American Express Platinum Card Reviews

In October of 2008, they lowered my credit limit without warning from $20K to like $1,300. I was extremely upset to say the least! So every month I would max that amount and pay in full. Then without warning again, they canceled mine and my wife's card. I have over 200K in Delta Skymiles accumulated from using this card. I am furious. My wife is traveling to Singapore right now and she went to use the card and she was denied (it wasn't honored). I stopped using the card so she could have that measly $1,300 balance for some spending money. I am concerned how this affects my credit score rating. The reports usually indicate if you or the merchant card canceled the credit card. If this is the case and it affects my rating, I will be pursuing legal matters. I recommend everyone to communicate their AMEX experiences to newspapers, social media networking sites (Twitter, Facebook). I want everyone to know how AMEX treats its most reliable and creditworthy customers.

We are being treated like criminals because of their incompetence to run a business properly. Shame on CEO Kenneth I. Chenault and his greedy practices and checkered polices that punish the good customers. The entire Board of Directors is all also responsible for this absolutely defunct company. I spent months working on my credit and got it above 800. I have paid for my credit report to every month for a year to keep a close eye on it and AMEX told me that a derogatory public record was on the report. Ran it again on all 3 credit reporting agencies and nothing was evident. Nothing! I called AMEX, no help as usual. Then they changed their story and said income to debt ratio. I owe only school loans. My income far exceeds my school loans. I'm at a complete lost with this American Express. Good riddance!

In addition, every time I was able to reach an AmEx customer rep, I would receive a different answer to my inquiry. One of the rep specifically stated I had a public record on my account. After ending my conversation with her, I immediately went to Experian website. After reviewing my credit summary, there is no indication of a public record. On my fourth phone call back to AmEx, I was told by another rep that no public record was listed as a reason. With such inconsistencies and lack of care to me as a long standing loyal cardholder, I cannot say how disappointed I am.

I truly forgot the bill, and within a day after the due date, I got a harassing call from a very ethnic individual who could not put a noun and verb together to save her life. She was stationed in Ft. Lauderdale. I told her I would get the payment out today, my mistake. Two days later, she called after 9:00PM EST and began to harass me again. And this time, she stated she would ruin my credit if I didn’t get that money immediately to them. I informed her that (1) she is calling after 9:00 EST and she has violated numerous laws and (2) I do not believe that being a member for 40 years and being late one time on $206.38 is a big deal in the scheme of things. She became hostile, and I told her I would not take such abuse and hung up. After a few days of thinking about it, I called AmEx and cancelled my card. They asked why; I told them. The person would not give me her name, nor did she put any notes in the system, so there was no trail. I told them I still wanted the card cancelled. They did.

About a week later, I received a call from the President of AmEx Platinum apologizing for the service, etc., asking why would I cancel after 40 years. I thought, in this day and age, that was impressive. I explained the situation. He said, "We will issue you a $3,000 credit on your account and you can use it wherever you want." I paused for a moment, thanked him, and said no. He was dead silent and asked what could be done. I said he needed to fire the inarticulate individual who caused me this stress and anxiety over 200 dollars. I was told they could not do that; I told him I didn't need his charity or his card. In this day and age, consumers need to stand up for what is right (even if financial companies tried to do the right thing). He "never" apologized to me for the associate’s rude behavior - that is what did it.

We have called American Express in several occasions seeking explanations about why our payment cycle is changing constantly and why we need to call every month to set them back up again to where they were. For 10 years, we never had these types of problems and, all of a sudden, it shows that we are late all the time. We have canceled all of their cards and we are making the last few payments to bring those accounts back down to $0.00. Nevertheless, we are being called and harassed every day by American Express to make faster payments with a higher interest rate. Even though our balance went down to $4000, our payments have tripled.

Every time we called American Express to talk about these issues, we have been transferred to several agents with no clue on how to solve the problem. It does not matter who we talk to in American Express; we cannot get any of our complaints answered and the situation resolved. As we stand today, we continue to make our monthly payment like we were, but American Express keeps piling up late fees on top of late fees making our balance go up instead of down.

Today, April 29, 2009, the card was declined; I was told it was canceled. This was humiliating as it happened in front of family and friends. I was never late with AmEx, and they have not lived up to their end of the bargain. I am not sure of the selection process that AmEx uses as I see no professionalism, no consideration, and they seem to fall right in line with the blood thirsty takers and users that we have seen in the news. Am I upset? Hell yes. The people on the phone that you are trying to reason with saying this don't make any sense at all? They can’t wait to be abrupt and get you off the phone. I will go out of my way to tell everyone I know to do away with their AmEx as it seems like some of the others who have received taxpayers’ money to survive believe they are untouchable. Consequences: my clients question the validity of my business. It may cost me revenue.

Two weeks later, the money showed back up into my account. The harassing phone calls continued for lack of payment and now breach of our agreement. Call No. 3 - They, Amex, insulted my husband and told him that the call was none of his business. I received call on cell and email (that I printed) saying I was late for my payment. I asked 800 person to check notes. They apologized and said that there must be a mistake - mine that it showed that my payment did not clear.

I just received a letter two days later that my agreement was breached and my account will be sent to collections. Gee, more harassing phone calls. I have written down representatives’ names and numbers but they claim they have no authority to help at their level. The saga continues. PS: I checked today and the payment was deducted today on schedule. I am ready to sue under the Fair Credit Act. Any CA attorneys willing to take?

I told her that the limit was reduced so much that it would make it impossible for me to travel for my job. She informed me that the only choice I had was to pay the balance down so I could work. When I asked why AmEx would do something like this to a cardholder that never paid late, always paid extra and had excellent credit, I was told it didn't matter. Their decision was final. Then she asked me if I would like to apply for another card! I said, "Wait a minute. You've essentially told me that I'm a bad risk and must have trouble making payments on the balance I do have and yet you are offering me another card with another balance? Why not just leave the balance where it is?” She then parroted the same lines about paying down the balance or getting another card.

Contrast this rude treatment with what I received from another card company two years ago when they wanted to increase my interest rate, the person I spoke with told me it was due to my debt/income ratio. I explained the balance was high due to college expenses for my daughter and that they could see that I paid all of my bills on time. After discussing things awhile, he said that they would monitor my account for three months and make a decision then. In three months, not only did they not increase the interest rate, they lowered it! But the main thing is that I was treated fairly and was listened to. If they had still increased the rate, I wouldn't have been happy but at least they had treated me fairly and listened.

AmEx has made a very stupid decision in treating their good customers like this. They make a lot of money off the interest I pay them every month. I would have thought they would want to make money - I guess not. Well, AmEx, I did apply for another card but it wasn't an AmEx. Yours is sitting in my desk drawer never to be used again. BTW, AmEx, I was talking to someone at work on Friday and telling them about the shabby treatment you're giving everyone and they said they were about to apply for an AmEx card but not now. So there's one new customer you won't have. I wonder how many more people I can keep from making the mistake of doing business with you. And AmEx, you can bet I'll tell everyone I can.

On Apr. 8, said customer brought his RV to have the new windshield installed. He said that AX had misquoted him in the dispute and he apologized. After the windshield was installed, the customer called AX to release the dispute. He also signed a release with us that he would not reopen or initiate a new dispute regarding this matter/charge. When I had not received the additional monies that AX had been holding by Apr. 17, I called AX. I was told by Jenny that they were going to continue to hold my company's future processing of funds for 30 days as said customer had 30 days to file another dispute. Can AX really get away with this? The banks are getting harder and harder to deal with and my small business is suffering because of it. Is there anything to be done? I feel this is highway robbery and I am tired of being told that there is nothing I can do.

Seriously, I have helped them by using their Platinum card, paying their high membership fees, and paying on time. Having my bills set up to be paid through them on their suggestions and encouragement, to now have to call them all and set up new arrangements, do you see why American Express stock has gone down! Would you buy stock in a company that does not trust in the American people? Thank you so much for reading this! We will be 50 years old this year with 9 grandkids and are hanging on to our dignity/our respect and trying to build a solid foundation they will have for their future! We believe in us! We have to believe that our government will stop the misuse of the misfortune of so many of the real people today!

Let me know if you would like to hear more from me regarding issues we continue to deal with. I am the squeaking wheel for now! Also, if you have gotten this far, that means someone cares and will help! FYI, regarding Ford, their credit department refused a repayment plan for our repossessed truck! After giving us street value, it left a balance still due to them of over $8,100.00. This truck will have cost us $22,000.00 and they resold for $11,500.00 or more! The truck is not in my driveway; however, I tried to set up $100.00 monthly payments until paid. They said they did not want to carry me on their books for that long!

So now I have an attorney coming after me for payment. Now, see why they are needing government assistance. I just wanted to let you know because I am watching out for your backs! Are you watching out for the Americans’ backs? Truly, a real American who is in distress and wanted to let you know the life rafts on our American ship seem to have all been passed out! We are bailing out the water as fast as we can to keep us afloat! Remember the sail, as well as its crew, always goes down with the ship. Please grab a bucket and help us keep our ship from sinking! I know we are not alone. Now, it is left up to you!

We have had an account with American Express over 5 years. Four months ago, we have received notice from American Express that they were lowering our credit limit. To be fair, I was a week late on a payment two months ago due to having misplaced the bill. Other than that, I don't believe we have been late or over the limit since being a customer. We had just made a large payment ($1,225) before receiving this cancellation notice. Our balance had only been $1,249 and our credit limit was $1,800. We don't think this is right that they will make a negative credit report on us, when the information they used to cancel us was partly created by them from lowering our credit limit in the first place.

I have reviewed our other credit accounts and did not find that they were close to the limits. We called American Express and spoke to two people, one of whom was a supervisor. All they did was restate what was in the letter, which was not very helpful. The worst part was the negative effect reflected on our credit report, which has already happened due to the fact that they lowered our credit limit down almost to our balance.

I was so fed up with getting this solicitation every month, so I gave them the information. But after I hung up, I felt like that's unbelievable that I have to give out that kind of information just to be left alone from these vultures. Now, thousands of others will have my personal information and it was done supposedly legally by American Express, Experian Information Solutions, and Equifax as stated on their terms and conditions which I did not even agree to.

Does a person have any rights at all anymore? I wish there was a way I could take legal action against these con artists that stole my private information and I'm sure will be using for something.

Recently you contacted us requesting enrollment in the Extended Payment Option on your American Express Business Card account. Unfortunately, we are unable to approve your request. What does this mean? You can continue to make purchases with your card as long as your account remains in good standing. Purchases on your account are due in full upon receipt of your billing statement. Your account will be reviewed periodically and if it meets our activation requirements, we will notify you.

My complaint is that I did not contact them to request an Extended Payment Option. However, they did contact me and wanted me to pay down my credit card. I was not late on any payments and I have been paying the amount that is requested or above that amount ever since I opened the account in 1982. I explained to them that I pay what they require of me from their monthly statements. If they want more money from me, I told them to increase the statement amount that they want me to pay them. I said that I had already scheduled a payment online for the amount that was due and that I will not pay them anymore at this time.

Then I received the letter from them that I think is illegal for them to do and why I am contacting you. It is my understanding that a credit report cannot be requested without the permission of the consumer? I contacted AMEX and they agreed that their records did not show that I requested an Extended Payment Option or any other product that they offer. They did not understand why I was sent the letter, but told me that someone from Credit Services, who sent me the letter, would call me on March 27, 2009 to explain why it was sent. However, no one has contacted me about my concern. If you could help me with this issue, I would appreciate it. Thank you for your time in this matter.

What difference is it to them if I am paying my account as I should monthly? I was trying to make my payments online and couldn't access my account. When I called the customer service (not sure which country because very thick accent and hard to understand), they told me my cards were cancelled and placed with a collection agency. What in the world? I was not notified of any of this, plus I was put into collections? I was just going online (before the due date no less) to make the payments.

Like several others, I have always felt privileged to have American Express cards. No longer. They seem pretty shady now, and I will never go back even though they keep sending me letters asking me to come back for a small and ever-changing fee. Please! Any class action suit would be okay with me even though I would normally never ever think of suing anyone. I have worked incredibly hard to maintain a great credit score, and with this blemish I now have problems. It's just not right. I went in to get a car loan and was denied. I haven't been denied for anything in over 20 years. My credit was always perfect and now with this from AmEx, I now feel like a low-life. The guy at the bank said it is denied because of some negative reporting from American Express. It shouldn't have been reported to begin with though.

Before I got off the phone, I tried to transfer my points to an airline account. Excuse me but they needed $56 excise tax to do it but would not allow me to use another card to do it and of course would not let me put even $56 on my account because it was overdrawn. They charged me 11,000 points and transferred what was left as my only option. I still lose out on the other points. This company is not a business that has any concern on its customers and will surely lose many if they are treated as I was.

"Our account is in good standing, we have always made more than the minimum payment and when we paid a huge amount of the balance, our credit limit was decreased with no explanation. When we made another huge chunk, our account was cancelled with no notice. We are trying to buy a house soon and have been meticulously protecting our credit. American Express has screwed us over for being very good customers. They are also threatening to report the cancellation to a credit bureau thereby officially messing up our credit because we were good customers. We are ready to join a class action. Please contact if you know how we can go about starting one. Thank you."

I left that message on a board online after I discovered that there are several people who are being screwed over by American Express. This is the only credit card my husband and I own and by cancelling it, American Express is wiping out a significant amount of our credit history and impeding our ability to get a house. Please advise if you know of any class action or of anybody that would be willing to take it on. In the meantime, we are getting ready to talk to the press.

Here is my case: Our account is in good standing. We have always made more than the minimum payment. When we paid a huge amount of the balance, our credit limit was decreased with no explanation; when we made another huge chunk, our account was cancelled with no notice. We are trying to buy a house soon and have been meticulously protecting our credit. American Express has screwed us over for being very good customers. They are also threatening to report the cancellation to a credit bureau, thereby officially messing up our credit because we were good customers. We are ready to join a class action. Please contact ** if you know how we can go about starting one. Thank you.

I left that message on a board online after I discovered that there are several people who are being screwed over by American Express. This is the only credit card my husband and I own, and by cancelling it, American Express is wiping out a significant amount of our credit history and impeding our ability to get a house. Please advise if you know of any class action or of anybody that would be willing to take it on. I found your information on amexsux.com. You can read about this new phenomenon from customer comments on my3cents.com. Just search "American Express class action". In the meantime, we are getting ready to talk to the press. Thank you.

I now use my other cards for business. The latest was my wife’s Blue Card. This card has also never been late, and we have always had payments that were 3-4 times the required payment. We just received a notice that not only were they canceling the card, but it would also result in a negative on our credit report. My call to American Express was a waste of time. When I contacted Amex, they were rude and said, “Too bad, that is the way it is.” They believed that they have every right to put a negative on my report since they were canceling the card.

My last statement prior to cancellation had a due amount of $25.00; I paid $750.00 cutting my total balance in half. How dare they put a negative on my credit report?! We have never been late in paying any of our bills and have impeccable credit. Where do these people get off doing this to people who pay their bills on time? If anyone is interested in doing a class action lawsuit, count me in. I have had it with Un-American Express and will never do business with them again. Consequences: negative reporting on my credit report and embarrassment when entertaining a client.

After calling customer service several times, they said this was due to a credit review and there was nothing that could be done about it. On 4/2/09, I was notified that my Blue credit line was reduced from $40,000 to $9,600 (76%, within $200 of my balance). After calling customer service and speaking with a manager, they said this was due to a high debt/credit ratio and there was nothing that could be done about it. I have never made a late payment, and I typically pay much higher than the minimum payment.

At a minimum this is horrible customer service and at a maximum, they have severely impacted my credit rating by increasing my debt/credit ratio. My debt/credit ratio has not changed dramatically in over a year, and my credit score is over 700. What they are doing is completely arbitrary. I would not be surprised if they lower my limit again in the near future as they are now creating a self-fulfilled prophecy by manipulating my credit.

From the research I have done, there are hundreds if not thousands of customers being affected in the same way, and I am looking for a class action lawsuit to join if this cannot be resolved immediately. I am so unhappy that I want to immediately cancel all of my credit accounts with American Express. The only reason I have not is it will hurt my credit scores even more. Please help! I have lost the credit that I had and cannot get credit now that my debt/credit ratio is so high due to American Express deleting over $40,000 of my credit arbitrarily.

So knowing of a very recent lowering limit. Made 3 payments in Jan 09. Everytime I lowered balance the lowered the limit. Since the limit was reduced the card was rejected 20 minutes after lowering balance. For less than the payment was made. What a bunch of paranoid people. We all are not broke and the ones paying on time get punished because everyone is maxed out. Hey it was just Xmas you idiots.

Well I paid it off in full this morning. It was not worth arguing with the smug rude jerks at Amex. No longer the card for the wealthy. Hey I have a 30 ft yacht, a million dollar beach house, run a large company. I own 3 homes and have plenty of liquid.

I WOULD LIKE TO HOLD THE PERSON AT AMEX LIABLE. NAMELY THE ANALYST THAT WAS A **. I smell a class action or refund of any yearly fee charged to all of us treated this way.

This action has caused my FICO to drop... The initial cut of the credit line made the credit line go from 25% capacity to 85% capacity. I have not abused any credit ever. I own rental property, and always pay on time. This action has affected my FICO due to the actions of AMEX. Our country is in a bad economic state and AMEX is trying to hurt cardholders... Please advise as to what action I can take against this company. Thank you.

