American Express
Reviews and Complaints

I received my first American Express card as a college student in 1982. The sole, thin plastic card in my wallet carried an important weight for me; I felt grown up and financially validated. Upon graduation I moved to New York, and as a young executive, I used my card with great pride. I often enjoyed a light meal and beverage at the newly opened Smith and Wollensky, sitting elbow to elbow with Manhattan’s business elite and proudly paying with my Green Card.

Over the years I was invited to receive many American Express products. I was an inaugural Optima cardholder, and my Green Card was upgraded to Gold and then subsequently Platinum. I fully enjoyed the benefits of the cards, which I felt were well worth the annual fee. Over time I used my American Express accounts to purchase hundreds of thousands of goods and services while maintaining each account in good standing. Through their OPEN program, I financed the growth of my small business, continually keeping my accounts in good standing.

Over the years, American Express changed many of their policies and the days of “no preset spending limit” were over. Credit lines were actively monitored and often reduced. Yet, this was perfectly understandable. Their website enhancements were exceptional, particularly the option to receive immediate credit for an online payment.
This is where the problem started. Although I had no current balance due on my Business Platinum Card, I made a $500 online payment on August 4th to provide additional funds for a trip I was taking to Spain. Due to a technical issue with my bank, the payment was returned, resubmitted, and my card was credited on the 6th. As I had a sizable credit line available, I felt comfortable using this card as the primary form of payment during my trip.

On the eve of my vacation, I received an email notifying me that my Optima card was canceled without any explanation. I still boarded the plane without concern as my other accounts were in good standing (as was the Optima card, however). I used my card frequently in Barcelona, until August 9th, when I was inundated with emails informing me that one card after another was being canceled. I made numerous calls to American Express seeking an answer. Each time I was graciously thanked for being a member since 1982, but also told that due to a returned, unpaid electronic payment my accounts were reevaluated and subsequently closed. I would deem the responses scripted and robotic. Nothing could be done to reinstate the accounts although they were all in good standing. Thankfully, the Business Platinum card I was carrying was not closed nor was my personal platinum card, which I had left at home. Each time I spoke to a representative, I explained that I was in Europe and needed access to my remaining account until I returned home.

On the evening of August 9th, quite literally when the hotel check was presented, I received an email that my business platinum account was closed. After a lengthy and embarrassing call to customer service in the middle of the establishment (again, with the same robotic response), my business associate paid the check. Later that evening, I again called customer service asking that they allow me to pay my hotel bill. After long delays, they reluctantly agreed. That was my last charge to the account.

When I returned to the states on August 9th, I called customer service and asked to speak to a supervisor. Repeatedly, I received the same robotic response. I asked myself if it truly made sense to humiliate a-28-year member based upon a purely algorithmic evaluation of my accounts. I attempted to rationalize the fact that the Business Platinum card required payment in full, which without fail I made on a monthly basis. In addition, the rather large annual membership fees would be lost, and of course there were thousands of dollars in expenditure charged to the multiple cards. The supervisor actually seemed truly compassionate. She stated that until just recently she had the authority to override a matter such as this but “those days are gone.” Since she worked with the OPEN accounts, she could not comment on my personal Platinum Card.
Over the next week, my personal platinum card remained active, and I repeatedly called American Express to ensure it was in good standing. On August 13th I spoke to an individual who assured me that may account was in good standing, but “to just be certain, ” I should wire the $1, 546 payment that was due. I followed these instructions and the account remained current. Days later I received notice that the account was closed. I made my last plea to an American Express supervisor, was again thanked for my many years as a card member, but “due to a returned payment” nothing could be done.

On August 20th I received a renewed personal Platinum card in the mail and was excited that American Express had reconsidered their position. I immediately called to activate the card and received the welcome response “your card is now ready to use.” I went out for lunch, and upon using the card to pay the tab, it was declined. Outraged, I again called a representative who was relatively speechless. She said it was sent in error and that the gentleman who suggested I send the wire transfer while assuring me the account was in good standing, had no authority to make such a commitment. I asked at a minimum the $25 wire fee be reimbursed, which she said she would look into. There has been no response to-date.

To make the situation even more horrific, I’ve incurred a $1, 097.35 fee for $500 in traveler’s checks I ordered on August 10th through the Members Reward program. With the assurance that my personal Platinum account was in good standing, I used 40, 000 points and was advanced the balance through the Membership Miles program. This allows a ward program member time to pay back the miles with future purchases. Never would I have done so if I was not assured my card was in good standing; the $1097 charge is a result of absolute deception on behalf of American Express.
As all my accounts have been closed and my 28-year relationship with American Express shattered, I enrolled all my accounts into a debt consolidation program. Seemed I had nothing to lose, I repeatedly lived up to my financial commitments with American Express, yet they choose to shun me. I found it truly absurd that at the end of each of my many customer service conversations, the representative was sure to ask, “is there anything else I can do for you?”

At a minimum, I think it just to be reimbursed for the $25 wire fee (the payment could have easily been made online for no fee), my accrued membership dues, and the outrageous $1097 “point advance fee, ” which was imposed with the knowledge all my accounts were to be closed. I would be happy to return the $500 dollar equivalence paid with advanced miles. Most of all, I would like to have either my personal or business platinum account(s) reinstated.
Is this practice legal? Are there laws in place to protect the consumer from unfair credit card penalties such as these? In one felt swoop can an outstanding card member of 28 years be chastised due to a simple ACH technicality while all accounts remained in good standing? Your assistance on gaining resolution to this matter will be greatly appreciated.

I bought this gift card and loaded $500 on it to do online transactions until my replacement debit card from my bank comes in the mail and IT DOESN'T ###ING WORK!

Yes... I even called in the AMEX support center and updated my address, name etc. and put all those details into the websites I've been TRYING to order from, and it always fails. AMEX representatives have informed me that it's not their fault it doesn't work. ### AMERICAN EXPRESS!

Conclusion:

Don't buy this gift card.

I found that both my Amex credit and charge card had been used this year, both for the same amount total almost £3000.00. The problem is both cards are old expired cards from 2 years ago. This is not the first time that somebody in Amex has pulled this scam with me, two years ago the same thing happened for a 5 figure sum, again on 2 different cards that had both expired long ago. I thought Amex were one of the best companies around, but now they are showing that they are nothing more than common criminals. Nobody can use expired cards, that is unless you work for Amex. I wonder how much they have stolen from me over the many years I have trusted them. I will never have online statements from any company again.

dear sir I am your card holder. no xyz I paid rs a1, 83410 rs in cash on 26 july 2010 I was in a hurry as I went away to nagpur for my father died and could not check the date he took the money and put the date of 28th aug 2010, I dont know the man as he had the booklet of amex and had the identity card the point is your amex people have yet not credited my account I have the slip with me kindly look into the matter it is a shame that a company of ur stature hire such collection agencies thanking you my e mail is [protected]@gmail.com hoping u will do the needfull thx..

I called Expedia (to avoid the web site) and spoke to a human representative. The human spelled my name wrong on the ticket (their error) so the ticket was not usable (you cannot board a plane if the name on the boarding pass does not match the name on your ID). I notified them immediately (but spent 6 hours on hold. I talked to India and Manila and other non-fluent English speakers who acknowledged the error but refused to correct it. (There is "a charge" to correct it). I called United Airlines and spent hours on hold (being transferred from one phone to another - listening to Rhapsody in Blue from the 60's) United Refused to correct the mistake (and they had US Airways on the return trip). I called Priceline (hotels) and after hours on hold they refused to acknowledge the notice. (ignored my call). So I called American Express and customer service understood that nobody would pay for a ticket that was WRONG and that there were weeks of opportunity to correct the error. So they started an investigation. Whomever does investigations decided it will be easier if I pay the charges than if they refuse to pay so I GOT BILLED. What this boils down to is that Expedia and UAL (and US Air and Priceline) KNEW that they tickets were not valid but KNOWINGLY submitted them for payment as though they were valid faililng to disclose a material fact (that they cannot be used to travel -- to accomplish the objective). American Express KNOWINGLY accepted their FRAUDULENT submission and aided and abetted them to collect from me (the object of the crime). But each of them (Expedia, UAL, US Air, American Express, Priceline) KNOW that there is no consequence for a crime they conspire to commit and do commit (there is a federal RICO statute but nobody cares). Experian, Transunion and Equifax will further aid and abet the parties. But I refuse to pay the fraudulent charges. There will be serious consequences for me but it is not just. No lawyer will help me since the cost is less than $500. Lawyers will help the other parties. I am on my own. Costco will not help me either (I called them). All of them KNOW what happened.

I have been lied to for 8 months by this company (amex) they have told us that they would re instate my centurion card.. They told me they would refund 1 2000.00 deliquent fee, they have told us this and that by 30 different people... They have no answers other to pass you around and treat the consumer like sheep and or cattle...

I have charge millions of dollars on this card and have paid in good standing... Received a letter of reintatement and guess what they even say that is a lie... I would like to tell you that I have never been treated so un poorly in my entire life by a company that used to be a good company... It all changed 3 years ago... They were given a free loan by the us government... But goodness sake man give us people a reason not too... I would like to inform as many people as possible to stay away from them

Thanks

Mindi

My credit card agreement states I am to get 3% rebate for my gasoline purchases. My bill reflects only a small portion of my gas purchases were recognized for this credit. On inquiry to American Express, they stated that my purchase of "automated fuel disp" by ASTRO (a gas company) would not be credited with this rebate "because the company's original registration with American Express did not state they were a gas station".
The only other sales by this place are cigarettes (my family and I don't smoke).

I am an experienced business person, which is why I am stunned by the lack of rectification Amex has produced regarding the misinformation they provided about my gift card. On 5/7/10, I attempted to use the small remaining balance on a $50 gift card ($11.65) toward a much larger purchase at an area Walmart. In order to process the card, the clerk needed the balance, which I'd forgotten, not having used it in a couple of months. She advised me to call the # on the back of the card, the "help" #. I did and was told the card no longer had any balance; that it had been used up in a February 2010 Target purchase. Therefore, the clerk discarded the card, and I paid for my purchases otherwise and left. When I got home, I reviewed the register receipt from that Target purchse, only to find the card, in fact, had an $11.65 balance...NOT A ZERO BALANCE! I'd been misinformed;HURT BY THE HELP FOLKS! I called Customer Service 5/10/10 and, without the card #, they could do nothing but advise me to fill out this form...sort of "the victim being punished" theory. In the computer of the gentleman who took my call Friday, lies the information about my card...they have it, I don't. I was told it was worthless when it wasn't. It's sort of "legalized theft" by explanation of "Oops! I made a boo-boo." CS must have told me 25 times how sorry they are and how much they apologize, but not once did they offer to send me a card for the $11.65 they, in effect, took from me! That's all I want...an $11.65 Amex gift card. As a business person, I might even continue to consider Amex gift cards I'd thought of doling out. Without it, I most certainly won't! How could I give the gift of victimization to someone?! I cannot provide card #'s due to Amex's misinformation, so my money becomes Amex's. What kind of business environment do we have; what kind of human beings are making and dishing out policy within businesses? Sad thought, no?

The day before I traveled to china to adopt a special needs toddler, I called american express to let them know I would be using their credit card solely (And no other card) while in china for 15 days. (To earn miles, of course!) a week and a half later I tried to use my card, which had a very high credit limit, at my hotel in guangzhou. The charge was denied and I was informed that I was over the limit by $300! Sure there was a mixup, I called amex, who told me they had lowered my credit limit by over $13, 000 while on my trip! My tears, pleas, requests for a supervisor were ignored, and I was simply told the exercised their right to do it and that my credit score had just gone down, maybe because I had charged over $5, 000 in plane tickets on their card.

So thanks, american express for the baby gift. I will always remember my trip to china and how interesting you made it for me. And yeah, this is beside the point, but it felt especially cruel after the amex rep had just a week before thanked me for letting me know of the trip, added a note to my account, and wished me a wonderful trip, adding what a precious thing I was doing to help this child.

I filled out an application in the airport and only put down my information for credit. American Express put two other card holders on my account and now will not send me the original application that will prove it and sent me a word document as my original application for credit. They are unethical in there business practices. I never used the card and now I have a balance on my credit report they (American Express needs to remove it).

Call me an idiot for letting you do this to me a 2nd time. It appears if a customer starts making minimum payments or is nearing their limit you jack up the interest rates. For no good reason, you decided to increase the interest on my acct, and at a time when interest rates are going down all over the place. I never been late on a payment, and my credit rating is excellent! The supervisor in customer service refused to refer me to her manager, or even give me her manager's name. You obviously do not want to discuss your policies with your customers. Jacking up interest rates is an unfair practice. Why in the world would you feel 15.25% interest rate is justified at a time when mortgage rates are under 5%? You are gouging your customers... and furthermore you know it!

I have been harassed by automated computer-dialed calls from American Express that claims there is an issue with my account. I do not have an account with American Express. When I call the number they cited on the call it asks for you to enter an account number. I finally figured out how to get a human voice and have called them three times to remove my phone number from their automated list, but still am receiving the calls.

I have been a AMEX cardholder since 1988. Paid my amex Blue bill online because I was on vacation and this happened to be when all the hullabaloo with the new tax laws was also going on and then in Sept. I did not receive my paper statement but I did receive an email telling me that me that I missed my deadline for paying my online bill? I called amex 4 days after the due date and the online statement reflected 30 days overdue! I explained the misunderstanding and the fact that I am a long time card holder and have a very good credit history and asked the "no", and the response I got was a 58.00 late fee, a 2% of the balance fee plus $99.00 of the last due amount and the interest rate will go up to almost 28% for the next year.

This review comes to you after 3 months of attempts to get things corrected with both my CC company and the United Airlines.

During a business trip I was in line at the easy check-in machine. During that experience and while speaking to two of my colleges I was given an opportunity to buy a first class upgrade on my return trip. I was flying from Richmond VA to San Francisco CA. It was two hops to get home, one to Chicago, IL the next back home to San Fran's airport.

The first leg was the shorter trip and the offer was for 145 US dollars, I refused and then the next Upgrade appeared to be 147, for which I thought was for the second longer leg. I accepted the offer. The machine printed my tickets and I immediately looked for my first class ticket. Instead I received a bill for and notice that I had upgraded my miles for an additional 4000 + and it cost me 147 US dollars. I went to the counter to explain that I had made a mistake and that I wanted my money back. i was told that I couldnt be helped but that here is a number to call. I had some time so I called to find out there is no refund on award miles. How could this be, I am a frequent flyer that already has over 250, 000 miles to my name. I tried to escalated only to be treated in a hostile manner and then hung up on. The customer service agent when requesting his ID, told me it was MAN, I hardly believed this to be true.

I called my CC company, Americann Express, that customer service agent told me that it was not in the system so no dispute could be made. I waited patiently for it to appear on my online statement and I disputed it. I called in and explained the above. Later in the month I saw that the dispute was denied, I called again and the American Express person place the dispute again after hearing the tale that you just read. 30 days later I received a notice from AmEx that I would need to place my dispute in writing. I did with 36 hours mailed my written letter to AmEx.

United came back to say that I had used the "Upgrade" on the flight and they would not return the funds. I called back and explained even in the abstract where I did get the miles, with 250, 000 in my account, I could easily have used the first 250, 00 and not the last 4000 that I was duped into buying.

I have canceled my credit card with AmEx as they did not reach my claim but took United's response at face value. I have ceased to fly UA from this moment forward and think that everyone should be aware of the gouging that United Airlines uses to take money from weary travelers.

Now I am flying AA, lets see if their customer service is geared towards the consumer as well as the bottom line.
Damage Resulting = I was charged 147 dollars when I should have been protected against the large corporation.

When you have a "Gold Card" that has no pre-set limit and you pay it in full every month on time, then why do they claim that all of a sudden there is a "pre-set limit" based on the economy? I have employees stranded in other states who i can't get home because AMEX has "suspended our privlieges" because they can! What a joke and I am encouraging everyone I know that carries a card or accepts at their business to not use or take! Help the small business my ###, they screw the small business!

I have been a loyal American Express member since 1984. I have used the card for years for business purposes and have never missed a payment. Last week, I was checking into a hotel and was informed that my card was cancelled. As I had never been late with a payment and knew the card was current, I was sure that it had to be some fixable error. I called AMEX to get it straightened out. The exact opposite happened; the non-English speaking rep confirmed that indeed my card had been canceled because of a negative credit report.

Since 2005, when Hurricane Katrina wiped out my business and finances, my credit score has suffered. I have always made sure that I was current on my American Express bill, as I would need that card to help rebuild my future after the devastation of the hurricane. My score right now is the best that it has been in 4 years.

The big question is what my loyalty has cost me. I hope there is a class action lawsuit soon that sues for damages caused by their neglect of loyal customers.

15 days ago I opened a cc w/ AMEX. I thought I did my research on which company is the best, boy was I wrong. I go to use my card for the 1st time lastnight & its declined. Ok... I call AMEX from the store and I'm placed on hold for 20 mins. Finally I speak to an awful women who tells me my debt to income ratio is too high and I have too many inquires. I pull my credit report once I get home I pull the one from when I opened the card and the most recent one. My revolving debt $100, my credit score increased from 738 to 740 and 96% of my credit is currently available. I'm looking at the same agency they claim they are looking at, I call to get answers no one gives me any sort of explaination. Since 2007 I have 6 inquires on my report 4 from auto loans and 1 from AMEX...go figure. I've never seen anythig like this in my life I'm pissed this company is ran by a bunch of idiots.. Not to mention I make close to 6 figures a year. You try so hard to be an responible adult and it does not even matter. I feel helpless.

american express has always been a great credit card company in my books but i bought a mattress from sleepys and wasnt happy with it because it was damaged so i called american express to dispute the charge cause they have always been really reliable in the past and this time they have really failed i will stop using them and my company, family and friends will NOT use american express or sleepys anymore! And the company that is supposed to insure me for my mattress gaurdian products also sucks! Now not only cant i sleep on my helll exspensive mattress that i couldve used for a down payment for a house, and pay for it now i have to go buy another one you do not seek to satisfy your customers and thats why you will never be a good buisness!

I was just on a debt management program with incharge debt solutions and they have been accepting my payment from them. I am talking about American Express. I have recieved a letter of some sort by Sam Grey. I was doing real good making payments with Incharge Debt Solutions. Do they have to right to cancel my account with Incharge Debt Solutions without me knowing about it. I had a call from Incharge themselves and i couldn't believe my ears on what i just heard on what American Express had done. Does AMerican Express have the right to do such a thing. I have been making payments, and they're saying that i haven't. Can you help me here? My cell phone number is [protected]. You can give me a call at anytime.

My son would, on occasion, ask me to pay his American Express (AE) bills using my checks or he would phone in payments using my checing account number (I would say yes each time when AE asked if this was ok). My son then paid me cash to cover the payments. My son is now in a dispute over a $1, 100 charge and AE unilaterally (AND WITHOUT MY AUTHORITY OR MY SON'S REQUEST) took the $1, 100 from my checking account to pay the bill. I am not a co-signer on his credit card. He disputed this action and got the run-around. I then told my bank of the unauthorized electronic debit and they reversed the charge. AE is now charging my son $73 for a canceled electronic payment. My son is now also fighting AE over the $73 item.

Watch out if you pay another person's AE bill by authoring an electronic transfer from your checking acount!