Date Received: 2023-12-21
Issue: Trouble using the card
Subissue: Trouble using the card to spend money in a store or online
Consumer Complaint: I received a AMEX gift cards from my employer. I find I can't use this card anywhere. These virtual cards are declined online and in brick and mortar stores, at restaurants and grocery stores, or XXXX wallet - no one will take these cards. I call AMEX customer service and they can not offer me any resolution. They can not tell me where I can use the cards ( their site claims you can use them anywhere that accepts AMEX ). They can not transfer my balances for my XXXX unusable virtual cards to a physical card. They can not offer me a refund. They do not allow you to use the cards for partial payments, nor do they allow you to charge too close to the total card balance. This system seems designed to skim a few dollars from American consumers. They hold our legal tender hostage and tell us there is nothing they can do about it. They falsely advertise that their gift cards can be used anywhere that accepts American Express cards. This is simply not the case. I can not reach a resolution with AMEX customer service nor can the original purchaser. I have been unable to use their card. My money is inaccessible. All I want is the total balance on my card in cash/check.
Company Response:
State: IA
Zip: 503XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-12-21
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-12-22
Issue: Electronic communications
Subissue: Frequent or repeated messages
Consumer Complaint: Today I called American Express to inform them that I am unable to pay the minimum amount due based on the warning I noticed on American Express account and suggestion to take financial relief help. However, the person who attended the call got all the information about my unfortunate circumstances and denied an opportunity to pay the debt over time with a lower interest rate and manageable monthly payment. I requested them to allow me to pay after XXXX of every month, they denied the ability to do so. They also asked for an immediate payment ( first payment ) if I agree to the plan. I already informed them about this last week when the person on chat didn't suggest me to apply for financial relief or offer a plan for the same. Later in the day I got a email with monthly payment of XXXX instead of the current amount that is around {$770.00} that I am unable to meet. I am attaching emails from both previous month and this month. This is like trying to push me into further distress without acknowledging the fact that I am already in distress. This case is related to federal case XXXX California civil case XXXX.
Company Response:
State: CA
Zip: XXXXX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-12-22
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-12-21
Issue: Managing an account
Subissue: Deposits and withdrawals
Consumer Complaint: Amex Bank makes it very easy to open an account, but apparently very difficult to take money out of an account. I have been trying to link my primary checking account at another bank to my XXXX at Amex Bank for over XXXX weeks. I want the flexibility to take money out of the account when needed. There is an opportunity to link an account online, but it doesn't work. I was told that there is a glitch in their software that they are working on, and that I would have to submit a form to link the Amex account to a checking account I have at the other bank. They told me that would take XXXX business days to process. I submitted that form over XXXX weeks ago, and still my Amex XXXX is not linked to my checking account at my primary bank. I talked to a representative over phone, and she told me that they were not allowing linked accounts at the moment. I told her that was unacceptable, and contrary to the website statements, and that I wanted to talk with a supervisor. She took my phone number and said a supervisor would call me within XXXX days. That was XXXX days ago. This is really terrible, that I basically don't have access to my XXXX at Amex Bank.
Company Response:
State: MD
Zip: 20815
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-12-21
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-12-21
Issue: Trouble using the card
Subissue: Trouble using the card to spend money in a store or online
Consumer Complaint: I received 3 AMEX giftcards from my company all at XXXX each. I activated the cards on XX/XX/XXXX at attempted to use them for less than what was on the cards. I attempted the first 2 cards on XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX and both transactions were declined, one amount was about XXXX and the other was around XXXX. One of the orders contained a XXXX item that went through, but the larger XXXX item was declined. I called AMEX customer support and they said they " would make changes to my account and to try again in 24 hours. '' I attempted the 2 transactions again on XX/XX/XXXX and they were declined again. I even attempted to purchase smaller valued items ( {$25.00} ) and they were still declined. I called customer service again on XX/XX/XXXX and was advised to try a different merchant. I have tried XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and the card continues to decline even though the funds are there. On XX/XX/XXXX I attempted to use my 3rd AMEX giftcard and was approved for 2 transactions on XXXX ( XXXX and XXXX ) but any transaction after that has been declined, even though there is XXXX left on the card. I called again on XX/XX/XXXX asking for assistance on using these cards, the customer service rep said I need to use them at different merchants, to which I explained that there have been approved purchases on XXXX and now they are declined and I've tried different merchants and I'm still getting declined. I asked to speak with a supervisor as I have been having issues for almost a week with no resolution. I was put on hold for about an hour and then I was hung up on. I now have about {$510.00} left between the 3 cards that I can not use and AMEX customer service has done nothing to resolve. Note : I do not have screenshots of the declined items on XXXX because I had to cancel them so another card was not charged.
Company Response:
State: CA
Zip: 92563
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-12-21
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-12-21
Issue: Trouble using the card
Subissue: Trouble using the card to spend money in a store or online
Consumer Complaint: I have had two charges go through successfully on this AMEX gift card, however, no charge has been accepted since then even though there is a large credit balance. On XX/XX/XXXX I called AMEX to see why charges always fail to authorize and they said that I should just try a different online retailer. I tried XXXX different online retailers, each time entering the card #, exp date, and CVV code correctly, and the charge was denied every time. I then called AMEX back and they advised me that the charges may have been flagged for suspicious activity and they would have the flags removed in 24 hours. I then waited 24 hours and attempted to use the card again and it still will not work. XXXX I called AMEX again, and after navigating the ridiculous phone bank of computer generated advice, I got someone in XXXX who i could barely understand and when I said I would like for them to send me a check for the balance that is unspent on this gift card, they said they could not do that and that the only option was to be issued another card with the balance of credit on it. I said that would not work for me as I would most likely experience the same issue. I feel that these cards are designed to not work and that the company is skimming this money.
Company Response:
State: TX
Zip: 75007
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-12-21
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-12-21
Issue: Trouble using the card
Subissue: Trouble using the card to spend money in a store or online
Consumer Complaint: I received a {$500.00} American Express XXXX XXXX XXXX credit card on XX/XX/XXXX from my employer as a holiday gift. I made sure the card was activated and on XX/XX/XXXX attempted to make an online purchase from a vendor who accepts AMEX ( XXXX ) for sale for {$360.00} after tax. This purchase required inputting all card security information including the security code, after which I got a message that there was an issue with an invalid payment. I tried to re-enter the card number and redo the transaction multiple times without success. I then attempted to make the same online purchase from another vendor who accepts AMEX ( XXXX, same price, item was to arrive XX/XX/XXXX ). I again provided the full card security information and it appeared the purchase was successful. However, days later the order was still pending, the payment had not been processed, there had been no charge to the AMEX gift card account and no order fulfillment progress from XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX I called XXXX to check on the status of my order. XXXX told me that authorization of payment had been declined and that the issue was on American Expresses side. I checked the balance of my card online ( AmexGiftCard.comXXXX ) and the balance was {$490.00} with XXXX {$0.00} chargers, XXXX from XXXX and XXXX from XXXX. At this point, I was very frustrated. I contacted AMEX Gift Card service by phone and was eventually able to reach a customer service agent. The agent told me that some online vendors reject cards if the security information is not provided. I told the agent the online vendors did ask for, and were provided with, all security information. I also noted that these vendors ( XXXX, XXXX ) are by far the largest online sellers in the XXXX and that it was ridiculous I could not use a prepaid card with them. The customer service agent then told me that I should instead spend the card in person and not use it online, despite the cardmember agreement explicitly saying this can be used for online purchases that accept American Express. The specific model of the product I am trying to purchase is not available in stores nearby and I obviously can not purchase from XXXX in person. I am in a position where A ) a XXXX gift is not going to arrive in time B ) I will not be able to take advantage of the online sale price or perhaps even find said item A ) I can't use my own money/gift card online even though they accept AMEX and XXXX ) I have been severely limited in where I can use my own money/gift card.
Company Response:
State: WA
Zip: 98144
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-12-21
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with monetary relief
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-12-21
Issue: Other features, terms, or problems
Subissue: Other problem
Consumer Complaint: This regarding claim number XXXX ' on a feature/benefit ( 'Extended Warranty ), which I have on my card where my claim has been rejected twice with rationale that the company ( Amex ) can't provide any support nor being rationale. First was rejected due to original manufacturer warranty only 30 days. When asked amex for documentation, the company rejected second claim your warranty is not valid in the United States XXXX, District of Columbia, or its territories or possessions. Please note the company ( XXXX XXXX ) and retail distributor is based from New york. Amex has failed it's fiduciary duty and sending false information.
Company Response:
State: NY
Zip: 10025
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-12-21
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-12-21
Issue: Getting a credit card
Subissue: Card opened without my consent or knowledge
Consumer Complaint: I have several credit cards account opened in my name without my consent. I noticed this been done when i tried applying for an apartment and my credit report had all of these credit cards account open which affected my credit scores and opportunity to get the apartment. I need my credit to be repaired and to remove all of these fraud accounts that were open without my knowledge. It isnt fair for me to be stuck and having to pay for something i didnt authorize.
Company Response:
State: NY
Zip: 10451
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-12-21
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-12-21
Issue: Other features, terms, or problems
Subissue: Other problem
Consumer Complaint: I applied on line for an American Express " Platinum '' credit card on XX/XX/2023. After realizing that American Express has many different types of " Platinum '' cards with different perks and fees I discovered that I mistakenly applied for a different " Platinum '' card than I had intended. I then called them on XX/XX/XXXX and explained to them that I had not intended to apply for this particular " Platinum '' card and asked that it be cancelled. I never received or activated a card from them and did not receive any further mail, email communication or statements from them regarding the matter until XX/XX/XXXX at which time I received a statement saying I owed a {$250.00} annual fee. I immediately called American Express expressing my concern and was told it would be looked into and I would be contacted with-in 10 days by email which they did not do. I followed up on XX/XX/XXXX and was told there was nothing they would do and that I am responsible for the {$250.00} fee. I again requested cancellation and have yet to hear back concerning the cancellation. I should not be responsible for this {$250.00} fee.
Company Response:
State: MI
Zip: 496XX
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-12-21
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A
Date Received: 2023-12-21
Issue: Trouble using the card
Subissue: Trouble using the card to spend money in a store or online
Consumer Complaint: They have everything recorded they I dont have them on hand but I have a current balance I never used and they keep declining everything hoping I forget it so they can steal it when I need it as an emergency I cant even work tomorrow bc Im out of gas I barely made it home from two gas stations who said my card got declined by them not the store
Company Response:
State: SC
Zip: 29445
Submitted Via: Web
Date Sent: 2023-12-21
Company Response to Consumer: Closed with explanation
Timely Response: Yes
Consumer Disputed: N/A