Complain about a product or service

American Express

Disputed Charges

American Express • AmEx Blue • Platinum Card • Centurion Bank • Corporate Card --- • Account reviews • Collection policies • Declined charges • Disputed charges • Fraud • "Free card" offers • Gift cards • Incorrect charges • Merchant complaints • Payment posting • Rewards programs • Theft of identity • Unauthorized charges

John of Clifton NJ (1/13/04):
We complained that AEX should hold the disputed fee in abeyance until an opinion is rendered by the AG for New Jersey. We contend the type of fraud we are complaining about is prevelant in the mortage Industry in the State of NJ. Our dispute involved a re-finance mortgage application fee collected by the Broker who clearly told us the fee was refundable at closing.

The Broker further represented to us that our closing costs would be around $3500, which clearly states in their advertising there are no other fees other than the prepaid items. The problem ensued with the broker coming back with $6000 in closing costs. We refused to go through with the process, and the broker refused to refund our application fee. We have excellent credit, employment, etc. We were expecting the lowest rate and costs. Fortunately we were able to secure the mortgage through another concern at 5%, for 15 years with $2900. in closing costs.

AEX is compounding the problem by ignoring our consumer fraud claims and is siding with the merchant. Ms. Spencer also claims that letters to her superiors will be refered back to her, and that my efforts would be fruitless.

We feel completely victimized by the Mortgage Broker, and that AEX has added to the problems in further humiliating us, when they should be trying to protect us, but have instead favored the merchant, in spite of the documentation that has been provided.

Laurie of Longmeadow MA (9/27/03):
My most recent American Express bill arrived with a charge of $43.00 for a subscription to Travel and Leisure magazine. I currently subscribe to the magazine but never intended to renew it. I called Amex to report an unauthorized renewal to Travel and Leisure. I could barely understand Rahva and needed to have her repeat everything at least 3 times. She said that Amex records showed no Travel and Leisure, only something called NSS and she would give me the 800 number and stated that I must speak to them. My bill clearly read TVL and Leisure and also contained the same 800 number.

I called the number and was subjected to the usual recording of options. After 5 to 6 minutes of their "have no record of your account" "have no record of this charge" I finally reached a person. I was informed that I had reached NSS, a subscription service, and that by not responding to a postcard sent several months ago, I was automatically renewing my subscription. I said the charge was unauthorized, cancel the subscription and it all sounded like a scam. I then called Amex to tell them about the lack of help from Rahva and the unauthorized renewal and to cancel the charge. I was assured that Amex would contact NSS and the charge would be removed.

I then checked to see who the publisher of Travel and Leisure is and lo and behold, Travel and Leisure is a magazine from the publishing division of American Express. This sounds like a scam. Is negative response illegal and if it isn't, it should be.

Anne of Melbourne Beach, FL, writes (8/26/02):
My husband ordered a computer by phone from Global Computer Systems with the stipulation that we receive it the next day. A few days later we cancelled with a manager after finding out the computer wasn't even in stock. We left the country and a week later Global charged our American Express Card Card and sent the computer. An unauthorized person in our building signed for it. As soon as we found out, we contacted American Express.

We called Global asking them to pick up the computer. Almost six months later they sent Airbourne to retrieve it and claimed they never got it. American Express has denied all our claims of fraud and attached our credit report. Hardly the kind of service one would expect. They claim that even though we were charged for a computer we both cancelled, did not accept and subsequently returned that we are responsible.

Anne should sue American Express in Small Claims Court and she should file a complaint against Global with the Federal Trade Commission.

Jill of Boston (5/30/02):
I respectfully request that you consider a transaction dispute claim that I originally filed with American Express Customer Service on June 27, 2001. The transaction in dispute was for software licenses I purchased over the Internet from BuymoreProducts.com on March 1, 2001. The portion of the disputed transaction that was charged to my Corporate American Express account is $31,400.

In March 2001 I attempted to purchase for my company Microsoft SQL Server Licenses and software. BuymoreProducts.com shipped me a copy of the software but never completed the issuance of valid Microsoft software licenses. I attempted to resolve the problem with BuymoreProducts.com directly for over 3 months. The vendor would not return either my voicemails or my emails.

In August 2001 I sought the help of American Express to help resolve the problem or at least prompt a response from the vendor. The vendor responses that American Express Customer Service received were incomplete or inaccurate. I pointed this out to American Express on numerous occasions. The vendor either gave the same response or eventually gave no response.

By January 2002 it was becoming clear that the vendor was effectively out of business. The months of correspondence with American Express Customer Service and their mishandling of a dispute with an obviously disreputable and now bankrupt vendor has limited my options for resolving this matter. To add insult to injury, the last correspondence from American Express Customer Service dated May 7, 2002 states: “Under normal circumstances, we would be able to contact Buymore Products Inc. on your behalf. However, due to the time that has elapsed since the charge(s) were incurred, we regret that we are unable to do so.”

I have only sought since the beginning of this process is to be made whole. I made honest attempts with the vendor to resolve the issues. I was diligent and thorough in my follow up with American Express Customer Service. In spite of all this I am now left with a bill for $31,400, I don’t have the software I sought to purchase in the first place and I have no recourse with a now bankrupt vendor.

Jill should retain legal counsel. In fact, she should have done so as soon as problems arose.

Jack of Plantation FL (2/27/02):
I bid on some items that were offered in an auction in December of 2001. As of this date I have not received the items and when Amex was called they contacted the merchant, the merchant said that the company was not responsible as it was a non-profit entity. I never received any of the goods or services from this auction, there promises were misleading and never fulfilled. Amex continues to pursue this as an unpaid debt. I have tried to tell them that this was never received and there were two items involved of which I did not receive either. The amount is in excess of $7700.00.

They are now trying to collect this money for literally air, I never received this nor have they made any attempt to rectify this, it is creating great emotional distress and could resullt in a economic hardship as well as casting a red mark on my perfect credit.

Barbara of Boca Raton FL (4/21/01):
1/27/01 I placed an order for a computer system. I used an American Express "blue" card of my husbands. 3/11/01 I cancelled the order because I never rec'd it and American Express was now billed and expecting pmt. I called American Express and put in dispute. 3/23/01 The company I order the computer system from filed Chapter 11. 4/13/01 American Express told me that while the charge was in dispute, I didn't have to pay, but basically, putting the charge on their American Express card afforded me no protection.

The lady told me if they did not get the money from Video Computer Store (Computer Personalities) they would be coming to me for it. So why did I think that American Express had Buyers Protecton/and Assurance plans ... oh, that would be all the advertizing they do.

Kenneth of Rancho Cucamonga, CA, writes:
Received a totally negative response from AMEX regarding a disputed amount of $7507.10 From what I could tell there was no effort on AMEX part to investigate the claim I made.

They sent me another form letter saying they would re-investigate.It seems to be impossible to speak with the person who wrote the letter.

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