AmEx is harrassing me

[Eden]

It could very well be that you are not dealing with AmEx, but a 3rd party debt collector. They tend to not take "really you are calling the wrong number" seriously at all... they figure you are just lying to them and continue their harassment...

Of course if that's the case it really does not excuse AmEx for dealing with a company like that, but it could explain why its so hard to get it resolved, especially if you are calling back the number that is being left on your machine.

[Zen]

It could very well be that you are not dealing with AmEx, but a 3rd party debt collector.

Bingo.

i know you don't owe them money but take a look at this anyway.

And contact the FTC.

[nancielle]

It could very well be that you are not dealing with AmEx, but a 3rd party debt collector. They tend to not take "really you are calling the wrong number" seriously at all... they figure you are just lying to them and continue their harassment..

That's what I'm thinking; it isn't AmEx at all. I've had this happen on way too many occasions, for people I don't know and the rudest of people on the other end. If you have caller ID, try plugging their telephone number into a search engine. Nine times out of ten the number came up in the search (along with an address) and I've filed complaints with the Consumer Protection division of the state's attorney general's office in my home state as well as the state where the collection agency is located. Haven't had any of those calls in a while.

[gingerale]

I've had it happen. Not with AmEx but another one. They told me to hold on for more info to speak to someone. I did once and when they answered I asked them to stop calling me and the person hung up. They did it another time and I told them I was going to report them and they hung up again. They finally stopped calling after that last time.

[Bluetree]

From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution in December:

Card companies adjusting credit limits
For some, lowering based on where they shop
By CARRIE TEEGARDIN
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Sunday, December 21, 2008

Kevin D. Johnson returned from a dreamy Jamaican honeymoon in October eager to check out wedding photos and help his new wife open stacks of beautifully wrapped wedding gifts.

Before getting distracted by the fun stuff, the 29-year-old entrepreneur opened the mail. Johnson’s mood soured when he got to a letter from American Express, saying it had slashed the credit limit on his account.

Johnson was surprised, since he has a perfect payment history and a high credit score. And he was floored by one of the reasons American Express cited: It didn’t like where he shopped.

“Other customers who have used their card at establishments where you recently shopped have a poor repayment history with American Express,” the letter said. Johnson complained to American Express by phone and letter.

“That doesn’t have anything to do with whether I’m a paying customer or not,” he said in an interview.

Johnson checked his charges to try to figure out what might have raised a red flag in the American Express data-mining model. He didn’t see anything but typical transactions, including purchases at Amazon, Ruby Tuesday, Wal-Mart, Starbucks and Federal Express.

“I understand the need for and the power of predictive analytics,” Johnson said, “But I think they have crossed the line.”

Link to full story

[grey]

AmEx has always treated us extremely well. We've been cardholders for nearly 10 years now, and they've been good to us. Super friendly.

Other companies are on my crap list: Citibank and BofA could both drown in their debt and I'd be a happy American. I've had arguments with both, and closed both accounts.

Really though, the answer is not to even deal with credit card companies.