Originally Posted by
MSPeconomist
By chance, do you have anything in writing from AmEx (such as an email from some employee) saying that they would re-activate your account?
Unfortunately no, I do not have anything in writing. The initial discussion I had over the phone was with an agent who said that since the cancellation was due to something not in my control (the erroneous payments), they would submit my account to be reinstated. Perhaps AMEX has a recording of the call?
If someone hacked your American Express account they may have taken other actions which lowered your credit score. Do you know which bureau American Express used? Have you looked at all three of your credit reports to see if the information is accurate? If this is an identity theft incident you may have problems greater than the loss of some rewards points.
AMEX advised they used Experian. I retrieved my credit reports from Experian and the other two major reporting agencies and saw no inconsistencies. It does not appear to be an identity theft incident.
Originally Posted by
Centurion
The OP needs to give up a lot more for me to side. As in your on time payment history with amex prior to this bank account mix up. I would side with the OP in the past but Amex has added a feature where you can cancel a payment to Amex so why did the OP not cancel his payment?
I didn't even know these erroneous payments from bogus accounts existed until after being notified that my accounts were cancelled. It all happened over a matter of hours. I was notified by Apple Pay that my AMEX was no longer valid. I immediately called AMEX and was advised of the returned payments and these two new bank accounts associated with my AMEX. A short while later I saw the emails coming through advising of these returned payments. Had I known erroneous payments were being made to my account of course I would have reacted immediately.
Originally Posted by
Often1
Stop calling & writing Amex. Your communications all wind up in the same CRM database. The only thing that paying for certified mail does is cut the USPS deficit.
Do spend some time getting that credit score fixed. If indeed the only negatives are those three returned payments, your score ought to be way above 700. So, pull your credit reports and see what is on there and then challenge the returned payments for the reasons you have listed above if they really are reflected.
As it stands, there is no inconsistency between Amex's original statement that it would reinstate and the later decision to decline your card for poor credit.
I have only called 3 times and sent 1 letter over the course of several months. I agree that I need to get my credit score bumped up higher than 700. I'm trying to pay down my mortgage and car loan a little faster so hopefully that will help. I've challenged the returned payments in all of my calls and my letter but it seems to fall on deaf ears which is what makes this even more frustrating. (eg: when I call, I'm advised that everything is being noted in the reinstatement process but then when I receive the form letter response, there is zero mention of the returned payments - only of the 700 credit score)
Originally Posted by
mhdena
Maybe OP applying for and getting the no fee Everyday card will #1 see if he's able to get credit with Amex and #2 if he gets the Everyday have the MR points returned.
I might wind up trying this approach - thanks for the advice.
Originally Posted by
mikesyr18
I'd like to add that even if AMEX were to re-open your account, they'll charge you a fee to do so.
Once you hit 700 you should be able to get approved for any card as long as you don't have too many recent inquiries or new accounts opened. The credit score itself doesn't need to be fixed, just whatever the computer looks at when it looks at the OP's credit report... Could be there's a fraud alert on it or something.
I don't even mind paying a fee at this point. I just want my card reinstated and my points that I rightfully earned over 26 years returned to me.