Consumer complaint received 2019-09-20
Company: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
State: NJ
Product: Credit card or prepaid card
Sub-product: General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Other features, terms, or problems
Sub-issue: Other problem

Complaint:
In response to American Express 's response to previous Complaint XXXX. American Express states that : 'The actions taken on your account were within all applicable laws and regulations '. I am contesting this statement and I will explain why. American Express states " We let you know that you would have two attempts to provide the 4506T forms for your XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX tax years. We let you know that if we did not receive the forms after two attempts your accounts would be cancelled as is our policy ''. This is a false statement, In the initial phone conversation I was only asked to provide 4506T forms for XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX tax years. Never was I told or informed in my initial conversation with XXXX XXXX that if there were any errors in the form 4506T submission that my accounts would be subject to cancellation. Since American Express is the party stating this they must support their statement. I would like American Express to provide the initial phone conversation with XXXX XXXX and to be shown where this exact information was disclosed in our conversation. American Express states " As explained in the enclosed letters sent XX/XX/XXXX we declined your reinstatement due to an unpaid balance on your previously cancelled American Express account ( s ). We have enclosed the XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX billing statement for your XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX which reflects the charges, payments, and credits ''. This statement is again false and inaccurate. When my initial request for reinstatement was filed, it is true that I had unpaid balances at the time, however THEY WERE NOT DUE! I have paid off all of my cards on time for many years and never had unpaid balances that were due, contrarily I paid off these accounts prior to their due date. I then filed another 2 separate requests for reinstatement after the account was totally paid off and these requests were denied for the same false reasoning. I am enclosing billing statements along with proof of payment for my XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. It will show and prove the truth of the matter, without purposely omitting relevant information as American Express has done. American Express states " In your complaint you referred to the annual fees you had previously paid on your accounts and that you would like them to be refunded. Per the terms of the Cardmember agreement ( CMA ) that you agreed to when you used signed or kept the cards, the annual fee may be refunded if you voluntarily cancelled your accounts within the billing period the annual fee was billed. Since the accounts were not voluntarily cancelled by you no refunds are due for the annual fees previously paid ''. Practically speaking American Express is stating they can decide to shut down any consumers account after the consumer has paid the annual fee without recourse. To me that sounds illegal and unethical ; to be able to shut down a consumers account at whim after charging the annual fee without having and or proving a valid reason for the shutdown. Especially in my case, where the reason for shutting down my American Express account has been proven false and unfounded. I hope that the CFPB can take the necessary action against American Express for the unwarranted closure of my accounts and for falsifying information. I do understand that I will most probably have to take American Express to court over this matter. Sincerely, XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation