Consumer complaint received 2022-03-10
Company: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
State: GA
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Struggling to pay your bill
Sub-issue: Credit card company won't work with you while you're going through financial hardship

Complaint:
Due to the pandemic I have been unemployed. I've made every effort to contact this company and be transparent regarding my situation. American Express initially put my alleged accounts in Forbearance status for sometime, and stated that if I was still having difficulty resuming payments to let them know. I called in XX/XX/XXXX prior to the forbearance ending to notify them that I was still in the process of securing employment, however, I was told that I exceeded the forbearance limit for both alleged accounts and that I had no other options aside from paying the monthly amount that was owed. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I mailed a Debt Validation Letter and Cease and Desist Letter to American Express. I received an email notification on XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX, stating that they received my communication and will not contact me regarding the alleged debt. However, if payment for alleged debts is not received within 30 days of the email communication ( XX/XX/XXXX ), that alleged accounts could be sent to a legal collection agency. The alleged accounts were also closed without my consent. Both alleged accounts are being reported as closed and past due with all 3 credit reporting agencies. 

Below are my concerns and violations of American Express : - I, XXXX XXXX, am the consumer original creditor, natural person pursuant 15 USC 1692 a ( 4 ). The term " creditor '' means any person who offers or extends credit creating a debt or to whom a debt is owed, but such term does not include any person to the extent that he receives an assignment or transfer of a debt in default solely for the purpose of facilitating collection of such debt for another. I extended my social security credit card to open alleged credit card accounts, meaning that I am the original creditor. 

- Closing the alleged accounts without written instruction of the consumer, is a violation of 15 USC 1681b ( a ) ( 2 ) - By reporting invalidated information to the credit agencies American Express is committing fraud under both Federal and State laws- Per 15 USC 1691 ( d ) The term " credit '' means the right granted by a creditor to a debtor to defer payment of debt or to incur debts and defer its payment or to purchase property or services and defer payment therefor. ( There should not be an issue extending the forbearance time frame for alleged debt ). 
- The letter states that all communication MUST be sent to the address listed in the letter, however, an email was sent. This shows a blatant disregard of my consumer rights. 
- American Express erroneous reports has violated me and hurt my credit worthiness as well as denial of future employment, and increased the cost of credit. Pursuant to 15 USC 1681 ( 2 ) ( b ) any authorization approval of a specific extension of credit directly or indirectly by the issuer of a credit card or similar device should be excluded for a consumer report. 
- Threatening to send alleged accounts to a collection agency is not only a violation to me as a consumer, but also against the law. If alleged accounts are sold to a legal collection agency that would be an act of fraud and Identity theft which is against the law Pursuant of 15 USC 1681c-1 - Potential employers have questioned the negative remarks due to alleged accounts being listed on my report, which has caused me humiliation and has made it nearly impossible to secure employment due to my field of employment.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief