American Express Travelers Cheques

Unfortunately, in my country, Brazil, American Express is a part of Bradesco Bank. The Bradesco Ombudsman gave me this information. I hope Amex Global is a different organization of Bradesco Bank. In my opinion, Bradesco Bank is not a reliable bank. My mother, Iafa **, died in August 2011, leaving Amex traveler's checks. I called American Express refund number, when you are in Brazil is 0800 891 2614. Then, I got the following information: my dad would receive the traveler's checks. The documents are: RG, CIC, Wedding Certificate. And I need to send by mail the traveler's checks marked with "Void". I was afraid to send it by mail.

Then, I contacted Bradesco Bank. I delivered the documents and the traveler's checks and after more than 5 months, no refund. The arrogant employee of Amex Brazil, Gerson, told me, "If Amex Global authorizes, I will authorize the refund." I called again Amex Global in the US. I sent the documents to Amex Customer Service Center and I am still waiting. I trust in the correctness of the information received by American Express Global. I trust in Amex organization. However, I don't trust in the employees of American Express in Brazil. I am waiting for a contact from American Express Customer Service Center.

I went to BDO Bank and Citibank in Cebu City and they no longer cash American travelers checks. Other banks would not cash them either. I ran out of money and nearly could not leave the Philippines as I had to find PhP550 airport terminal fee. I spent most of the day trying to find American Express in Makati, and when I did, it was too late.

A few months ago $1,350 in traveler's checks was stolen from me during a trip to Thailand along with a few other things from my bag. I did the right thing and reported the checks stolen. I notified American Express as well as the local police. The police took the report and gave me signed a statement regarding the theft. On the American Express website they write that, "Your money is always safe with travelers cheques", and just below that they add that if your money is lost or stolen, it will usually be refunded within 24 hours. I was sure that all it would take would be a few phone calls, faxes, and I would get my money back safely just like American Express claims.

The nightmare began when I called American Express to report the stolen traveler's cheques. Right off, the representative told me that I would probably not get my money back within 24 hours as the website claims, and that I should try to find another way to get money (I was stuck with just $100 in Thailand). They said it would likely be a long process. In the subsequent months, I found myself having countless discussions with customer representatives, sending dozens of emails along with photocopied documents, bank account statements, my lease agreement (to prove where I live), and answering dozens of questions that included my height and weight and many other extraneous details.

If I had just lost $50 or $100, I might have given up, as I'm sure many people do, but the amount stolen from me was so great that I keep trying. I kept up with calling, e-mailing, photocopies, faxes, and everything else. After months of this process, I finally received a letter from American Express stating that they refused to give me back my money even though the checks were cancelled and cannot be used. They claimed there is insufficient substantiation that any cheques were lost/stolen from you. In addition, they now claim that all further communication with them must be conducted through written documents only, so basically calling them does me no good. One word describes the customer service at American Express: indifference.

I'm 33 years old. I have two degrees, one in mathematics and the other in Electrical Engineering and Computer Engineering. I'm clearly not a crook or a scam artist. There is no reason for them to treat me with such indifference and lack of respect. I will never use American Express Travelers Cheques ever again, and I encourage you all to learn from my mistakes. I nearly had no money in Thailand. Thanks to a friend I was able to carry on with my vacation.

I have lost my travelers cheques in Thailand. American Express refused a refund. I lost them on Nov 30th, 2010 at 11 am approximately whilst walking to money changer in Lamai, Koh Samui, Thailand. They had, at some point, fallen out of my money belt, as I absentmindedly omitted to close the zip a half hour earlier when I put the belt on in my room. Also, lost along with 1400 in travelers cheques were 1050 in cash and a Mastercard credit card. American Express asserted that I did not safeguard the cheques as a prudent person would, like amount of cash as stated in their terms and conditions (which incidentally I don't recall receiving when I bought the cheques).

I say I was taking care of my cheques and cash by keeping it in a money belt, as I have done over many years of traveling abroad. Failure to close the zip was due to extreme tiredness and a momentary lapse of concentration caused by jet lag and lack of sleep on the overnight bus journey from Bangkok to Koh Samui. I've been dealing with this matter since I came back in April. First, I went to the Citizens Advice. They put me onto the financial ombudsman service who, after 6 months, came back with the decision that American Express travelers cheques were not regulated by them. So now, I'm back to square one. As far as I know, the travelers cheques have not yet been cashed. So, AMEX should still have my money. The cheques were cancelled by me within half an hour of discovering them missing. This loss was an accident and there was no intentional neglect. Surely, as it says on the package when you buy the cheques, "lost or stolen cheques are refunded". They must be covered for this type of event - if not what.

My sister died on August 3, 2011 in Oklahoma. I am her only remaining sister. I sent a letter to American Express, 9/13/11, with copies of the front page of each of the travelers check booklets. The bank that sold them said she bought 65 checks in total, but the front of each book identified what was in each book. I also sent them a certified death certificate from the State of Oklahoma with myself named as respondent.

I still have not received one word from American Express and since my sister had Asperger's syndrome, there is no telling where she hid the checks.

I bought $500 of Amex Travelers Checks for a trip to Italy. I had used these in the past without a problem but had not been to Europe since the 1990's. Amex should not be selling these any longer without warning the consumer that there is a good likelihood you cannot cash them in Europe. I could not cash them at three different banks. They all refused to accept them.

I had to go through a very lengthy phone process to enable me to cash them at a Western Union in Florence. However, I spent almost $100 on the lengthy phone call, so I lost that money. Do not use these checks.

I am the wife of the person who owns a traveller cheque of American Express bank . The owner of the travell cheque was dead since October 9,2009 at our home in Thailand. I phoned American Express and the officer told me to send the original traveller cheque to American Express Acceptor Relations in West Salt Lake City, UT 84184-0407 USA. I sent the original traveller cheque and the evidence to the company. I sent it on October 19, 2009 and now I still haven't received any answer from American Express. Who can help me?

I feel so sick after reading articles on your website. In 2006 and 2007, I purchased 20,000usd in Travellers Cheques and over the course of the last 2 days I have been trying to cash them.

No bank, money changer, hotels or office to cash them or accept them. I don't know what to do except cry. That money was hard earned over those 6 years here in Saudi and now I have saved nothing. No way will I ever trust in American express again. Not even their credit cards. I am still in Saudi and not only do I have to worry about terrorists. I have no way to safeguard my savings or travel money.

I bought $12,000 in AMEX travelers checks for a three-month business trip to China in spring 2010. After hearing stories from co-workers about their credit cards being stolen or skimmed in restaurants and shops as well as pick pockets, I thought AMEX travelers checks would be a good deal.

I had some trouble cashing them in Beijing with some major banks. These banks that refused to cash my AMEX travelers checks happened to sell them but would not cash them! How ironic!

It was a hassle to get banks to accept my AMEX travelers checks. I cashed in $4,000 in three months and ended up using ATM withdrawals and credit cards while in China. But when I returned to the states and tried to deposit them in my Bank of America account (a bank I no longer do business with), the manager told me they would "have to check these TCs through the computer one by one to see if they are valid because we have been ripped-off before with AMEX travelers checks". Again, they sold AMEX travelers checks but did not want to cash them.

It was nothing but a hassle to deal with AMEX travelers checks. I will never buy/use them again, ever. No, thank you American Express. Bad business product.

I see on your website that people are complaining about the AMEX Traveler's Checks. How many complaints have you received? How often do you receive them? Any info can you provide regarding consumer complaints should be helpful.

Staying at the Grand Myan resort in Mexico, I cashed an Amex travellers cheque at the resort with all the confirmation of my identity supported by my room and credit card supplied at check in. Two days later, I was called and told my TC had 'bounced' at the bank it was sent to because the signatures didn't match. (They were a perfect match from 40 years of repeating it). The fact that the cheque had already been cleared by the resort didn't matter. I was told by the Myan Resort that the cashed cheque would be put on my credit card because they couldn't honor it.

The cost to me apart from the stress of dealing with the Myan Resort management, was the difference between using cash for exchanging to Mexican $ and the cost of putting the charges on my credit card, which is significant. As mentioned in other complaints it appears to be impossible to contact AMEX without an American Express Card. It seems that the AMEX travellers cheque has gone the way of the Dodo. I will take the travellers cheques to my home branch bank where they are accepted and be done with them.

I did not lose anything financially except for my time. But seeing the complaints here that AMEX travelers checks are not being accepted anywhere outside the US, I'm glad this situation ended as it did! So I went to a local AMEX office in the Los Angeles area. There was a very short line (only 1 person ahead of me) but the lone open AMEX window was just taking forever. When I finally get to the window (30 minutes later), I wanted to convert some money into travelers checks. AMEX wanted to charge me a 1% fee which is fine. Then they wanted to see my driver's license, a credit card, a physical mailing address and my Social Security Number! For a cash transaction? I don't think so! So I will not be taking AMEX traveler's checks for any of my future travels. Loss of my time!

I purchased American Express Travelers Cheques to the value of GB Pounds 500 from our local TD Canada Trust Branch and have just returned from a visit to the U.K. I was unable to use the cheques in any store or gas station and was only able to cash a cheque in Lloyds Bank because my sister had an account there and she signed for me. Not everyone has a sister or relative in the UK. So American Express Travelers Cheques appear to be a bad buy. It's very embarrassing to be without cash in a foreign country!

I purchased American Express travelers checks in Euros, paying the exchange fee and commissions up front. I thought that would eliminate any problems in cashing them when I was in Belgium or France. Not so. No bank, merchant or restaurant would accept the travelers checks. I was forced to find a Bureau of Exchange to cash in my check having to pay a commission fee as well. I brought the remainder of my Euro travelers checks back to the AMEX office that I purchased them at.

The best they could do was give me American dollars at the 'buy rate'. Essentially that was a 20% loss on my part. The only solution they could recommend was to submit a claim for to AMEX for reimbursement of the difference. When I called the AMEX office in Belgium they told me that the banks and merchants should have accepted the travelers checks. The fact of the matter is that I wasn't able to find a bank or merchant in Belgium or France that would cash the checks for me.

Was without cash upon my arrival in a foreign country. I spent hours during my vacation trying to find someone to cash the travelers checks. My final 'loss' for all the back and forth transactions was about $30 on 200 euros worth of travelers checks.

Spend nearly 3 weeks in Italy 2009. No one would take the American Express card for anything. Worse, I had brought thousands of dollars in travelers checks and no bank NO BANK or any other institution would take or cash or give Euros or dollars for the American Express Travelers Checks---which are totally worth nothing in Italy, even in Rome! I had to go to the Rome American Express Office in order to get cash---but that was AFTER having no working credit card, and no Euros in a small Italian lake village where I had to MAIL the owners Euros days later from Rome. HOW EMBARASSING.

Moreover, American Express knows that no one will cash the travelers checks anymore not just in Italy, but in Germany and France, and yet they continue to sell them without warning US Citizens. I'll admit I hadn't been to Europe in a while, but they should not sell a product they know that no one will accept anymore outside the states.

Their solution for people who could not travel to the Rome American Express Office? (which I did). File a claim. That does Americans a lot of good with no cash in a foreign country. Horrible. Will never ever use a product of American Express again! Embarassment at having no money in a foreign country. Could have been dangerous---female broke and traveling alone with no assets. I AM AN ATTORNEY, DON'T WANT TO FILE SUIT, JUST TO GET THE WORD OUT.

I purchased American Express Traveler's Cheques for the family trip to Italy. Never again will I do it. American Express news is saying it should be accepted anywhere. If you do decide to exchange the traveler's cheques, you are paying a commission between 3%-20%. The American Express website is of no help to you. You are unable to send an email to them unless you have an American Express card. I hope someone will learn from the mistake I made.

In March of 2001 the Wyoming Highway Patrol seized about $10,000. worth of AMEX travellers checks from me. Subsequently they turned the checks over to the US Secret Service. The US Secret Service held the checks for three years until 2004. I was never charged with any criminal offence regarding these checks.

Rather than returning th checks to me in 2004 the US Secret Service returned the checks to American Express. I have documentation (if you had a place to attach files I could display this) to support this allegation along with a letter from the Secret Service stating the checks sent to American Express belonged to me.

Wyoming. He wrote letters to the legal department at AMEX demanding a refund for these checks being AMEX got my money and the checks back. I also have documents to support this.He even demanded AMEX show a factual or legal basis for denying me my refund. Never did an attorney respond. He only received emails from someone called Annette H (legal analyst). I checked with the Utah Bar and there was never an attorney practicing in that state by the name of Annette H. She said she was denying the claim unless I can produce a receipt or proof of purchase.

In 2007 my attorney filed a complaint against AMEX with the Office of the Attorney General of Utah. The Utah Attorney Generals Office dismissed the complaint because I am not a Utah resident.

I then upon my own filed a complaint in 2007 with the New York State Attorney General (where I am a resident). The complaint again was dismissed. In speaking with an attorney for the New York State Attorney Generals Office she said we can only resolve disputes if both parties are willing to do so voluntarily. Which is a joke. If the two parties can resolve the issue voluntarily why would one have to go to the attorney generals office.

In 2009 I tried to contact an attorney for AMEX to discuss the refund and I get stonewalled. I first tried phoning the 1-800- and I got someone from the Phillipines named Christian and he refused to connect me to an attorney for AMEX.I also phoned a Justin P at AMEX in Salt Lake and he too refused to put me in contact with an in house attorney for AMEX.

Purchased $2,000 AMEX checks. Have misplaced them. Reported. None of the checks cashed according to their system. Asked for refund. AMEX refused saying that checks are same as cash so they will not refund. (Of course, this argument also applies if stolen which they would be if someone tried to cash the lost checks, verdad?) Told the AMEX stooge that I would sue them in small claims. Stooge said fine. Bad company to do business with- complete liars and fraudulent misrepresentation.

have lost the money paid for the checks. AMEX has my money.

The story is getting all to familiar by now. Amex stalling on TC refunds. I had 3700 euros worth stolen in Bogot some 7 weeks ago and Amex is siting on it,s hands. The irony of it is that the case worker E. Garcia has already been mentioned here. As I am gathering info on AMEX my special request to Amar, Yazmin, Claudia, Mark and James as to how the thing ended. I for my part am not willing to let them get away with this.

So far 3700 euros loss

i was in the united states from the 14th of July till the 18th of august on work. On the 14 th of august i realised that i had lost my travellers cheques and immediately imformed the american express help desk through their listed numbers and registered the loss. i was dealing with a lady by the name of elvira in the claims department.

the lady mailed me back three days later(its was a friday hence a weekend)on monday and asked for me to send her all the documents including police complaint report etc.i did that promptly an had the documents faxed to her as well as have been speaking to her regarding the progress on my case.

till now every time i ask them they reply by saying that they are investigating. i understand the need for them to investigate but its been over a wekk since i have dutifully completed their requirements yet they have not sent me duplicate cheques on cash.i'm constantly on the move due to my proffesion and rely on travellers cheques for money.now i am help less. please can you help me thankyou

Loss of travellers cheques worth 4500$USD.

On January 31, 2008, I visited Washington Mutual Bank in NYC to buy $400 worth of travelers cheques for a trip to India. I asked for three $100 cheques and four $25 cheques.

The teller informed me that since the amount was under $500, I would have to buy Gift Cheques. She assured me that they are accepted worldwide, just like Travellers Cheques. I agreed, and paid the $26 fee required by American Express.

While in India, I attempted to change one of the $25 cheques for local currency at my resort in Tamil Nadu. After taking my cheque to their bank, the resort informed me that their bank refused payment because it was a gift cheque, not a travelers cheque.

When I returned to the U.S., I deposited the cheques in my savings account, told my bank what happened, and contacted American Express both by letter and phone. They were polite, but pretty useless. They even said that I should have phoned one of their Indian offices and asked them to authorize the transaction. Never mind that there are only two American Express offices in India, both hundreds of miles from where I was staying and the long-distance phone call would probably cost almost as much as the cheque.

So, I paid $26 for something I couldn't use. A small amount, but it could have been worse and unsuspecting tourists may run into similar situations if they rely on this service. I'd warn tourists to steer clear of travelers cheques and stick to an ATM and cash.

I had some cash with me and was able to make the $25 exchange at the resort. However, I needed to make another exchange a few days later and had to arrange for a ride into town to withdraw more money from an ATM. I also was out $26 for the cheque fee.

Hard as it may be to believe, getting a refund for Am Ex Travelers checks has taken from December 7, 2007 to March 24, 2008 and I still do not have my money. The checks were demoninated in GB Pounds (Sterling). No bank I could find in New Mexico would cash them. So, I returned them to Amercian Express Acceptor Relations- their Travelers Check department. Despite numerous telephone calls over the past three months I have not received a refund.

Their excuses are as follows: We sent you a check. Yes, to an address other than the one on my letterhead. We cannot possible send out a replacement check until we learn if a stop-payment was made on the original. That was five weeks ago and no replacement check has been sent. I will take care of this problem today. That was one week ago. No check has been sent.

