Consumer complaint received 2019-08-22
Company: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
State: VA
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Advertising and marketing, including promotional offers
Sub-issue: Confusing or misleading advertising about the credit card

Complaint:
I signed up for AMEX XXXX XXXX that gives money back every time you dine at a restaurant around XX/XX/2019. I already had 2 other AMEX cards, where I made payments on time, but still carried a balance. 

When I went to apply for this card, there was never any mention this was a charge back card, and if there was, I understood charge back meant that I would get some of the money back into the card. That is how I interpreted it. For those of us whose primary language is not English, you can see why we would take that translation literal. 
I signed up for this card, and I tried to meet the minimum required to get the points they were going to award after making the purchases, and I was making my payments as usual. 

Then around XX/XX/2019, I noticed AMEX was calling me incessantly, and sending me emails, saying my payment had not yet arrived - which never did happen because all my payments had always been on time. I then called them, and they basically harassed me on the phone stating I needed to make the payment in full. I explained I did not understand why did I have to make the payment in full when all my other cards I could carry a balance ; the customer service representative chastised me for not knowing better when I signed up for the card, that it was all there in the fine print, and if I didn't read it, they couldn't really help it. 

She then convinced me to do a payment plan - where I would be able to make all my payments on time, and it wouldn't affect my credit, and I would have no penalty. I agreed. She then told me she was going to freeze not only that particular card, but all of the other cards. I inquired why would my cards that had nothing to do with this one had to frozen, and she cited policy. 
I have since then making my payments on time without an issue. 

This month, XX/XX/2019, however, I went to check my credit score and noticed that AMEX had decreased my limit so  significantly that it caused my XXXX XXXX to drop XXXX points. I called them upset because had I know about this, I wouldn't have signed up for this. They said they can not make any corrections to my credit, and that they are pretty sure that was divulged to me when I opted to do the payment plan. I wasn't really given the option to " opt '' into anything, I was basically harassed to do it, and they would not work with me. 

I feel completely lied to and not taken care by AMEX, given that I have been a loyal customer. They certainly seem to use the fish-and-bait tactics to lure customers into signing up for their credit cards without disclosing in proper size letter that this is a charge card ; and what is a charge card? A card that it is different from a credit card, and that you must pay for its balance in full monthly. 

I talked to other friends who also obtained the same card, and they also stated they had no idea this was a charge card, so clearly I am not the only one here. 

The credit score drop has and will impact my ability to remain employed, obtain credit and so forth.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation