Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: London
Programs: BAEC, QRPC, Amex MR, World of Hyatt, IHG one rewards, Hilton Honors, Marriott Bonvoy, etc…
Posts: 688
Not sure about legislation in US but in the UK I would send the a final letter “before action” were, fact base and not emotional, would demand my pro rata fee back for service not received and in line with their normal operation (plenty of evidence that it is customary for Amex to refund annual fee pro rata. Failing that you would take them to small claim court were with minimal initial outlay, you could make your legal claim to the fee.
the initiation fee however can be argued that it is not refundable as it must have been over 15 years old and made full use of it by being a member for all this time.
back to the letter, it sounds like there is something in your spending pattern, Credit or tax profile that has flagged something to them. American Financial institution have been very careful with tax residency and or international held capital and assets for US taxpayers in recent years that they simply prefer to drop a customer then risking the huge fines imposed by the US authorities.