Date Received: 2023-10-23
Issue: Getting a credit card
Subissue: Application denied
Consumer Complaint: I gave them an application for credit and they took my information and did not return the credits or give me collateral. 15 U.S. Code 1691 ( a ) - It shall be unlawful for any creditor to discriminate against any applicant, with respect to any aspect of a credit transaction This is also securities fraud because they are trading my note on the secondary market. According to 12 USC 412 Application for notes ; collateral required Such application shall be accompanied with a tender to the local Federal Reserve agent of collateral in amount equal to the sum of the Federal Reserve notes thus applied for and issued pursuant to such application.
Company Response:
State: NJ
Zip: 07112
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-10-23
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-10-23
Issue: Fees or interest
Subissue: Problem with fees
Consumer Complaint: Hello, American Express has charged me {$29.00} late fee ( XX/XX/2023 ) and {$28.00} interest fee ( XXXX XXXX 2023 ). I contacted amex through their XXXX app chat feature and asked why these charges were placed. They told me that I was late on a payment, saying the payment is due on the XXXX of the month. I told them that I paid on the XXXX through my amex app. I asked them to waive the fees, mentioning that this was my first time receiving interest and late fees after about 2 years of using their card. They submitted a form internally to waive the fee twice and told me my waiver application was rejected. I've asked them to tell me the mailing address for amex so that I can send them a letter for a formal inquiring ( know that by law there are required to provide a response ). They refused to give me an physical address.
Company Response:
State: FL
Zip: 33351
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-10-23
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-10-24
Issue: Improper use of your report
Subissue: Reporting company used your report improperly
Consumer Complaint: In accordance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act, this creditor AMERICAN EXPRESS has violated my rights. Under XXXX5 USC 1681 section 602 states I have the right to privacy. Under 15 USC 1581 Section 604-A ( 2 ) a consumer reporting agency can not furnish an account without my willing instructions. Under 15 U.S. Code 1666B a creditor may not treat a payment on a credit card account under open end consumer plan as late for any purpose. The dates being reported are XX/XX/XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, and XX/XX/XXXX XX/XX/XXXX I reached out to American express and there was no resolution for the issue.
Company Response:
State: NC
Zip: 28269
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-10-24
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-10-23
Issue: Fees or interest
Subissue: Charged too much interest
Consumer Complaint: I usually pay off my entire account balance with American Express monthly before the closing date. Last month in XXXX, at the closing date, I was charged my yearly fee along with my spouse 's account, totaling {$870.00}, and the statement closed. Then, for this current month of XXXX, I proceeded to pay off the balance again for the month, bringing the account to {$0.00} like I usually do. On my current statement, I now have a finance charge of {$290.00} and called because I thought the charge was excessive. My annual APR interest rate is XXXX XXXX. I thought since the statement closed with a balance of {$870.00}, at most, I would pay the monthly interest charge of about {$20.00}. I called American Express, and I was told that if I failed to pay off the prior month 's statement balance due by the due date, I would be charged interest, not the statement balance of the prior month ( {$870.00} ) ; rather, I would pay interest on the balance on the day the payment due, not the closing date. I have never had this happen. I am accustomed to paying interest on the balance the statement closes on. In other words, I was charged interest on the balance of {$12000.00}, the balance I had on the day payment was due, again, not the closing date. Is this customary? None of my other credit cards do this.
Company Response:
State: FL
Zip: 33013
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-10-23
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-10-23
Issue: Trouble using the card
Subissue: Trouble using the card to spend money in a store or online
Consumer Complaint: I purchased AMEX gift card from XXXX in XXXX, Illinois on XX/XX/23 @ XXXX XXXX. I have an electronic card activation receipt from the store. I called the number on the back of the card to activate my gift card. It informed me to wait 40 minutes or so before I could use it. When the time was allowed I proceeded to use XXXX to pay for an advanced purchase. The card was declined. I called XXXX and they said it was being declined by the issuing bank. So, I proceeded to call the number on the back of the card and was told at that time to wait 24 hours. So, I did. My balance at the time was exactly {$240.00}. The next day after my 24-hour, wait period, I attempted to pay for my purchase and it still declined it. So, I immediately contacted the number on the back of the card and as I spoke with a representative it was discovered that the card was compromised. During the same conversation, a dispute claim was filed. I was told I was going to receive an email for me to add any additional information but I never did. I called not once but twice to inquire about the email. I was told that it would take 5 business days to receive an email then during the second call, I was told to check my junk mail which I had. Lastly, was told that it would take 45 days to receive the email. As of today, I received an email denying my dispute. The company is assuming that I made these purchases outside of my city. I know banks deal with a lot of scammers but not everyone is. I feel offended that they just assumed this and were so quickly to dismiss my case. I know the gift card amount is not huge but for the average person struggling in this economy it is. I feel communication was handled poorly and the outcome.
Company Response:
State: IL
Zip: 62221
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-10-23
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-10-23
Issue: Trouble using the card
Subissue: Trouble using the card to spend money in a store or online
Consumer Complaint: I was issued an American Express XXXX XXXX in the amount of {$20.00} on XX/XX/2023. The card states that it can be used at " U.S. merchants that accept American Express Cards, '' however, it's been impossible to use online at all - I've tried XXXX, XXXX, XXXX, and several other services.