I am out some $400+ depending on which exchange rate one wants to use.

My traveler's checks, $3,000, and a gift card $2,000 were lost/stolen and American Express refunded only $1,200 and refused to refund the rest. They say they will issue a refund usually within 24 hours with no questions asked and they will refund your money. That is totally a lie, they are rude, obnoxious, you can't contact them, they lie and make you jump through hoops, you can't sue them because of arbitration clause and even if you win you still have to pay 1/2 of fees.

They tell you that you didn't safeguard the checks, that they are exactly like cash, that you have to find the checks, if you have no money left on your gift card, you aren't entitled to a refund regardless of whether it was stolen. They have no security in place, if a merchant takes a gift card without an ID or even similar signature,American Express can't get the money back from the merchant, they have no policies established. American Express also cannot stop payment on their traveler's checks, if someone steals them there is no way to stop them from being cashed.

That is why American Express has a contract that is nothing like other traveler's checks or gift cards contracts, its designed to get American Express out of refunding your money, you can't even sue, you have to arbitrate and even if you win, you pay your own fees. Their office is closed until 1:00 pm, it takes about 30 minutes to talk to someone, you are told to call back over and over, they ask for info that is not relevant, refuse to let you speak to a supervisor, put you on the defensive, argue with you, lie about their policies, make you jump through hoops until you finally get so demoralized you just give up.

Because American Express would not refund my money, I lost my car.

I am losing my car because I am behind on payments because American Express won't refund my money. They are scam artists, the same as kiting checks and engaging in conversion. I wrote this complaint beause I read your story about American Express refusing to refund checks lost in a fire even though it was documented, how crooked can you get?

American Express can't stop payment on their checks, they have no security in place and engage in false advertising in order to make money at consumers expense. American express told me I had to find the checks, that they were just like cash. I said That's not true, I know where my money is, no one has cashed these checks in 4 months, you have my money. If you lose cash you don't have to spend hours and hours of your time trying to get a refund which never materializes, you don't have to feel ripped off and insulted. American Express engages in this behavior as a matter of course and they just lie about everything when you talk to them. They are worse than con artists beause they can advertise their respectability and con artists can't do that. The tactics American Express uses to deny claims would make a good class action suit. They scam people under color of law. I would have rather carried cash,I relied on American Express' reputation to my detriment.

I'm from Australia, currently on vacation here in Florida. I discovered that I lost my traveller's cheques on the night of April 14, 2007(Saturday). I had checked out that morning from a resort in Kissimmee, FL then drove to Daytona Beach that afternoon. That was when I realized that my traveller's cheques worth US$1200 were missing when I was unpacking & sorting through my belongings.

I called American Express right away & was given a claim number then told that someone will contact me in 72 hours. After 72 hours, I was the one who called them because I need my money. I spoke to Maya Iman, who was the one reviewing my case. She asked me the specifics of the incident but in the end it came to a point where I felt like a criminal being interrogated. I let her know this so she ended the phone call by telling me that she will send me some forms to fill-in.

I filled in the claim forms right away & faxed with it a copy of my passport & traveller's cheques receipts on 18 April (Wednesday). When I called back that afternoon to follow it up, their office was already closed so today, I made a couple of phone calls before she got back to me. Maya Iman told me that she would have to let 2 weeks pass before she can make a decision, to wait if someone would try to encash those cheques which I find ridiculous beyond belief because, I need my money now while I'm still in the US & since they've put a worldwide alert for those cheques, they're of no use to anyone, anyway. Plus the fact that I was led to believe that traveller's cheques are the safest form of cash since they're replaceable within 24 hours. Now I know better. This will be the last time I'd be dealing with American Express.

It's a traveller's nightmare to be short of cash while still abroad! I'm here supposedly to de-stress, recharge, recuperate from life's challenges in 2006. I was victimized when my cheques were stolen & again by Maya Iman for making me go through a hellish experience with my claim.

My dream had come true. I had always dreamed of visiting the African continent. On May9, 2006, I left Indianapolis, Indiana for Ouagadougou, Burkina, Faso. I had done my research. Every possibility I had covered...or so I thought.

This is a very long story, but I will make it as short as possible. I had taken several thousand dollars in American Express Traveler's Cheques (TCs), because I felt, as they advertise, that was the safest and most acceptable form of money for traveling. I received my TC's from my local bank, Fifth Third, who has since refused to help me.

Before leaving, I went to my nearest local office of Cingular Wireless, to see for certain if my cell phone would work in Ouagadougou. My son, was with me and is witness to the fact I was told my cell phone would work. Upon arrival in Paris, I found the network was inoperable, but simply thought that was due to being in an airport.

I had my TCs in two packets...of equal size. One, unfortunately contained the larger amount in larger bills. In the bank envelope I had the telephone number for the American Embassy, which I had planned to call the morning after my arrival. My phone would not work, and I found the hotel room phone had been disconnected. Before I could do one thing a knock came on the door. It was a the knock of a woman, Rose who told me her husband was a member of two ministries...JUSTICE AND CULTURE. She offered to take me to her husband's office to get an export license..which was required to take artwork from Burkina Faso. This is stated on the American Embassy Website.

The hotel was in on this scheme, along with this 'Rose to take me hostage, steal my TCs, poison me, attempt to take my passport, and steal my cameras (I had pictures of all these people), and attempt to force me to sign documents to open many bank accounts. Cash was also stolen by force. I was taken to ECCOBANK, where I was beaten, and forced to countersign my TCs. They had only found the packet of TCs containing $8000. They had overlooked the second envelope. I was not allowed to leave the hotel.

Sheer good fortune allowed me to meet a hotel guest who assisted me in contacting the American Embassy, which I was able to do the morning of May 15th...a Monday. Within minutes, the Embassy arrived with their security and Interpol. Immediately, upon arrival at the AMERICAN EMBASSY, the ambassador, Scott Summers, called American Express number on the forms, to notify them of the theft. The checks were not yet cashed. They had been warned in time.

The American Embassy arranged for me to stay longer in Ouagadougou, in order to go to the police (I had the license number of the car) and I knew I could find the place where I was taken. A police was report was made and the American Embassy arranged for the director of ECCOBANK to meet at the embassy and confront the bank employees. I had remembered the name of the bank manager, who assisted in robbing me.

As it turned out, the bank had to admit the were wrong in giving the money from the TCs to my captor and not to me, the owner of the TCs. I was totally counting on receiving that money, running out of the back room of the bank, and screaming police and help in the lobby. I knew I could do this and my captors would be useless to do anything about this. I would have my money...but NO...they bank officials gave the huge stack of money to ROSE...my captor and obvious friend of the bank employees involved.

The embassy even wrote to American Express, sent a police report backing me up in everything.

When I arrived back home and I called American Express, they told me to supply many things,,,which I did to all exactness. I faxed them over 50 pages. A couple days later I called, spoke with ANNA, and was told they had received nothing in fax form. Now I had a receipt and it cost $50. Anna said faxes are often lost, but I refused to incur further costs. I asked if I could scan everything an E-mail the documents as attachments. Anna told me that was OK. It took quite a lot of time, but I did scan everything and e-Mailed all to ANNA. DAYS, went by and I heard nothing. I called and called and left any messages. Never were any of the calls returned, nor any e-mails answered. One day, I was able to find out that the e-MAILS HAD BEEN RECIEVED.

I have called all numbers for AMEX. All I get is the run around. Never has my claim been denied, but I have been told I must fill out a claim form, which I have not been able to get anywhere.

Finally, I sent a certified letter to AMEX in SALT Lake City, where I threatened to take action against them. In doing research, I found out much. The Amex TC division is the money laundering arm of the heroin industry and Interpol is the police agency which permits all this to happen. This fact may explain Scott Summers' statement to the effect he though Interpol was not helpful at all and was appreciative of all efforts by the Ouagadougou Police.

I truly intend to go to great lengths to expose this scam...many have been victim to this. Any claims over $2000 are automatically not paid. This is all mixed up with our government, ad I do think it possible my bank, my government, the Burkina Faso Embassy in DC, may all be involved. I know a member of the Iraq study group is also a board member of AMEX...Vernon Jordon. MY own congressman is mixed up in this, so I am willing to put my life in danger, if necessary, to expose this criminal organization. I also found out the Fifth Third TCs are counterfeit...which explains the bank's reluctance to cash them in for me. Finally, I was able to get all cashed in last week...but this feat took several months.