My current statement (for which payment was due on 1/26/09) said that I had a credit limit of $4,500.00, but the representative told me that they decided to lower my credit on January 2 - one day AFTER my January 2009 statement was dated!!! When I asked the representative why I wasn't notified, she told me that a letter went out in the mail the same day that they lowered my limit. They told me that it was because of my inability to pay. I was only ONE day late with a payment in over 10 years! When I stated that, the representative said that the company was also lowering their limits due to the poor economy.

Fine. If they want to lower my limit due to the economy or because they all of a sudden find me an unfit customer after all these years, fine. But shouldn't they be required to give consumers some fair warning/notice? I wasn't even sent an email! And to this day (Jan. 7), I still have not received the letter that they said they sent out. Shouldn't there be a 30-day warning or at least a two-week warning? It just doesn't seem fair... or legal.

At that time, I was told I did not have a room. There was no notice of my reservation. I quickly called AmX to make sure all was right. At that time, they gave me my flight information, confirmation, etc... They said that "yes", indeed my information had not been sent out to the hotel; however, they would take care of that. I printed out the information that was emailed me from AmX. It had my flight, seat numbers, hotel information, confirmation numbers, etc.

My two kids and I went to the airport and tried to get our boarding passes. We were told that we did not have seats!!!!! I showed them the information from my trip, and I was told by US Airways, that I needed to call and confirm that I had seats. I thought I had. Not only had I called to confirm my trip, but I reminded AmX and ultimately reminded them to book me a room. US Airways was a nightmare. We finally got seats, but we were scattered around the plane in awful locations. When we went to change planes at our connection flight, we were told we did not have seats for the return flights. What a nightmare. I was told the plane out of Hawaii was overbooked. The counter person was finally able to get us tickets in order to get off Hawaii, but could only give us back row seats with no reclining from Phx to Chicago.

When we got to our hotel in Hawaii, the room we requested was not available. We had bought a package deal with two beds. Though a platinum card holder and a "member" of the hotel chain, we were given a downgrade. The room was not what we had already paid for. In addition, I paid full price and did not use any of my rewards points. Along the way, both in airports and at hotel counters, I called AmX to ask for clarification and help. Basically, they did nothing. I was frustrated.

I have traveled all over the world, using the internet to travel agents to book my travel arrangements. NEVER have I not received my assigned seats. NEVER have I not received an upgrade when applicable. And certainly, NEVER have I received a downgrade. I was tired and traveled. So, my kids and I went to our room, which overlooked the parking lot and was a smoker's room. Neither had I requested. Around 2:30 in the morning, I woke up and called AmX to sort things out. The woman I dealt with was in no way sympathetic. She even accused me of having talked to her before about this issue. She did try to get me assigned seats for my PhX to Chicago leg, but couldn't guarantee that I would have them. She said she would talk to the Hotel Front Desk and find out about available rooms.

The next morning, we got to move rooms. That was great. But, the situation with the flights never got better. I even called US Airways during our 10-day stay. We had our seats for the first leg of the trip, but couldn't change our seating until the last moment. We were called up to the counter just prior to boarding and, though all given seats separated from each other, they all reclined.

AMEX has solicited the small businessman, saying this is the only card we would ever need. Now they are putting us out business as we can't even go on a business trip as we are capped on our spending. I could understand if it were an ordinary credit card with a revolving line of credit? But it isn't, as the bill is paid in full every month. What is going on here? Someone should start a class litigation against this company.

There is still no email from Amex, even though email is my preferred delivery for account alerts. I thought it could not get much worse until I asked if the phone call from this person was recorded by Amex. They told me that it was recorded; but that I could not have access to the records unless I hired a lawyer to subpoena the records. So the only information Amex will give me is that my complaint is under investigation and that they will tell me the outcome by Feb 20, 2009. Amex has not only refused to help me with my identity theft case, but have even prevented me from obtaining any information to open a police investigation. I filed a complaint with the Federal Trade commission and closed my account. The American Express Fraud protection that they provide their customers is a joke at best!

Does that make any sense at all? I felt as if I was being treated like a bad American that never pays their bills. This is not the case as my account with American Express has been in good standing all these years. I protected that account because it was my emergency card for family emergencies. I am concerned about this having negative effects on my credit rating. American Express should have a review board that card members can contact to repair the relationship, especially when it has been excellent for over 20 years.