<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Steve M:
As for the claim that Amex doesn't need to pay because most of their cards are charge cards as opposed to credit cards, I disagree with this interpretation. While it's true that many of their cards are called "charge cards," the fact is that they are still extending credit to the customer, although only for 30-60 days instead of on a revolving basis. But, it's credit nonetheless, and therefore would fall under the terms of any federal consumer credit protection laws.</font>
This is just not true.
If the Amex Charge Card was a Credit Card then they would be allowed to call it a "Credit Card". It's not, so they don't. This is not open to interpretation.
Amex Green/Gold/Platinum/Centurion Charge Cards and Debit Cards like Switch/Delta/Cirrus (even ones with the Visa/Mastercard/Amex logo)
do not offer any protection under the
Consumer Credit Act. If you pay for something using your Charge Card or Debit Card and the merchant fails to deliver the goods or provide the service you have paid for then the card issuer has
no legal obligation to sort the problem out for you.
If a merchant fails to provide goods or services paid for (in part or in full) using a
Credit Card then the Credit Card issuer is jointly liable with the merchant. If the merchant goes bust, then the card issuer must refund you.
http://www.oft.gov.uk/Business/Legal...ment.htm#equal
NB: If it is not called a "Credit Card" then it isn't a Credit Card and you get no legal protection.
(This applies under UK law anyway - I think American Consumer Credit law is the same. Can anyone confirm this?)
[This message has been edited by Ex Amex Card (edited 11-15-2002).]