Complain about a product or service

American Express

Gift Cards

Susan of Berkeley CA (10/23/06)
For my birthday, I received three American Express gift cards. The gift givers advised that I would be able to use them anywhere to purchase anything that I wanted. At this point I have tried Banana Republic, JCrew, Gap, Bloomingdales and even the American Express store AND no one will accept these gift cards. Does anyone know where you can use these?

Terri of Huntley, IL August 9, 2006

Terri of Huntley IL (08/09/06)
I am complaining as a sales clerk and a recipient of an AX gift card. As a sales clerk when we have a customer use one with a balance, if they do not know the balance, we must stop, call a special 800 number to get balance, then continue This is a nightmare when we are busy. I recieved one last Christmas. I used part of it for a small purchase. Since then, every merchant I go to does not know how to find the balance so this card with approximately 80 is worthless to me. I now encourage customer and friends not to purchase them

Wilma of Ft. Wayne, IN April 13, 2006

Wilma of Ft. Wayne IN (04/13/06)
My daughter sent me an AMEX gift card for Christmas. I was able to use it a couple of times and should have money left on it but I am unable to use the ramining balance. It has been rejected several times. When I check availability of funds on the card, it just tells me I have entered invalid information. I have told my daughter the thought was nice but I never want another one of these cards.

This has caused a lot of embarrassment and aggravation.

Melissa of Phoenix, AZ March 25, 2006

Melissa of Phoenix AZ (03/25/06)
This is a response to the information posted on this site concerning American Express. While I understand peoples level of frustration for mis-understanding the use of certain products offered not only by american express, but also those products offerred by other banks or companies, it doesn't excuse misleading facts that accuse a company, specifically, American Express of doing anything wrong. If any of the complainers about American Express gift cards actually did a little bit of research on what they were buying before the did so, they probably would not be complaining, or would not be justified in complaining.

Note: It is YOUR job to understand what you are buying and what you will be paying for BEFORE you agree with payment. Some of the complaints specifically state they are upset by being charged a service charge or shipping fees for something ordered on the internet? My response: have you ever ordered anything from the internet? helllooo.....companies don't ship things for free usually and if they do it's because you are ordering during a specific promotional opportunity or a good customer.

One more thing....perhaps they should all read the additional articles relative to credit cards on this site. If they do, they might start thinking that the fees and some otherwise nuisance issues due to their own ignorance are better than the alternative of other large banks who deliver services for visa/mastercard that compromise consumer data by security breaches, loss of company equipment with cardmember data on it and have less than adequate security in place on the whole.

Ya, I would really rather do business with American Express and pay a few extra bucks knowing that I will never be the victim of identity theft because American Express is acutally looking out for my safety. Get a grip people! Read the facts before you buy......and don't complain when you are unaware and just plain ignorant.

David of Plano, TX December 20, 2005

David of Plano TX (12/20/05)
Thinking it was a simple and safe way to give money to my kids, I purchased a number of American Express Gift Cards at a local Safeway Store in 50. and 100. amounts as Christmas presents. When I got home an opened one I discovered they would not work for the purpose I had intended for my kids who would be traveling to Eourpe and the Camans in the near future or as I was lead to believe via the American Express representive I had recently talked to. Now when I tried to take back to the store the next morning I was told by a store manager that they could not take them back because once they were activated they belonged to American Express and there was nothing they could do.

Later when I talked to American Express Customer Service repersentive they told me there was nothing the could do because I had purchased at a store and should take back to that store. There was nothing they could do. The lady with AMX was very convencing that I could still use them my self or sell them to another person on my own but they were not able to redeem my money, turn into Gift Checks or help in any way. What a racket.

 So now I'm out 600.00 and have these gift cards that are useless for the purpose I purchased them for. Nowhere on the outside packageing does it say they can not be used at Airlines, Hotels, Rental Cars, Gas Stations nor can they be used outside the U.S. Another hitch is you have to use for the exact amount of the card, and can not make up the difference, example: if you purchase something for 101. then it will be rejected and you will be billed 2.00 by AMX for going over the card limit.

Equally if you had 1.25 left on the card it would be almost impossible to ever use that remaining balance. Just think if they hook 25 million people like me and every card is left with a balance how much they pocket. I'm frustrated, feel cheated and can't believe what a scam, what I thought was a top notch company is running. They have lost me as a customer forever.

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