September 2016 Complaints Against American Express

Compiled from Public Data by FairShake

If you have an issue with American Express, you’re not alone.

The US government’s Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) collects complaints against financial companies.

In 2016, the CFPB received 2375 complaints against American Express. American Express ranked Number 15 among all financial companies for the most complaints.


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Complaint Details:

Date of Complaint: September 27, 2016

Company Official Name: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

State: None

Product: Credit card

Issue: Billing disputes

Company response:

Response Type: Closed with non-monetary relief


Complaint Details:

Date of Complaint: September 27, 2016

Company Official Name: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

State: None

Product: Credit card

Issue: Other

Company response:

Response Type: Closed with explanation


Complaint Details:

Date of Complaint: September 27, 2016

Company Official Name: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

State: MN

Product: Prepaid card
Sub-Product: General purpose card

Issue: Managing, opening, or closing account

Full Complaint:
I reported this to the office of the MN State Attorney General and they have suggested I also report it to you : American Express Customer Relations XXXX, UT XXXX I requested a card at XXXX, which has not yet been received. So, I went to XXXX and purchased one in the store and put {0.00} cash on it.
XXXX on XXXX/XXXX/2016 TC # XXXX AMEX BB XXXX {.00} on receipt The physical card ‘s packaging UPC is XXXX Card # XXXX Valid Thru XXXX CID XXXX Because the one I requested online is associated with my phone number, I ca n’t set the physically purchased one up online for my personal management.

ISSUE # 1 I bought the card for the sole purpose of retaining services from XXXX XXXX XXXX. They attempted to charge {0.00} and it was declined. I went back to the XXXX store and spoke with a manager. He said there ‘s a ” hold ” while it transitions through the banking transfers. He checked the card balance ; {.00} remaining.

There is absolutely no way for this ” hold ” of {0.00} to be received by XXXX XXXX XXXX. So, where is my {0.00}? I am so disgusted with this matter ; I am reporting it to the State of MN and the FBI immediately.

XXXX XXXX, MN XXXX ; XXXX

Company response:

Response Type: Closed with explanation


Complaint Details:

Date of Complaint: September 27, 2016

Company Official Name: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

State: TX

Product: Credit card

Issue: Rewards

Full Complaint:
I applied for the American Express Platinum card on XXXX/XXXX/2016 via their website. I was approved immediately. The offer I applied for was to receive XXXX Membership Rewards points after spending {00.00} within 90 days. I successfully completed that spend in far less than 90 days, it was closer to 30 days. When my statement closed, I saw the points appear in my account online around XXXX/XXXX/2016. I was planning on saving them for a trip to XXXX later this year. However, on XXXX/XXXX/2016 I logged onto the American Express website to check my accounts, and I noticed that I had XXXX points removed from my account. This was a shock to me, as I had travel plans that I was going to use those points for. I immediately called Amex at XXXX central time from my cell phone, and asked to speak to somebody about the points. I was told that they had been removed since I did not complete the terms for the XXXX bonus. Since I saw the points in my account in XXXX, I assumed I had definitely completed the terms. I was told they would follow up with the Membership Rewards department but I did not get any response from them via call or writing. The only reason I applied for this card, and paid the annual fee, was because of this point bonus. I continued to use this card and did not close the account in any way. I have also never been eligible to receive a bonus from an American Express Platinum card in the past, nor have I received any bonus from an American Express Platinum card in the past.

Company response:

Response Type: Closed with explanation


Complaint Details:

Date of Complaint: September 27, 2016

Company Official Name: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

State: CA

Product: Credit card

Issue: Rewards

Full Complaint:
I applied American Express Platinum charge card this XXXX and spent XXXX dollars in 3 months using this card. I got XXXX membership rewards points as the bonus in XXXX.
But American Express took the XXXX points from my account without notifying me.

Company response:

Response Type: Closed with explanation


Complaint Details:

Date of Complaint: September 27, 2016

Company Official Name: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

State: PA

Product: Credit card

Issue: Credit determination

Full Complaint:
American Express refused to work with me to develop program to pay off the account balance. Instead, the representative insisted that I was ineligible for a plan, despite my inability to make the requested monthly payment.

Company response:

Response Type: Closed with explanation


Complaint Details:

Date of Complaint: September 27, 2016

Company Official Name: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

State: VA

Product: Debt collection
Sub-Product: Credit card

Issue: Improper contact or sharing of info
Sub-Issue: Talked to a third party about my debt

Full Complaint:
American Express has called my sister and disclosed that I am behind on my debt. I ‘ve already submitted a complaint for that. They ‘ve also called my former roommate twice, XXXX XXXX. The first time he asked that they do not call him. They ‘ve called twice so far. I am in a debt settlement program with XXXX. They told me they can only call once, and that it is illegal to call more than once.

Company response:

Response Type: Closed with explanation


Complaint Details:

Date of Complaint: September 27, 2016

Company Official Name: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

State: FL

Product: Credit card

Issue: Balance transfer

Full Complaint:
XX/XX/XXXX, I applied for a balance transfer with American Express. I opened a new card, an American Express Blue card and transferred the balance. It was a no interest if paid within 15 months balance. They charged a fee, which is common. What is not common is that they are charging me interest on the fee every month. I ‘ve transferred balances to other companies many times in the past and they never charge interest for their fees or the transfer until the stated time period is up ( 12 months, 15 months, 18 months ). I contacted American Express about this last month and they said that I should just send them a check for the fee and that would stop the interest. I explained that it was n’t possible to do that because they would n’t apply the money to the only the fee.
I ‘m not sure if this is illegal because they did say no interest for 15 months, but it should be illegal and I wanted to report it just in case. As soon as I can pay this off or my 15 months is up, I am closing this account and not working with American Express again.
thanks XXXX

Company response:

Response Type: Closed with monetary relief


Complaint Details:

Date of Complaint: September 27, 2016

Company Official Name: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

State: FL

Product: Credit card

Issue: Identity theft / Fraud / Embezzlement

Full Complaint:
I have talked to the American Express creditor on various occasions even contacted the executive office in regards to this issue. My account was not closed by me and neither do they have any record or recorded conversation where I said to closed the account. My name and identity was stolen and this is causing me to have a lower credit rating due to this closed account. See attached letter where they claim information but no facts to their statement or decision to resolve the matter. I need this account deleted from my records.

Complaint Tags: Servicemember

Company response:

Response Type: Closed with explanation


Complaint Details:

Date of Complaint: September 27, 2016

Company Official Name: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY

State: VA

Product: Credit card

Issue: Rewards

Company response:

Response Type: Closed with explanation


FairShake accessed this complaint from the public archives of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). You can file your own complaint with the CFPB here.

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