Complain about a product or service

American Express

Rewards

Ross of Victoria, BC October 15, 2009

I was offered 25,000 points to apply for a Amex Buisness card in November 2008. All I had to do was spend 1000 in the first 3 months. The card would cost 120/year. Did that Got the points. Then in June or so Amex sent me another offer to get another card. Again 120/year and 25,000 points if I spent 1000 in the first 3 months. So I got another card and spent the 1000 in the first three months, then I called Sharon at 1-800-668-2639 to discuss transfering my rewards points and she said I just needed to wait until the end of the billing cycle to transfer the 25,000 points.

I called back a month later (October 14, 2009) and was told there is no 25,000 points and there was no offer. Nice. I asked the customer service agent how he could work for a company that scams people into thinking there is 25,000. He said he has never heard of an incident where Amex scammed anyone.

I told him he has now. I canceled both the cards because I can't deal with companies that intentionally go out of their way to scam me, or anyone. They sent me the application pre-filled out with the 25,000 offer in the same envelope. That is misleading enough to call a scam to me. The time costs of changing financial institutions and dealing with the customer service agents and getting a new institution to work with are in the range of 2,500.

egor of jersey city, NJ October 13, 2009

I've been a member since 1989, never late on payments, using the card for over 50k in purchases a year. In July '09 i called customer service about my bill, and after everything was resolved, the nice representative convinced me to switch my Gold Amex to Green Rewards Amex, promising me triple rewards on all my purchases. I was reluctant, but she convinced me that it was good move for me. If it was any other company i would decline, but i've had great experience with Amex over the years and have build a level of trust with them, so i agreed.

It is now October '09 and i just found out from Amex, that i never got a single triple reward point from them. To make matters worse, apparantly my gold card was due to receive a 25k bonus points in August '09 (one month before they made me switch) and i have lost those points as well! This was clearly an outrageous scam on their part. The nice representative had absolutely nothing to gain from downgrading my account. The only beneficiary is the Amex company itself, since they avoided giving me my 25K bonus points.

I will not rest until they rectify this issue. Please be aware of their unethical practices, apparently they're not the same company they used to be. I have lost 25K bonus points, as well as other priviledges due to me as a member of the gold card. I feel defrauded and violated, and this will forever taint my relationship with the Amex company (even if they fix everything).

Glen of fort worth, TX October 1, 2009

Had 600,000 membership reward points built up that were awarded from PAID AMX charges. I could of used them at any time-but American Express took them away without notice. This company needs to be served with a class action suit for what they are doing to consumers all over the country as well as the world.

Why isn't anyone doing anything about this illegal activity? If these points were not mine then why was I given them in the first place? I could of used them at any time but I was saving them up for a special occasion-just like all the AMX commercials and advertising tell you that you should do. American Express is a vile company that in my opinion should pay the price to all those that have suffered by their actions. This has cost me an estimated 6,000 to 10,000 dollars

Michael of Palm Desert, CA September 18, 2009

In the Summer of 2008, The company lowered my credit limit from 38500, to 6,500, which was my outstanding balance. The result of this action was a reduction in the availability of my overall credit, vs outstanding balances. I countered, by closing the account immediately. Since then, they have increased the rate on my outstanding balance twice. I am pursuing litigation.

John of Dallas, TX September 9, 2009

Called the travel desk to ask if I could use points at the White Elephant Hotel in Nantucket. Was assured this would be very easy to do 133.3 pts per 1 spent. Came back from trip and called to have the points applied. Was told the Rewards desk had declined this request. Now I could use points at 200 pts per 1 spent to cover the cost.

Apparently, you cannot believe what you are told by American Express. I had heard and read several stories about how bad their rewards system is. Now I know.

Edward of West Hollywood, CA July 15, 2009

I had been an American Express card member since 1992. In May of 2009, American Express canceled my card telling me my credit balances on outstanding credit were too high. My ending card balance with American Express was 300+. I was told that my Membership Rewards miles would be redeemable ONLY after I paid the remaining balance on my card. I was also issued a letter explicitly telling me that I had 90 days from May 28, to redeem my mileage of 154,758 points for rewards.

When I contacted American Express on July 12 and July 14 I was told that I COULD NOT have my miles for DOMESTIC FREQUESNT FLIER MILES programs because “they have no way to “charge” me for the 75 “excise” tax fee for transferring award miles. This is preposterous. I don’t have an American Express card, so I can’t charge it to American Express, (2) they want allow me to use another American Express card members card to bill for the 75 (3) they wont except payment from VISA or MasterCard (4) they wont accept payment from my checking account (but they did when I paid all my bills for the past 15 years (5) and they wont accept ANY other form of payment OTHER than an American Express Card in “my” name???? This is wrong and manipulative!!!!

I want to transfer my mileage award miles to DELTA AIRLINES – American Express would not let me do so until my account was paid in full, yet my card was canceled by them prior to paying my account in full and now they won’t let me have my miles??? Have my award miles sent to DELTA and have me pay the 75 excise tax with another form of payment.

Jennifer of Woodbridge, VA May 29, 2009

I had an account w/American Express (373711297603004) since 1985. never late, never over limit. limit was 25k, i owed 149 (paid). They cancelled my card and took my EARNED skymiles of SIXTY SIX THOUSAND! Since then, they have issued me the same account number with a 500 limit, a 2.91 balance (interest i don't owe-which they have removed) and 1300 ONLY for skymiles. AND a rate exceeding 27% I am outraged! I have sent a complaint to the the ftc and will continue on my way up the line until someone can help me recoup at least the value of the skymiles (two round trip tickets plus 16000 addl miles anywhere US). Please confirm reciept of this complaint as well as any information that could aid me in this process. Not one other credit card company has cancelled my accounts. loss of value at least 1200.00 for the skymiles.

Vincezo of Corona, CA April 4, 2009

Vincezo of Corona CA (04/04/09)
I had a credit card for my business that i used that to piurchase all of my tile and greranite and gas on. I put about 15 - 20 thousand dollars a month on. Was late about 30 to 60 days and right after i paid in full &70,000.00 the card was cancelled and i lost all my pointas approximalty 4 round trip tickets worth to europe. This happened a few years ago when the economy started to deline. All i am asking for is the points to be given to me since account was paid in full.

Matt of Lincoln, NE March 30, 2009

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