Hi Everyone, I haven't posted here in quite a while. CN was instrumental in helping me get some big problems fixed for my husband and myself about 3 years ago. Here is the AMEX problem. Please give me your input on this, because I am so mad I could scream! I have had this AMEX account for the last 21 years. It is a perfect pay account. I have never even had a late payment with them in 21 years. I have also used the heck out of this card both personally and for my business. At one point, I was charging between $30K and $40K a month (business expense all reimbursed) on my personal card. They LOVED me. The problem occurred when I did not use the card enough. I didn't even know it. We went to a basic cash basis for awhile. Everything was paid off, and I wanted to keep it that way. Also, our bank was running a big promotion for using the debit card, so I used it alot. I would charge on AMEX occasionally--dinner, my internet bill, gas, etc. Nothing big. Then I charged a $1200 vacation. No problem--it went to Sign and Travel. I paid the minimum for 3 months on it and paid 100% of the current charges. Then, on CHRISTMAS DAY (which they deny), they called me from collections and said I had a balance of $2.14 that was 58 days past due. I had no idea. I paid it on the phone right then. The next month, I got a call the day after the new statement was generated. They wanted the current payment of $114 (which was not due for 3 1/2 weeks) immediately while I was on the phone. I was told that my average charging had fallen so low that I was put on a "watched status." They were monitoring every move I made. I didn't worry too much about it because I was making my payments timely. The 3rd month I put a $300 car rental on it, and it was denied. I called AMEX. They would not approve the $300 charge until I paid them the $389 dollars that was going to be due on the next billing (it had not yet been billed). I was furious! Over the phone, at the rental counter desk, I paid the ransom of $389 so they would let me charge the $300 car rental. Each month since, I have gotten a call the day the new statement drops. Collections wants the amount due RIGHT NOW. Tonight I got a call from Collections saying, "until you pay off the $1000 on your Sign and Travel account, you can not charge ANYTHING." If I pay the $1000, I will owe AMEX, less than $100 (which won't be billed for another week!). AMEX has always been so wonderful to me. I have used all of their services at one time or another. They tell me that my 6 month rolling average is very low because I didn't use the card much before the $1200 charge. So, I am supposed to jump through hoops with them until I get my average up, then they will leave me alone again???? What sense does that make? Nothing has changed on my end, except my charging patterns with AMEX. They are absolutely harrassing me, and I have never missed a payment or had a late payment. Does anyone have any insight into this mess? The past 21 years of great payment history does not factor into this fight--per AMEX, "we don't care about that." If I cancel the card, there goes a 21 year card out the window. If I keep it, I will pay the fee for a card that I am not going to be able to use. I can't use it until I get the average charge up and I can't get it up if I can't use it. What do I do? I'm sorry this is so long. I was on a mad roll! Lisa
