[X]
Write ReviewJump to 
1
Helpful
Votes
Votes
American Express SUCKS!
American Express Credit Card - Complaint
Review by cynlon428 on 2012-02-15
Rating: 
TEXAS -- I have been an American Express cardholder since 2009. Tonight, I went to pay my bill and I checked my statement. Late charges and finance charges were included for paying one day late for a total of over $40.00.
I always pay my balance in full. I called customer service and said, I am calling to see if the charges can be reversed as a courtesy due to being a long standing customers, my payments are rarely late, and I pay in full.
I get put on hold. The customer service representative comes back on and tells me, sorry, you had a late payment in June 2011. It's February 2012, folks.
I cancelled the card. I guess they don't need my business. Hope it was worth the $40.00 to them to lose my business. And, also have me share my experience with them on the internet for all to see.
Note to all credit card companies: if a customer takes the time to call you to reverse late charges, they pay in full, they haven't had a late payment in over EIGHT months, if you want to keep their business and not have them think ill of you for the rest of their natural born days, I recommend you give them the benefit of the doubt and reverse their charges.
Especially in these times, when companies aren't giving raises, Americans haven't seen an increase in disposable income in five years, and the cost of living is skyrocketing. Are you kidding me?!
Don't go with American Express. There are other credit card companies out there who want your business and will treat you as a valued customer.
****
There is a note on this page saying American Express might try to contact me to resolve my issue. Don't bother. I am not interested.
I always pay my balance in full. I called customer service and said, I am calling to see if the charges can be reversed as a courtesy due to being a long standing customers, my payments are rarely late, and I pay in full.
I get put on hold. The customer service representative comes back on and tells me, sorry, you had a late payment in June 2011. It's February 2012, folks.
I cancelled the card. I guess they don't need my business. Hope it was worth the $40.00 to them to lose my business. And, also have me share my experience with them on the internet for all to see.
Note to all credit card companies: if a customer takes the time to call you to reverse late charges, they pay in full, they haven't had a late payment in over EIGHT months, if you want to keep their business and not have them think ill of you for the rest of their natural born days, I recommend you give them the benefit of the doubt and reverse their charges.
Especially in these times, when companies aren't giving raises, Americans haven't seen an increase in disposable income in five years, and the cost of living is skyrocketing. Are you kidding me?!
Don't go with American Express. There are other credit card companies out there who want your business and will treat you as a valued customer.
****
There is a note on this page saying American Express might try to contact me to resolve my issue. Don't bother. I am not interested.
Comments:
Posted by ScruffyFace on 2012-02-15:
I wonder if the tipping point for AE was the June late payment - that would be two late payments in a 12-month period.
Did they forgive any penalties in June?
Given you always pay in full and have only been late by a day (assuming a day in June) for less than 17% of your yearly payments (two of 12), it's a shame they didn't work with you.
I also wonder if this is something that people who pay their bills online should keep in mind - if you mail a check, you're probably conditioned to mail it early enough to account for the time in transit; when paying online, the timing of the payment is just as critical.
Did they forgive any penalties in June?
Given you always pay in full and have only been late by a day (assuming a day in June) for less than 17% of your yearly payments (two of 12), it's a shame they didn't work with you.
I also wonder if this is something that people who pay their bills online should keep in mind - if you mail a check, you're probably conditioned to mail it early enough to account for the time in transit; when paying online, the timing of the payment is just as critical.
Posted by Ponie on 2012-02-15:
'...they haven't had a late payment in over EIGHT months...? So are you saying you've been late with your payment before, probably eight months ago? That really isn't a very good record. I use my Chase card the most of any I have. A while back, rather than going to my bank's online bill pay, by mistake I just tossed the statement into the file drawer. The late fee was only $25 so that tells you how long ago this happened. I had never been late with my payment previously. I called Chase, explained my error and they reversed the charge. Now, if I did this again I wouldn't expect them to forgive this charge. It would be my error and I'd have to own up and pay up.
Posted by tnchuck100 on 2012-02-15:
Two lates within a 12 month period? Did you find the statement in the card agreement that points out that late fees are applied for being late except when it is only one day late?
Posted by Ponie on 2012-02-15:
Scruffy, my bank has a pull-down calendar and I choose the date the payee should receive payment. I always choose a date one day before payment is due--just in case. The bank states if the payee does not receive the funds in time and I've chosen the correct date, they will pay any late fees I incur and deposit $50 in my account. Guess the computers are pretty good. I haven't collected a dime as long as I've been using it.
Posted by ok4now on 2012-02-16:
AMEX is a business and they expect you to pay them in a timely manner. If not you get whacked with fees and late charges. You said you were "ONLY" one day late. It's not when you make the payment, it's when they post it to your account. You have to allow at least 3 days for this. To avoid this I pay electronically well before the due date. I have never had a problem.
Posted by Churro on 2012-02-16:
I've never understood the appeal of American Express. You did the right thing dumping them. There are several national banks out there willing to give you a $100 to $200 bribe to sign up for their card and with better perks to boot.
Posted by ok4now on 2012-02-17:
Churro, I really don't like AMEX and it's not the card I normally use. The only reason I have it is to make purchases at Costco. This is the only C.C. that they will accept. On a typical shopping trip I pay cash. If you want to make a large purchase and don't want to carry cash this is the card you need.
Example: While recently shopping at Costco they had a 55 in. Samsung 3D LED TV on sale. Regular discounted price was $2700. The sale price was $2000. I grabbed this deal real fast. Used the AMEX card and I'll pay it off when the bill comes in.
Example: While recently shopping at Costco they had a 55 in. Samsung 3D LED TV on sale. Regular discounted price was $2700. The sale price was $2000. I grabbed this deal real fast. Used the AMEX card and I'll pay it off when the bill comes in.
Note: All comments are reviewed by a moderator before being published. Please be sure to read our guidelines before commenting.
Company Reps: Post your company response!
Recently Discussed:
- American Express Punishes Its Customers - Usury Interest Rates for Reliable Customers
- American Express' Poor Customer Service - American Express Credit Card
- Biggest Rip-Off of a Credit Card Out There
- Amex Customer Service Is at an All Time Low--- - American Express Credit Card
- AMEX Blue Cash Preferred - Blue Cash Preferred
More Reviews on American Express:
- Customer Service - Delta Skymiles SCAM Promotional Experience - Customer Service
- Worst Customer Service EVER!! - Card
- Horrible costumer service
- American Express's crappy customer service hides behind an obsolete reputation - American Express Premier Rewards Gold Card
- Take my money please! - Account payments