American Express Gold Cards Consumer Reviews - Page 2

HAWAII -- On 12-31-08 I put in an order to the same vendor I have used for some time asking them to put it on my American Express Gold Card on file. I was called back saying it was declined. So I call Amex thinking they had made a mistake or didn't receive my last payment for some reason. I was informed my limit had been lowered to $1600, (which coincidentally was what was owed on the next month's billing). Got the same run around I have been reading on this review site etc. My business with Amex will be ending, as I've seen many are doing on this site.

However, I would like to make a suggestion as to what I plan to do. Don't cancel your card, use it once a month for 20-100 dollars. They will still have to send you statements (request mailing not online) do the paper work, for literally no return (2% from the merchant) which brings me to my next plan. I have a small business ($400,000 annual revenues) that as of today no longer accepts American Express. They aren't getting revenue through my store. This is my first review but I will be posting all I can to as many places as I can; please help me pass the word.

I am a 12-year customer of the gold card. I have a perfect payment history and have never had a problem….until this year. AMEX has started a new policy of averaging your usage for the last 3 months, evaluating your credit score on a monthly basis (a score by the way you cannot obtain without a fee), and then setting limits on your spending. This is whether you have a perfect payment history or not. By doing this, they limit their exposure to risk in the declining economy (in their opinion), however they also alienate perfectly good customers that have been only sporadically using the card and may have recently incurred more debt (like a new car or new house).

This is a ridiculous policy and the idiot that came up with it should be fired. Not to mention, I hope someone in the Govt realizes the unfair practice of using a score to decline credit, a score which the consumer has to pay to see. I have seen my “no limits” spending feature dropped from “unlimited” to $21K, to $8K. This is because when they pissed me off the first time by changing from “no-limit” to a $21K limit, I stopped using the card for business travel. Then, as I did use it sporadically, they lowered the limit again because my “average” usage was low. How stupid is that?

My recommendation, pass the word along and have everyone you speak to complain. Call them and complain, write them and complain, email them and complain…and stop using the card! If their usage drops and their complaints rise….someone in AMEX Corporate will get wind of it and hopefully fire the idiot that started the new policy.

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND -- MA here to tell my fellows who may be thinking of American Express as option. This guys gave me their GOLD CARD with spending limit of up to 2500 dollars per month as long as you will be able to pay it back. I asked them if they going to report me to Bureau if I pay they said nope since this is not a credit card.

However I was surprised to find them have reported every single usage of this card with intention to bring down my credit score. You may wonder how?? It is like this they don't report how much is the credit limit, and how is the payment agreement, instead they simply report what you used to be highest balance as a result bureau consider you to be a bad customer while you keep paying this Amex company every single month.

When I called them they put me on hold for long enough and then transferred to a phone number that does not exist, later they another department of theirs had to just hang up on me. But am still a so called valued customer. Just imagine? Valued Customer? Am considering to close their card as soon possible.

I need some advice. I was approved for an American Express Gold Card, which made me pretty happy. Today I'm furious! When I first got the card I called customer service to learn about benefits. I was told "you have to pay full bill each month." Then I inquired about Travel and the guy said "oh yes you actually have a plan called Sign and Travel which allows you to book travel and pay it in payments." Last week I called to get my payment amounts and I was told "oh yeah Mr. ** you definitely have the plan, but the bill hasn't posted call after Feb. 8th." I called Feb 8th and they screwed me! "I'm sorry sir you don't qualify for this plan, you have to pay 650 dollars by Feb 21".

I screamed! I was so upset. I told her "Check the notes!" I asked one of the reps to put notes reflecting that I called and that I was told I had the plan. They said "I'm sorry you were told misinformation and while I believe you were misled, YOU MUST PAY FULL BALANCE." I made a few calls and sent some emails and they won't budge. These sharks!! What can I do!?

EL PASO, TEXAS -- I have been a loyal American Express Gold card member for 25 years. I have paid my bill in full and on time every month. I have paid their ridiculous annual fee without hesitation, and how am I rewarded? They cancel my card without notice and without explanation! I went to use my card on Saturday and was denied only to find an email and a voice mail message from them, dated that same day, stating they have decided to cancel my card. There was no advanced notice, there was no explanation, it was if they just flipped a switch. In addition, I believe this action and misconduct of power, makes them in violation of the Consumer Credit Card Protection Act.

I am so disappointed with the way that American Express has conducted business. When I called their customer service to inquire about the card cancellation, the representative was rude and incompetent. She could not answer my questions and stammered/stuttered when questioned. I don't need American Express, but they do need me and others like me. We are the ones that have built their company, their success and have allowed them to grow. I am appalled at their business practice and from the searches I have seen online I am not alone.

Last year, without notice, AMEX took away our ability to carry any balances over on two of our AMEX Cards. They must be paid in full monthly. We are a small company (we charge about $1 million yearly) and we used to pay approximately $10,000 a year in interest to AMEX. Now we pay none. Since we are tiny fish in the pond, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that AMEX must be losing millions overall in the interest that it doesn't need anymore. Apparently, all they need is the government and not their customers since that is clearly what they are telling us.

At the same time, they are reducing our credit limit about every six months. I appreciate AMEX helping us phase them out of our business, showing us that we don't need them. My only question is that if AMEX doesn't need us, why does the government feel the need to keep helping them?

I have been an AMEX gold card member for about 2 yrs now with an 810 credit score and apparently due to my Christmas shopping they are requesting my tax returns to verify my income to see if I am credit worthy to have their credit cards! OH MY GOD! I was really furious, absolutely appalled by this! I thought that the existence of my credit file was what credit cards company took into consideration before giving me a card! I am so not releasing that info to them and they say they are going to cancel my card.

I spoke to this rude Hispanic guy with the worst accent ever and I could barely understand what he was saying. He pretty much went down the list telling me that with all my recent purchases, and he read one by one in a sarcastic way, telling me that my income level didn't match the amount of expense I had. My bill is due on the 5th of January and I paid in full today ($5,000) and I am just going to wait for them to make a decision. Aside for the exorbitant 150 annual fee they still want super sensitive info from me. My friends and family warned me about this card but I thought it would be a good card to have but I am sure going to tell AMEX TO SUCK IT!

NY, NEW YORK -- I was 34 days late on a payment and American Express cancelled my gold card account. I have been making consistent payments since I became a member in 2005, and even made a huge payment this morning...BEFORE receiving a call from collections agency. I called American Express and asked them why my account was cancelled, and they said they did not have the information in front of them BECAUSE THE ACCOUNT NO LONGER EXISTED. Any info would come from the collection agency. I asked the collection agency why my account was cancelled and they told I had to ask American Express. RIDICULOUS.

I am very angry with this company, due to their atrocious customer "service" (or lack thereof), and will make it my mission to convince others not to sign up for new cards and cancel existing cards with American Express. BTW AMEX....how did that federal TAX PAYER bailout work out for your company?!! When do your consumer customers get a break and/or bailout? AMEX should be ashamed. Consumer Reports will be my next site.

I was lured into applying for an Amex Card on their reputation for being a world leader and for travel benefits. In the year that I had the Gold Card I saw them reduce my credit limit twice, each of 50%, which represents a total of 75% reduction. No phone call, no Letter, no banner ad on their website - nothing! I in fact called them to query "what's going on?" and was told that the limit reduction was applicable to everyone and pleaded with the Rep on the Phone that I was going on holiday in two weeks time, but he stood his ground and denied my requests.

Fair enough, I didn't use my card much, mostly on holiday, but maybe twice a month I would charge something to it, so as to ensure it had activity at least. Last month I cancelled my Account with them, I got the settlement amount of $1000.00 and included in that was a $100.00 subscription fee for 2010. I had not seen this on the internet statement and had not gotten my statement yet from AMEX, so I happily paid the dues and cancelled the account.

After discovering this on my statement, I called AMEX and was told that they do not refund or reimburse subscription fees and they will keep my Guarantee Cheque for three months before they return it to me. I have in the interim Cancelled that Cheque. AMEX, you will not get another cent outta me - EVER!

Like other reviews on this site, AMEX decided I needed to make an early payment 10 days before the monthly closing date. Are they running out of funds? Maybe they shouldn't have paid back the TARP funds! Specifically, My wife went to buy an appliance and was declined on AMEX. She talked to the AMEX representative on the store phone, and first the AMEX representative said she was not even on my account, then said she was, but we had too high of a revolving balance. I've been a AMEX member since 1978, and have a credit score of 764, and I'm never ever late with my payments.

I called AMEX the next day to see what was up and I got this song and dance about high revolving balance, about how my credit score had fallen 20 points (I just bought a car), and I had to pay off my $2500 balance before the closing date. No matter that my typical monthly bill is $5000, and there were only 10 days left before the closing date. This is really BS, and I'm glad I saw similar stories on this website. Makes me feel like it's more than just me.