Consumer complaint received 2024-10-25
Product: Credit card — General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Other features, terms, or problems — Other problem
Company: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY (TX)

I have been an AMEX client for over 16 years. 

In XX/XX/XXXX, I sold some property and took on a large sum of cash. Because of my wealth, I was offerred substantial lines of credit on three personal AMEX credit cards. I spent a signifiant amount of money on those cards, and also made substantial payments each month to keep the cards paid down. My credit score was XXXX. 

In XX/XX/XXXX, I started my XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and opened another AMEX business credit card. I was given a substantial credit limit on the new card. I also opened an AMEX business checking/ savings account where significant business funds were deposited each month. I continued to make very large monthly payments ( in the XXXX ) to AMEX to pay my cards down. 

In XX/XX/XXXX, I purchased my first flip property for my XXXX XXXX XXXX  and began spending significant amounts to refurbish the property. I spent significantly more on my credit cards to help cover various rehab costs. 

In XX/XX/XXXX, AMEX lowered my credit limits out of the blue after I paid a minimum monthly payment on time. I called customer service to discuss the issue. They reported that that one minimum payment, as well as some additional debt from my credit report, was a red flag for their review team. 

For the remainder of XXXX, AMEX began consistently lowering my credit limit on all of my cards to a level just below my current spending, which significantly harmed my ability to manage my credit responsibly. AMEX began reporting to the credit agencies that I was " over my credit limit '' and had " high utilization '', which harmed my credit score. AMEX 's reports also caused other credit card companies to become concerned about my high utilization, as well. 

By lowering my card limits to just below my spend, AMEX was also able to consistently claim I was over my spending limit, and therefore, control my APR rates which became exorbitantly high and still sit at 27 % today. I also had to downgrade from AMEX platinum to AMEX Green, which made me lose all of my platinum promotions for the year. 

Over the year, I tried several times to call and speak to AMEX customer service about why they were lowering my rate to just below my spend. I explained that my XXXX XXXX XXXX income was seasonal and they were causing significant harm to the business because it relies on my good credit. I explained that some seasons are high payouts ( which is why they had offerred me so much credit initially ) and some seasons are lower payouts ( like when XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ). 

I also explained to AMEX customer service that I would sometimes make minimum payments or make a payment a few days late during slow seasons, but I had a 16 year relationship with them as a great client with zero credit dings. I also explained that each time I tried to pay down my balance to lower my utilization rate, AMEX would immediately lower my limit again, to just below my spend, which was a harmful and wrong. 

I asked AMEX to reconsider lowering my rate below my spend. They responded that they used a standard review process and that credit limit cuts below spend were standard. I was not given any other explanation or recourse. I had to go through two refinances within a year, with a less than stellar credit score due to AMEX consistently reporting high utilization and over the limit. My interest rates for both refinances suffered as well, since my score was not as high as it could have been.

I have significant cash in hand again today due to my real estate business, and I plan to pay off all credit cards. However, I have lost faith in AMEX as a company that I can count on, both personally or professionally. 

I now believe AMEX uses their " review process '' as a way to illegally reward their company with more revenue while harming good/ loyal clients along the way. By offering substantial amounts of credit, and then lowering those credit limits to just below spend amounts, AMEX is harming the client 's ability to keep a good credit score.