I was a Amex customer for the past 3 years, never being late, always paid in full. Due to the economic downturn, I started paying the minimum until couple of months ago. I called them prior to this situation to discuss about a possible solution. The operators do not know how to talk or listen to the customer. All they want to hear from me is, when are you going to send the payment. I am shocked that this company is using the name "American". This company do not deserve this name. People expects more from a 100 year old company, to act in a professional manner. Theres is no mannerism in these people, they should first undergo, extensive training at least a year, for them to reform. I am extremely regretful that I got this card, I always had the impression that this company had some high reputation. I am sorry to say, that if I have to put them in a scale from excellent being 10, I can give a -50 (negative 50).

If anybody wants to get a card, think twice before applying. This is their policy, as long as you pay them you are o.k. The moment you get into a bad situation in your life, you are treated like a convict. Thats exactly how I felt when I talked to them. With any other card, its the opposite. Anyway something I learned from them is to quit using cards forever.

American Express USED TO BE A GREAT COMPANY. Lately-- I've had to report them to the FTC and am about to report them to other banking and credit agencies as well. Why?
For several months, they have been advertising (with multiple fliers in the mail, at least two times monthly) -- suggesting I accept an offer (due my great credit history and scores) to accept terms to 'carry-over monthly balances over $100). After much disregard, I finally accepted, after agreeing to open a secondary account with AMEX in light of the 'new' FICO scoring system this year. (the second card was not mandatory, it was for purposes of 'spreading' out available credit to debt for several types of business charges as required with my profession and privately owned business.)

Low and behold-- within 2 months of owning the secondary card-- the 'offer' they gave me was rejected with a simple letter stating I was a credit risk because there were too many inquiries on my credit report (only 3 in 6 months---- (2) of which was by American Express for the second card, and to see if I still 'qualified' under their creditsecure program, which I also happened to accept at the beginning of the year). Not only that, they had already reduced my 'no preset limit' option internally with a $20K limit that I had to coax a nicer rep into disclosing (they were not supposed to disclose the amount to me. Previously, I was truly not under a set limit.)

Worse yet--- when the second payment for the second card came due-- I sent payments for BOTH accounts to the SAME bill payment receivables address in ONE envelope. There is NO stipulation by AMEX under any circumstances-- that we cannot send payments in one envelope. They also state they support green and other environmental programs-- so I assumed saving an envelope and stamp would be fine.

The following week, while checking my balances-- I noticed the second card bill was 'unpaid' and almost overdue. They were NOT going to notify me until it was later. I immediately called to find out what happened-- as they had already cashed the check for the other account payment (both were 'overpayments' to cover new charges as well.)

I was informed the check was destroyed because it was in with another check in ONE envelope. I was told if I did not pay again, immediately-- (my responsibility, not theirs, of course) --- I would be penalized. So they suggest electronic payment.

I am with a credit union for 'real' banking--- so I requested AMEX notify me if the routing transaction did not go through correctly on the first try.

An entire business week later--- I find out AMEX has suspended ALL of my cards, and I am about to be penalized for their ineptitudes---- because they did NOT notify me about the payment not going through. They claim it was because they found out after hours on the Friday night. However-- they have 24/7 customer service. Instead of alerting me, per request--- they put a 'stop transaction' motion on ALL my AMEX cards. (Even though they still have $50 additional overpayment on the primary card.)

They also erased the fact that they lost the original payment on the second card from my records (since they claim they don't have proof.)

I worked hard to have an extremely high credit score. NOW-- AMEX is about to destroy it because I trusted them.

This complaint will be posted on every possible consumer notice and federal trade notice site I can locate, as I am not willing to be a casualty in the credit scams and fall outs that obviously has affected AMEX more than they are willing to admit. AMEX ALSO REPORTED TO THE MEDIA AND THE FEDERAL AND STOCK BOARDS THEY WERE TIGHTENING UP THEIR STRUCTURE BECAUSE CUSTOMERS WERE HAVING TROUBLE PAYING LAST MONTH.
I wonder what the truth is--- THEIR FAULTY MAIL RECEIVING PROGRAM AND LACK OF WARNINGS AND DISCLOSURE REGARDING SUCH, OR THEIR REFUSAL TO WORK WITH CUSTOMERS IN A FAIR AND HONORABLE MANNER?????

On Friday, October 05, 2007 at approximately 700 pm, pst, I contacted American Express Card Company and spoke to a card account representative who stated that she would remove the charge from my account. I then inquired as to how this charge was authorized in the first place.

She then stated “We mail out non-requested magazine subscriptions to our card members and if they don’t respond we automatically charge their account with the annual subscription amount. Again I asked who authorized this charge and she replied we just automatically charge it to your account. I asked for a way to make a formal complaint as to how they are automatically deciding on my behalf and without my consent to apply charges to my account. She then gave me an address (American Express, PO Box 981542, El Paso, TX 79998) to send a dispute/complaint letter to and stated that this is just the way they do things at American Express at which time we ended our conversation. I will be pursuing fraudulent credit card charges against American Express because they charged something to my account without my consent. Just because I hadn't responded to the magazine offer thru American Express doesn't mean they have the right to automatically charge my account. Based upon the fact that my LACK OF RESPONSE to their magazine subscription does not give them the right to charge anything without my consent. The question is how many other American Express card holders are being charged for magazine subscriptions who hadn't responded to a non-solicited magazine.