The result of my certified letter is very curious. I finally received an e-Mail from ANNA. In her email she said they needed the hotel information. Then she wrote another email to me stating she never received the police report and the e-mail from Scott Sumners, the American Ambassador. I set all info to her and forwarded the email from Anna to Scott Summers. He wrote back in shocked surprise at what was continuing to happen to me with Amex.

That was a couple months or so ago. Time is short supply. That know I cannot spend all my time on this. I have not given up and do plan more if I am unable to get satisfaction.

Cingular Wireless refused to speak with me about the phone issue. That is an entirely another matter, which someone should address. I was told they do not care what happens to their customers and I cannot hold what they say to be truth. It was my fault for believing my phone would work when they told me it would work. Also, I was due an upgrade at the time, but I was not told that at the time. Every tie I complained I lost my NETWORK. This did not happen to the other individuals on my plan. One would not believe what they do to harass me.

Quite by accident I came upon your story about the poor man who lost his TCs in a house fire. One would think that would be a simple case of quickly refunding his money...but no...this is proof of their crooked, underhanded business practices. In the end he settled for less that he was owed, and AMERICAN EXPRESS MADE A PROFIT.

This company must be exposed for what it is. I f I do not hear from you, I will know your company is all tied up in this some way. I hope I have found a partner to expose them for what they really are.

BTW, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL of the state of Indiana will not assist me. I was told I was a business, which I am not. They do not work with businesses.

I hired an attorney who initially asked me to pay for writing a letter. Then he wanted a huge retainer. I fired him, but he kept all y document copies. I have the originals still.

The hotel is part of a larger chain, but they won't help me. I would think the ECCOBANK should pay me, but they are in Africa.

First of all, my husband hates me for being so stupid. My entire family is against me. I have had to change me phone numbers, I am being stalked by computer and the phone, until I changed my phone and added better software, which stopped the hacking of my computer by the criminals.

I went to Ouagadougou and had to spend the entire time locked in a hotel room, then locked in a hotel room by myself...to protect me. The embassy changed my hotel....but someone tried to break down my door....they called me and made threats. I have suffered from PTSD and have sought counseling. The ticket to OUAGADOUGOU cost over $2000. I could not buy what I had traveled so many miles to purchase. I want all my money back and I want to expose Amex for what they are. The money came from funds from refinancing our home. Now we have nothing.

My wife and I lost one months rent in the amount of $300 due to American Expresses denial of refund. The approximate $10,000 was part of my 401(k)plan and I was usinf the money to support my wife and two 10 month old daughters. The repercussions have been significant.

In October 1996, I had been living in London, England for about a year, and was finally moving back to the United States. I had visited Lloyds Bank in Camden Town, London to buy $1200 in American Express travellers checks. I had just been to the gym and was wearing sweat pants with no pockets. I purchased the checks, and dutifully signed each one before leaving the bank. I then went to a drugstore, where I bought a bottle of aftershave. The drugstore gave me a plastic carrier bag with the aftershave in.

I figured the checks would be safer in the bag than in my hand, so I put them in there and walked about 1/4 mile to my car. When I got to the car, I realised that the sharp corner of the travellers checks pouch had split the side of the bag and they had fallen out. I immediately retraced my steps, but to no avail. There was no sign of them.

I went back to the bank (within 20 minutes of having bought the checks), and they told me that they could do nothing there and that I should call American Express. I then went to the local police station to report the loss. When I called American Express, I was told that they cannot cancel the checks and that I should call them the next day. I advised them that I would be airborne to Miami, so I was told to call from Miami.

At Miami I was told that they were going to investigate my claim and that it would take three weeks or more. I should send any information I could.

I sent them copies of the police report and my ticket stubs. I would then call each day to try to get the process moving faster, but in the end, it took them about three months to decide that there was not enough proof that I had lost them and that I had not taken good enough care of them. Interestingly enough, about a month before their decision, the checks were cashed in a London post office, where they keep surveillance for a week. American Express never contacted them to get the tapes or ask about the person who forged my signature and used a French student ID. I was able to prove that I was in Savannah, GA at the time they were cashed, and still American Express sat on its fat ass, content that it would do nothing.

To this day, when I see their television adverts with the waiter rushing across the beach with the replacement checks, I boil with anger at the way they cheated and lied to me and will NEVER do a thing to give them any business. Nor will any of my family and friends.

I was truly messed up financially and emotionally distraught by this. I was unable to give my children a Christmas. I got into debt and ended up with bad credit.