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American Express

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Lorca of Boise ID writes (4/19/02):
I received an offer from American Express for a Delta Sky Miles card. The offer was for one free year of membership plus 15,000 free miles. When the card arrived my name was wrong so I called to request a correct card, and found that there had been a charge added to my account for a membership fee. I asked that it be removed, and was told that it would be.

One month later I had not received a bill from Amex although I had just 7 days to go before my own payment would be considered �late� and be subject to late charges. Also the $85 charge for the card membership was back on my account. I called and was told that I would have to prove to them in writing that I had ever received a fee free offer from them. I would have to produce the exact document with the offer, and mail a copy to them, or pay the fee.

I requested that they cancel the card instead. I paid the bill in full when it arrived only 5 days before the deadline, including the membership fee, which I had been assured I would be given credit for. My next bill arrived from American Express, with no credit for the fee. I called yet again. I was told that I would eventually receive credit for the fee. But that I would be charged for using the card on a pro-rated basis.

I was also told that everyone who applies for the fee free card gets their card charged for the fee, and that Amex has no way to know who they made the offer to so they just assume the request for fee credit is bogus. Once again I was told that I would receive a credit but I have no way of figuring out if it might be true this time. Additionally my request to have the prorated charge removed is not cleared yet, I was told that it would be referred to a �committee� which would decide eventually if I got the credit. This seems like bait and switch to me.

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