Consumer complaint received 2025-09-26 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Credit card debt
Issue: Threatened to contact someone or share information improperly — Contacted you after you asked them to stop
Company: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
State: CA

Complaint narrative:
Problem Description : AMERICAN EXPRESS - WILLFUL CESSATION VIOLATIONS AND SYSTEMATIC FDCPA VIOLATIONS American Express National Bank has engaged in a pattern of willful violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act by continuing debt collection communications after receiving a valid cease and desist demand and committing multiple additional FDCPA violations : PRIMARY VIOLATIONS : POST-CESSATION COLLECTION ( 15 U.S.C. 1692c ( c ) ) Timeline of Violations : XX/XX/year> : Sent certified cease and desist demand to American Express XX/XX/year> : American Express received cessation demand ( XXXX delivery confirmed ) XX/XX/year> : VIOLATION - American Express sent settlement offer after cessation XX/XX/year> : VIOLATION - Sent additional collection materials post-cessation XX/XX/year> : Final compliance deadline expired XX/XX/year> : VIOLATION - Sent letter requesting SSN information post-deadline As established in Gary Smith v. Transworld Systems , Inc., 953 F.2d 1025 ( 6th Cir. ), debt collectors who continue collection activities after receiving cessation demands commit clear FDCPA violations. The court noted that the FDCPA provides specific protections against continued contact after consumers invoke their cessation rights.

ADDITIONAL FDCPA VIOLATIONS : 1. Inadequate Debt Validation ( 15 U.S.C. 1692g ( b ) ) Responded with credit bureau letters instead of proper debt validation Failed to provide chain of title or ownership documentation XX/XX/XXXX letter requesting SSN proves inadequate record-keeping 2. False Representations ( 15 U.S.C. 1692e ) Unable to prove current debt ownership or legal standing Claiming debt without proper assignment documentation Misrepresenting collection authority 3. Dual Collection Violations Simultaneous collection by American Express and XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ) No documentation of debt recall or assignment termination Consumer confusion about proper payment recipient EVIDENCE OF WILLFUL CONDUCT : Complete certified mail timeline with XXXX tracking XXXX Post-deadline violations demonstrating contempt for federal law Pattern of violations over extended period Multiple opportunities for compliance ignored ATTEMPTED RESOLUTIONS : I have made extensive good-faith efforts to resolve this matter : Formal cessation demand with clear legal requirements ( XX/XX/year> ) Enhanced debt validation demands with comprehensive documentation requests Multiple certified mail communications with delivery confirmations Final compliance deadline with 10-day notice period Despite these clear communications and legal deadlines, American Express has : Continued collection activities in willful violation of cessation demands Provided inadequate debt validation responses Engaged in post-deadline violations showing deliberate disregard for federal consumer protection laws IMPACT ON CONSUMER : These violations have caused significant stress, harassment, and required extensive defensive legal action. The post-deadline violations demonstrate American Express 's systematic disregard for federal consumer protection laws.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief