I'm with Eden...are you sure you're talking to AmEx, and not their third party collectors? If they really are in a division of AmEx, then the collection people are just rude and persistent, because they have to be, and they're under the gun to collect as much money as possible.

At any rate, I'd tell them to put it all in writing--what the debt is and whose name is on it, and everything they know. When you get the letter, put it writing that you don't owe the debt and send it back. Google the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act--it's all spelled out in there.

My feeling is this is NOT AmEx--it's a third party, probably not even third, but maybe fourth or fifth. A zombie debt, that is expired or what-have-you, but the low-life collections agencies just buy the numbers and try to collect. They hope through intimidation and harassment and calling enough people enough times, they'll score enough money to make it worthwhile. Don't deal with them by phone anymore. Tell them to put it in writing and then ignore the calls. They're only calling because you answer or call them back. I don't think you'll get it in writing, because they don't want to deal with people who know their rights.

Karen