Consumer complaint received 2026-01-21 00:00:00
Product: Credit card — General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Trouble using your card — Can't use card to make purchases
Company: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
State: GA

Complaint narrative:
AMEX IS IN VIOLATION OF THE FEDERAL LAW. THEY HAVE LOWERED MY SPENDING LIMIT TO AN AMOUNT UNDER WHAT HAS ALREADY BEEN SPENT CAUSING ME TO BE IN THE NEGATIVE. I HAVE MADE OVER {$98000.00} IN PAYMENTS ACROSS ALL ACCOUNTS AND THEY ARE DEMANDING BANK ACCOUNTS AND STATEMENTS FROM MY PERSONAL AND BUSINESS ACCOUNTS TO REINSTATE SPENDING LIMIT FOR THE 3RD TIME. 
ATTACHED IS ALL THE PAYMENTS MADE. ALL BALANCES ARE ACCURATE EXCEPT FOR THE GOLD CARD WITH A {$4900.00} BALANCE. {$4000.00} PAYMENT WAS MADE TODAY THAT HAS NOT POSTED. 
AMEX IS ALSO IN VIOLATION OF DISCRIMINATION Federal laws prohibit discrimination by credit card companies and financial institutions. 

Equal Credit Opportunity Act ( ECOA ) : Enforced by the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ), ECOA prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, marital status, age, or because you receive public assistance. Creditors can not deny or limit credit based on these factors. 
Banking Laws and Regulations : Federal banking regulations reinforce fair lending practices and prohibit discriminatory policies. 
Violations will lead to severe penalties, including fines, lawsuits, and damage to reputation. 

The Fair Credit Extension Act Section 1 : Purpose The purpose of this Act is to promote fair and equitable credit practices by prohibiting credit card companies from requiring banking information and banking statements as a condition for extending credit, thereby protecting consumer privacy and preventing discriminatory or overly invasive credit assessments.

Section 2 : Definitions ( a ) " Credit card company '' means any entity that offers, issues, or manages credit cards or extends credit through credit card accounts. 
( b ) " Banking information '' includes, but is not limited to, banking account numbers, bank account balances, and transaction histories. 
( c ) " Banking statements '' refer to official documents issued by banks detailing account activity, balances, and financial status. 
Section 3 : Prohibition on Requesting Banking Information It shall be unlawful for any credit card company to request, require, or solicit banking information or banking statements from an individual as a condition for issuing, extending, or maintaining a credit card or credit account.

Section 4 : Consumer Rights and Privacy Consumers shall have the right to apply for credit without disclosing banking information or banking statements. Any violation of this provision shall be subject to penalties as outlined in Section 6.

Section 5 : Exceptions This Act does not prohibit credit card companies from conducting creditworthiness assessments through authorized and lawful methods, such as credit reporting agencies, provided that banking information is not a mandatory requirement.

Section 6 : Enforcement and Penalties Any credit card company found in violation of this Act shall be subject to fines, penalties, and sanctions as determined by relevant regulatory authorities.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation