American Express Membership Rewards - Cancelling card. Recurring charges.

I discovered this morning that I can't prevent charges from appearing on cancelled accounts. I also found that every cancelled account has new charges and those bills I've been throwing away (for two months) are not-quite-zero and continuing to count up (albeit slowly).

"As a courtesy to customers" charges coming from recurring charge agreements are honored after the account is closed. I closed a couple accounts (blue & gold) solely because I found other methods of eliminating these troublesome, fradulent monthly bills were not working (namely Israeli porn, and something else from that area of the world). She said the merchant gets an authorization number lasting up to 36 transactions or 3 years for AMEX's best customers. She wouldn't tell me (or didn't know) how long my authorizations are lasting.

I asked how long the charges would be honored if I simply didn't pay these bills . . . She says at least a year, probably longer.

My concluding question (or statement, per her interpretation) was:

As an AMEX card member, I have no method to prevent new charges from appearing on my account. Is this the case?

Her answer was simply yes, I'll need to notify each and every multiple-biller to have them change to another card or stop automatic billing.

To the forum I ask . . . How can I put an end to these and all charges on an AMEX account I want not longer?


Eddie Whitman

I had the same problem with a VISA card (though not with Israeli porn, but that is hardly relevant here your honor!).

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum112/HTML/000144.html

Someone suggested reporting the card as stolen AND closing the account. It should be harder for charges to appear on an account that is listed as stolen/closed. Whether you can do both at the same time, or closer the card a short time after having been issued a replacement, I don't know.

Quite frankly I find it hard to believe one can be held liable for charges posted to a closed account, but sadly I have no attorney to contact!

I decided, rather than crawl up their phone chain of command, to take the certified letter approach.

To make a long story short, I mailed a letter indicating desire to close the account and that any charge made after their receipt would not be paid.

I can't imagine they'd completely ignore this and continue to allow charges. If they continue honoring these charges, it shouldn't surprise them when I don't pay the bill.

Eddie

I have had the exact same problem with Amex (more like Czech porn - just kidding). I could never solve the problem, but I simply check the bill each month. I call Amex and report any charges as being unauthorized and they take care of it. A hassle, I know, but I have never lost any money.

I think simply ignoring the issue could lead to credit rating problems. Also, I think that if you don't question a charge within a certain period of time, you are liable.

How do you sign up for the Czech porn? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif