Consumer complaint received 2025-11-20 00:00:00
Product: Credit reporting or other personal consumer reports — Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a company's investigation into an existing problem — Their investigation did not fix an error on your report
Company: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
In early XXXX, the business XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX. XXXX  ) opened an XXXX XXXX XXXX American Express account. My name appeared only as a business contact, not as an owner, guarantor, or personally liable party. For more than a year, American Express never reported anything under my personal credit, because this was a business-only account. 
Around XXXX, after the business entered bad standing, American Express suddenly began reporting this business account as a personal consumer account under my credit file. This is inaccurate, as I was already formally disassociated from the business and no personal guarantee exists. 
I disputed the account with all three credit bureaus. XXXX  correctly does NOT report the account, but XXXX  and XXXX  continue to report different balances, different statuses, and inconsistent information, proving the reporting is inaccurate and unverified. 
After the bureaus failed to correct the reporting, I submitted a second dispute, where I included all of the evidence listed below. These documents clearly demonstrate my complete disassociation from the business and the fact that I have no personal financial responsibility for this business account. 
Below is the complete list of what I submitted and what actions were taken : LIST OF DOCUMENTS AND EVIDENCE SUBMITTED 1. Identity & Personal Verification Government-issued ID Proof of residential address 2. Business Documentation Official business disassociation letter from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  confirming I was removed and not financially liable copy originally sent to American Express Legal, and a copy included in my disputes to the credit bureaus. 
My personal disassociation / non-consent letter confirming I do not authorize being linked to the business account copy originally sent to American Express Legal, and a copy included in my disputes to the credit bureaus. 
Official business letter prepared by XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX. XXXX  ) and addressed directly to the credit bureaus, affirming my disassociation from the company and confirming that I have no personal financial responsibility for this business account. 
3. Account Documentation American Express Business Statement, clearly showing the account belongs to the business entity.

My name only appears as contact, proving it is not a personal account.

4. Proof of Communication With American Express Legal ( All sent directly to American Express Legal Department, because the account had already been escalated to their legal team. ) Copies of all letters sent to the Amex Legal Department Certified Mail receipts ( XXXX ) Fax confirmation pages These same proofs were also submitted to XXXX  and XXXX  5. Dispute Packages Sent to the Bureaus ( XXXX XXXX, XXXX ) Cease Reporting & Permanent Deletion Request Permanent Block / Reinsert Block Request Formal dispute letters Exhibits A through D containing all evidence XXXX tracking confirmations 6. Method of Verification Request ( XXXX XXXX, XXXX ) Method of Verification Request sent to XXXX Method of Verification Request sent to XXXX  Highlighted evidence proving why proper verification is impossible CRITICAL LEGAL EVIDENCE AMEX ATTEMPTED TO CREATE NEW LIABILITY CLAUSE IN XX/XX/XXXX This is one of the most important facts in the case. 
What American Express did : In XX/XX/XXXX, Amex attempted to add a new joint/personal liability clause to the business account. 
This attempt was made 23 years after the account was opened ( XXXX ). 
This attempt was made after the business account was already CLOSED. 
This attempt was made after I opened disputes with the bureaus. 
Timeline : Amexs letter claimed the new terms would be effective XX/XX/XXXX. 
The letter was actually received on XX/XX/XXXX. 
This proves Amex mailed the notice after the account changes, And after the stated effective date, Violating the mandatory 45-day advance notice rule under TILA / Regulation Z ( 12 CFR 1026.9 ( c ) ( 2 ) ). 
Responses : On XX/XX/XXXX, the business XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX. XXXX  ) responded rejecting the clause and confirming my disassociation. 
On XX/XX/XXXX, I personally rejected the clause and reaffirmed my disassociation. 
Both letters were sent directly to Amex Legal, with proof ( certified mail + fax ).

Why this is legally important : If this account were truly personal or joint, Amex would NOT need to add a new personal liability clause in XXXX. 
Their attempt to retroactively change the contract proves : The account was always business-only I was never personally responsible The reporting under my consumer file is inaccurate and unlawful Despite all the evidence submitted and the formal disputes sent on XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX  and XXXX  continue to show this account on my personal credit file with the simple remark consumer disputes or I do not agree, without providing any written explanation, investigation results, or documentation showing how they allegedly verified the information. No bureau has provided a formal reinvestigation notice or any verification as required under federal law. For this reason, I have now submitted a Method of Verification Request so they must disclose how they confirmed this information, especially considering that all evidence provided directly from the business, from myself personally, and even from American Express own correspondence proves that I am not the business, I am not personally liable, and this is strictly a business entity account.

By continuing to report unverifiable and inaccurate information, the credit bureaus are violating multiple sections of the Fair Credit Reporting Act, including : FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 1 ) failure to conduct a reasonable reinvestigation ; FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 6 ) failure to provide the required written verification results ; FCRA 611 ( a ) ( 5 ) failure to delete inaccurate or unverifiable information ; FCRA 607 ( b ) failure to maintain maximum possible accuracy ; FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 1 ) ( as applied to the furnisher, American Express ) furnishing information known to be inaccurate ; FCRA 623 ( b ) ( 1 ) failure to investigate consumer disputes properly.

Given all the documentation from the business, the disassociation letters, the account statements showing business ownership, the proof of correspondence sent to American Express Legal, and the attempted retroactive contract change in XXXX XXXX there is no legal basis for this account to remain on my personal credit file. I am requesting CFPB intervention to require immediate deletion and permanent blocking of this business account from my consumer credit reports.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation