miles and they still do not want to give them to me. I can receive my air miles, or receive a gift card in a certain amount. My understanding is that I could turn my miles into gift cards.

I cannot do anything because they will not give the miles that I earned by using the American express Card.(REWARDS)This was an issue since they first closed my account. They never intended to give me the miles, which I believe belongs to me. They did not inform me of closing the account. so prior to this I had no opportunity to collect them.

They do not respond to calls asking that reinstate the miles. They sent my account to a collection agency - which continues to call me at work. I asked the collection agency to call my home because I am not allowed to have personal calls at work. They have not stopped calling my work and they never call me at home.

Theresa of Aliso Viejo, CA August 15, 2009

I just received a notice from American Express increasing my interest rate from 5.2% to over 15% (prime + 11.99%). I have been a card holder for 20+ years and have always paid bills/balances ontime. I called to ask them the reasons behind the increase and was told that all cardmembers rates were increased to prime + 11.99%.

The customer service agent told me there was nothing she could do about the increase. I was also informed that even if I close the account the increase would still affect my account. This card is used for business accounts and I usually carry around 30k on this card. The interest I pay is going from 150/mo to close to 500/mo. I have no idea what my minimum payment will be, since I currently pay around 600-700 a month minimum.

There is no way I can pay this off in less than 1 month (or even pay it down significantly) so what can I do? What in the world has our government done to the banks that would allow them to charge honest, hardworking citizens outrageous interest rates with no recourse? Please provide me with some help regarding this situation as I am at a complete loss as to what to do.

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