Consumer complaint received 2022-02-13
Company: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
State: NY
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Fees or interest
Sub-issue: Problem with fees

Complaint:
I have had an American Express Credit Card since XX/XX/XXXX. At the time, the interest rate was a special rate for transfers of balances, which is why I submitted an application. I was awarded a line of credit. My limit awarded was approximately {$5000.00} or more. In approximately XXXX XXXX, I was required to report a fraud alert with my Banking Institution XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX where I manage my checking and savings, for an unauthorized payment to Am Ex for approx. over {$4000.00}. The payment from my Bank Account to Am Ex, was not to my credit card, but a third party who intercepted my account information. I filed the same complaint/report with Am Ex. The charges were reversed and I resumed making monthly payment before every due date. However, Am Ex, without warning, and despite their negligence, began refusing my XXXX XXXX XXXX account to make payments to my American Express line of credit. I spoke to their customer care every XXXX for weeks, advising them that I only have one Banking Account and they are refusing to accept payments. They advised that, that was my problem and I would either have to get a money order or open a new bank account elsewhere. This arrangement would require additional costs to me and unnecessary utilization of resources, to make my regular monthly payment. I have no issues with any other creditor other than Am Ex. Based upon their unduly burdensome business practice of refusing my payments from my XXXX  XXXX XXXX account, I requested the account be completely closed immediately and expressed my dissatisfaction with their practices. On at least XXXX occasion, I have reported Am Ex to CFPB in the past. To the best of my knowledge, despite my request to close the Am Ex account, Am Ex never changed the status of the account to closed. I have been making regular monthly payments, through another family members account, so that I won't incur additional expenses or be forced to open a new bank account to make payments to Am Ex. Despite jumping through hoops, for no fault of my own, I make timely monthly payments, sometimes without 30 days even elapsing before my next payment. Much to my surprise, Am Ex, despite requesting I only make approx. $ XXXX, and the same being made, has been charging very small balanced owed, late fees of $ XXXX, with interest. Not only have I complained that this practice is improper many times, the practice continues. The balance on the account, despite being under {$1000.00} has gone no where in the last 3 years since Am Ex had begun making unduly burdensome hurdles in being able to provide payment. Which included, refusing to accept payments from my XXXX  XXXX XXXX XXXX Account, without explanation or warning, charging fees and excessive interest despite my honest and good faith efforts to make payments from my checking account to my Am Ex line of credit ; without warning and without explanation, terminating my access to making a payment directly from my Am Ex application from my cell phone ; charging late fees despite making regular on time monthly payments, ( while being forced to do so from a third party account or incurring expenses ), applying improper terms and conditions to an account that is in a closed status. Lastly, on or about XX/XX/XXXX, in violation of FDCPA XXXX XXXX ( a ), Am Ex, without warning, without direct contact with me, and without 30 days passing before doing so, reported to ( 3 ) National Credit Bureaus, an inaccurate amount owed to Am Ex and that I was 30 days or more passed due on my payments. I received a paper statement on approx. XX/XX/XXXX with additional fees and interest applied, than my closing statement on XX/XX/XXXX, and without the opportunity to directly speak to Am Ex, 4 days later, fraudulently reported an inaccurate status to the Credit Bureaus. These inaccurate reports caused an over XXXX point decrease in my credit rating. This has significantly impacted me and I have been subject to Am Ex 's abusive practices for approx 3 years now.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation