American Express Has Bizarre Way of Rewarding Survival

2009-10-19T11:46:00.000-07:00

So, did you hear the one about the very loyal, very long-standing (31 years) American Express client who had her gold and platinum accounts, and nearly 400,000 membership reward points CANCELLED with NO Warning?

No? Well, read on. Because I need legal advice and I need to hear your stories too (Like the one on CNN about the young man whose credit limit was slashed because AMEX noticed he bought something at a place where other customers had a history of being late on their payments).

I am a single female who so far, knock wood, has managed to maintain my home, my company, and start a non-profit foundation, all kept afloat by “me, myself and I” – and a team of selfless family, friends and supporters, from attorneys to writers to fellow business people.

I am also a proud one year Stage 2 Lymph node involved Breast Cancer Survivor, after undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment for the past two years.
Which brings me back to Un-American Express.

You see, I’ve been paying my very hefty medical bills and just about anything else on my AMEX cards, for a specific reason: To build those nearly 400,000 “Membership Reward Points” so that at the end of treatment I could reward myself with a few trips, including one to meet my niece who was born during my treatment. Then I planned to save the rest for a “treat” after two plus years of battling cancer. I earned those points, right?

Wrong! Even though I’ve been an American Express customer so long that my first card was green, and went to Black in the 31 yrs, my accounts were Abruptly Cancelled with NO Notice only as an "Auto Pay" was refused did I know.

When I called in disbelief to speak to someone at American Express, I fought my way through three customer services representatives, only to end up with one of the most rude, unknowledgable, un-helpful people I have encountered in years. I give you fair warning: Her name is Stacey, she is a Manager and the best she could tell me is that there was “nothing” she could do no one else to call, she Stacey was it and I was done at American Express. If it matters, her employee number is 187078.

And now after a few more calls and way to much stress for a survivor, I would really welcome any and all legal advice. I say this, knowing that I have an agreement that says American Express can do what they did to me.

HOWEVER...To Note:
For my part, I have been in regular phone contact with AMEX from the very beginning of my cancer journey in early 2007. Since every phone call is recorded, it is on record that I advised AMEX that some of my payments could potentially be erratic , as I didn’t know what to expect with the various treatments and hospitalizations. I wanted to make absolutely certain that AMEX understood this, and that I would still be able to keep building my points, even if I was sporadically late on a few payments. During this time I called AMEX every couple of months and it is on record that I was assured that this was still the case.

So if I have read MY terms of service correctly, by calling on a regular, consistent basis, I’ve fulfilled MY obligation, and this should not have happened. And certainly with no warning.

One last thing. I have a strong suspicion that AMEX did this just before the new credit card rules went into effect, not because I’m a bad risk, but because I had 396,398 reward points and they didn’t want me to redeem them.

Finally, all I want from Un American Express is my rightfully earned reward points, and a clean bill of health for my credit.

Oh and I would like Costco to open up there Credit Card Acceptance to not only accepting American Express, so I and others can take advantage of some of there wonderful opportunities for Drugs and other "necessities" needed during recovery. Silly for a company like Costco whom seems to try and be a good "corporate citizen" to be associated with a company who obviously no longer is.

BTW Did I mention that I am not only PAID IN FULL to American Express but they OWE ME money now. Funny no ones calling me trying to make sure they get my money back to me ! ! !

So do you have a story? Are you an attorney that might be able to help? Are you in the Media and can get the word out?

Thank you in advance any and all help and comments very much appreciated.

Whom we are forwarding to in case you feel the "urge"...or have suggestions for other outlets.

Honorable Eric Holder Attorney General: AskDOJ@usdoj.gov
Los Angeles District Attorney: Honorable Steve Cooley - webmail@da.lacounty.gov
Ron Lieber: New York Times "Money" Writer and Content Manger - rlieber@nytimes.com
BBC News
CNN News Tips
NBC Nightly News - Nightly@NBC.com
Fox News - newsmanager@foxnews.com
Secretary of the Treasury: Honorable Timothy Geithner Department of the Treasury 1500 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20220 ((202) 622-2000)

Amex Un American

American Express Has Bizarre Way of Rewarding Survival