Consumer complaint received 2022-08-30
Company: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
State: CA
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Problem with a purchase shown on your statement
Sub-issue: Credit card company isn't resolving a dispute about a purchase on your statement

Complaint:
I have been dealing with American Express, unsuccessfully, for literally over one year on the matter. A brief resume of what took place is, I went to a wedding celebration for a partner of my firm in XXXX, while there I went to several bars, restaurants and visitor places, none were issues besides this one place run by XXXX, that scammed me for a bill of {$60000.00} XXXX XXXX  or {$7200.00} US dollars. Just to put into prospective, my entire trip did not cost me as much and I paid for 2 first class tickets and a 5 star hotels with two rooms for 4 nights. Mind you the hotel was paid with same American Express, I have been a member since XXXX, never missed or defaulted on a payment. The bar on the outside was called XXXX but has charged my card under the pseudonym of XXXX XXXX. I have tried contacting such organization, and sent my multiple attempts of such attempts to American Express via email portal they provided, to no avail or response from the so called XXXX. At such bar my American Express was taken from me and returned saying it was not working, I NEVER released any bills on my American Express, at the time a burly and intimidating Russian bouncer told me to write my name on a piece of paper, under distress I did, but never understanding why, but now I know and it is how I know and explained to Amex about the fraud. Once I was on the plane on my way back the fraudulent charged appeared on my American Express that I immediately called and told them it was not authorized by me and it was considered a fraud. Only for a month or two latter see the charge back on my card, I called Amex gain, and they told me because the card was in my possession it was not Fraud, I stated that was a ridiculous premisses, but fine how could we get resolved? Amex declared it was a billing dispute issue, same process but this time Amex requested an affidavit from me relating the facts, I sent everything in as requested. Another month goes by or so and again charge goes back, I called and again after hours and multiple different results, no one actually seemed to know what was actually going on, Amex opened the case as fraud And again month or so go by and the charge goes back. I requested the reason and to speak with the team making the decision. Amex denies me the chance to speak to such team, or anyone involved, at at one point to my dismay I was told by their representative go talk to a lawyer if you want! After multiple attempts as an explanation American Express sends me the fraudulent bill of goods, nothing but a piece of paper saying services {$60000.00} XXXX. I again contact Amex explaining EVERYTHING AGAIN, to another team member that immediately reopens the case under fraud and says he will now take care of it The reason I point out the name on a piece of paper is ; Amex sent me a bank form where my name is writing and the scammers used this to create a bank transaction, mind you I never been to a bank or the so called XXXX place in XXXX. Thats how I knew it was this XXXX bar! I divulge all this information to Amex again, along with my attempts to contact this place, my accounts of all the facts, my affidavit telling them the truth, and after a month or so again charge is back on my card. I again get pin-balled back to dispute, back to fraud and no one seems to have ANY clear picture on the matter. In the mean time since XXXX of last year Amex has reported to the credit agencies as if I have a balance of {$7200.00} affecting negatively my credit, not by much but enough to be extremely aggravating. I called back this past week on XX/XX/XXXX spoke with agent XXXX XXXX from the credit department, that told me that she could not see anything on my file and that after multiple attempts to see why the charged was back, she could not find ANY explanations, and that was very odd and the first time she had seen such. She promised me that someone from Amex would be calling me in two to three business days, something multiple agents had told me previously, and only ONCE I got a call back and again I find myself having to deal with this. I dont believe American Express is having their customer best interest in hand, at this point I dont even think they are actually listening to what I am actually saying, they are following procedure, not looking at the facts and just reissuing the bill expecting me to pay. I did NOT authorized, used or know of such charges and I refuse to pay for something I did not do! 
Bellow is a copy of my two affidavits sent to American Express in different times as requested by them, and proving that they are not at all following what what I am declaring and saying to them : ( Last one dated XX/XX/XXXX but te one prior I know it was from last year ) XX/XX/XXXX Again to the American Express team, XXXX I spoke today for what seems the XXXX time with your team this time with XXXX XXXX ID XXXX from the dispute department that alerted me that he could not see ANY of the previous affidavits, documents, letters sent by us to your team in regards to the illegal charge made last XXXX without my authorization from XXXX XXXX for {$7200.00}. As per his request I am sending all paperwork again in order for your team to solve and close this case, as it now approaches one year, countless hours on my part, trying to prove a charge never done by me. This is a scam, I have described in detail to multiple members of your team and bellow is my original and still true affidavit sent to your team XXXX of last year. More documents to follow. 


To the American Express team in regards to case number XXXX, I am here to attest that the charge on my card from XX/XX/XXXX made by XXXX XXXX is fraudulent and was never made with my consent or authorization. The forms they sent to you have fake signatures. I now know for a fact, as I described multiple times, to your team where it happen. I went to a bar, outside on their physical location called XXXX, but they have charged me as XXXX XXXX XXXX in my other international card. I have already divulged this information to your team but was asked by your last team member to send a written statement. At this bar XXXX they took my America Express and came back to me saying my credit card was not working, I know it was at this establishment as they asked me to write my name on a piece of paper, an odd request but since it was an intimidating setting, as we were surrounded by XXXX  bouncers telling us what to do, I did, and thats the fake bank from they are providing you. I never signed anything for American Express but they are proving you with a bank form, I never went to a bank or their so called XXXX XXXX! The signature at the bank form is clear a fake and not mine, I am sending a form with my signature for your review. Further more, as a point of reference, my entire trip did not cost as much as they are trying to charge me, including a 5 star hotel for multiple days and two rooms, multiple meals XXXX XXXX XXXX that I paid with my American Express. Also on their fake invoice nothing is declared besides a service fee I never utilized any services for anything from XXXX XXXX and never had anything to do with any party or event in XXXX as they claim to be on their website. 
I have also written to XXXX XXXX in multiple platforms, their instagram, website and email requesting a explanation on such charges and have received no replies. I am sending you copies of my request to their explanation! 
I have declared such since the beginning of this ordeal in XXXX and since XXXX American Express has reported to my credit report a balance on top of my legitimate use of my credit card and because of such, my credit has taken a small dip every single month since! Is not fair to be put in such situation for something I have not done. I do want this matter solved at this point. I have no problems testifying on any legal matter American Express can find itself in prosecuting the parties involved in this scam.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation