Complain about a product or service

American Express

Gift Cards

Ben of Shelby Twp, MI August 3, 2007

Ben of Shelby Twp MI (08/03/07)
I bought a 50 American Express gift card to be used as a card to subscribe to a online game called EVE-ONLINE only to find out that i cant register it under my name and it wont work for online recurring subscribtions.

Kevin of Berkeley, CA July 28, 2007

Kevin of Berkeley CA (07/28/07)
Received two gift cards, with value 100 each. Tried using them at a restaurant-- both were denied. After using an alternative credit card, called AMEX at 1877AXPGIFT. After ~10 minutes on hold, learned the following:

For the first card, a charge was registered for 120 even though the (diligent) restaurant was asked to charge 100. I have no reason to believe they went over. This charge was not accepted by the restaurant, and AMEX says the money will return back to the card in 7 days, and this was probably the result of a timeout.

For the other card, they had no record of it, saying it must not have been properly funded. Given that both cards were purchased together at the same place by the same person, you would think this wouldn't happen.

Ah, but I learned MORE: she explained that if the point of sale terminal produces a satisfactory receipt when purchasing one of these cards, it STILL DOES NOT MEAN ITS BEEN FUNDED PROPERLY. The consequence? Well, the card is worthless until it is funded properly. Meanwhile, of course, AMEX holds on to your money.

Maxwell of Grand Terrace, CA July 10, 2007

Maxwell of Grand Terrace CA (07/10/07)
I had recently lost my amex giftcard.I had called amex several of times they could'nt and did'nt help me,they gave me a hard time.I even called the place of purchase they did not help either.I am really upset,knowing I still had some balance left.

Larry of Lacey, WA June 28, 2007

Larry of Lacey WA (06/28/07)
We received a 25 American Express gift card from our daughter. When we tried to use it at a major home-improvement/hardware chain store, they could not read the amount on the card. If there is a phone number in the fine print on the back of the card, it has been obliterated by the embossed lettering punched through to show on the front.

After reading all the complaints, it appears that American Express has a real rip-off scheme going here. We will notify our daughter not to purchase any more of these cards.

Alfreda of Los Angeles, CA May 15, 2007

Alfreda of Los Angeles CA (05/15/07)

I received American Express Gift Cards, which were paid for by the giver and included a fee. I used the card initially within the first 12 months, but did not get a chance to use it thereafter. When I went to check my balance I discovered my balance eaten up by fees, although the card does not expire for another year.

Lost remaining balance on cards. Purchaser paid the face value 200 X 2 = 400, plus a 4.95 fee each to have cards activated. Amex retained funds, plus interest, and basically claimed the remaining funds for themselves.

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