Company Response:
State: NY
Zip: 11542
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-10-23
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-10-23
Issue: Unexpected or other fees
Subissue:
Consumer Complaint: Sometime in XXXX I received an american express gift card with a {$100.00} value. On XX/XX/XXXX I attempted to charge the card for the {$100.00} and the charge was declined. I logged on to the american express balance website and saw that the available balance was {$99.00}. I did not understand what the XXXX discrepancy was since the card had been sealed and unused until now but dismissed this. I attempted to charge the card for {$99.00}. It was declined. I then successfully charged the card for {$50.00}. I then rechecked the american express balance and saw that the credit card had been debited for {$57.00}. In addition, there was the XXXX debit as a separate transaction on this day that I do not understand at all. A screenshot of the AMEX transactions from their balance inquiry site is included in the attached document. I called the merchant- XXXX XXXX who confirmed that their transaction amount was for {$50.00} and no fees were added. A screenshot of the transaction from the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX is included in the attached document. I reviewed the disclosure that was included with the card and saw no transaction fee. I googled this and found no additional information. Pictures of the disclosure included is included in the attached document. I called the american express customer service number shown on the card XXXX and found that none of the menu options addressed this and there was no option to be connected to a representative. I called a customer service number from the american express website for credit cards. XXXX XX/XX/XXXX XXXX ET. I was able to reach a representative since I did have an open amex card. The rep name was XXXX. I explained the situation and how upset with this experience I was, and she attempted to help by calling the gift card department internally. I was on hold for some time and she came back to ask for the account number so I believe she was in conversation with them. She returned and said that she could not help and that I need to call the gift card customer service. I explained that I already did and that I could not reach help. I then explained that at this point my intent was to file a complaint against amex and that I could not get any information or help from american express customer service. She said that she could not help. I then requested that my amex credit card be cancelled. I was forwarded to another rep who offered me {$40.00} to leave the card open after agreeing to a bunch of terms that I felt included not filing a complaint against them. I declined and told him to cancel the card. The undisclosed fees apparently assessed on this gift card is unacceptable. The fact that amex customer service for gift cards does not include a way to inquire as to what the fees are is unacceptable. The time I spent to unsuccessfully get information from American express is unacceptable and far beyond the fees in question. I would like to see the CFPB fine American express for this XXXX XXXX. I believe the way to clean this up is to make it unprofitable for them to continue as is after paying fines. Pictures of the gift card in question is included in the attached document.
Company Response:
State: CT
Zip: 060XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-10-23
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-10-23
Issue: Trouble using your card
Subissue: Can't use card to make purchases
Consumer Complaint: I received two AMEX virtual gift cards in XXXX, XXXX each in the amount of {$200.00} and have made several attempts to use them for online purchases. Since none of them would go through and all were declined, I called the customer service department of AMEX at # XXXX for help. I was told that both of the cards had sufficient funds on them and that there were no problems with the cards. When I asked for physical cards to be sent to me instead, I was told that they could not do that. When I asked what other remedy I had, they stated that I just had to keep looking for merchants who would approve the transactions. When I asked to speak to a supervisor, I was transferred to XXXX. She explained that there was nothing they could do, that I had to continue trying to use the cards online, and that they MAY go through, and that they MAY NOT. The reason given has always been that they have added an extra layer of protection and that is why the transactions are being declined, but they do not have any remedy in place for those virtual cards that do not work anywhere, even though they claim they work everywhere AMEX gift cards are taken. XXXX also stated that I could go into physical locations to use the virtual gift cards, but no one will take them because they would have to " key in '' the card number - there is no bar code to scan. So, they take the money, place it on a virtual card, and then the money is unable to be used anywhere -- and their customer service is of no help because they just tell you that there is nothing that they can do. It would be great if they could issue physical cards, but they refuse to do so.
Company Response:
State: IL
Zip: 60586
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-10-23
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-10-23
Issue: Trouble using the card
Subissue: Trouble using the card to spend money in a store or online
Consumer Complaint: I purchased two gift cards to make an online purchase on XXXX. The cards will not work. Called customer service which directed me to call the number on the back of the card, which is an automated call and basically directs me to try the card somewhere else. I purchased these cards specifically for this purchase and would like my money back. I called XXXX and they said the payment keeps getting rejected for some reason, I also tried through XXXX with the same result.
Company Response:
State: WI
Zip: 530XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-10-23
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-10-23
Issue: Problem with a purchase shown on your statement
Subissue: Credit card company isn't resolving a dispute about a purchase on your statement
Consumer Complaint: My business was closed in XXXX. A former secretary had a business card in my name. Without my knowledge or permission she continued to use this card for her personal use until XXXX, XXXX. I did not know this card was opened, because a new card was opened in approximately XXXX. I thought the old card, opened in XXXX, was this new card. She had been using the old card and it continued to exist without my knowledge since approximately XXXX. This former employee also conducted business in my name, including operating bank accounts in my name. She forged my signature repeatedly on state of alabama bar complaints to avoid detection. In XXXX, this was discovered and bar complaints were resolved. But, this one card, and one bank account went undetected. it was recently discovered and the initial contesting of the charges was initiated in XXXX, XXXX.
Company Response:
State: OH
Zip: 451XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-10-23
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A