Consumer complaint received 2026-05-20 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: NV

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this complaint regarding what I believe to be deeply inconsistent, unfair, and improperly handled adverse actions taken by American Express against my longstanding accounts despite an exemplary banking and credit history. I have been an American Express Card Member since XXXX and, until recently, maintained eight separate American Express accounts, including both personal and business products. Over the course of more than fourteen years, I have maintained a flawless payment history with American Express. Specifically : - I have never missed a payment ; - I have never had a returned payment ; - I routinely paid my balances in full, often daily ; - I carried virtually no revolving debt exposure ; - I did not engage in high-velocity spending patterns ; - I did not engage in manufactured spending ; - I did not utilize peer-to-peer payment activity in a suspicious or excessive manner ; - I did not engage in rewards abuse or atypical transaction activity ; - I did not purchase unusually high-risk items such as large jewelry transactions ; - I maintained conservative and highly responsible account conduct at all times. Despite this history, American Express subjected me to four separate financial reviews. Three of those reviews were immediately closed without requiring any documentation whatsoever, which strongly suggests the underlying triggers were unsupported or erroneous. During the most recent review, however, I was asked to provide banking documentation and statements, which I promptly supplied in full compliance with their requests. After providing this information, I was informed that my financial information was allegedly insufficient, despite the fact that I maintained substantial available liquidity, minimal debt obligations, stable finances, and a perfect repayment history with the institution. Following this review, American Express imposed extraordinarily restrictive spending limitations and significantly reduced available credit accommodations across my accounts. These limitations were not only disproportionate to my financial profile and account history, but also inconsistent with the risk profile I had demonstrated for over a decade. Most notably, my charge card which historically operated under American Expresss No Preset Spending Limit framework was effectively constrained to a severely reduced spending capacity. This occurred despite no history whatsoever of abuse, delinquency, elevated risk behavior, or inability to pay. What makes this situation especially troubling is the inconsistency in American Expresss own underwriting and risk assessment systems. After these adverse actions occurred, I logged into my American Express account and utilized the platforms internal Increase spending limit / spending limit review functionality. During that process, American Express requested that I link external bank accounts for evaluation purposes. I linked the exact same bank accounts and financial information previously submitted to the Financial Review department the same information that had allegedly been deemed insufficient. Remarkably, American Expresss automated internal system subsequently approved an increase in my available spending capacity from approximately {$6000.00} to {$10000.00} based on that same data. This directly contradicts the conclusions previously reached by the Financial Review department and strongly suggests serious inconsistencies, flaws, or errors in American Expresss underwriting and review processes. From a risk management and banking standpoint, this raises significant concerns regarding : - inconsistent application of underwriting standards ; - potentially defective algorithmic risk modeling ; - lack of transparency in adverse action determinations ; - and improper treatment of longstanding low-risk customers. As a direct consequence of this experience, I c losed seven of my eight American Express accounts, products and business relationships. I also closed my American Express savings account, into which I had deposited approximately {$14000.00}, and withdrew those funds from the institution entirely. This situation destroyed a banking relationship that had existed for more than fourteen years. Additionally, despite repeated requests, American Express representatives have failed to provide a clear explanation regarding : - why I was repeatedly flagged for financial review ; - what specific risk indicators allegedly justified these actions ; - why my financial documentation was considered insufficient ; - or why such severe adverse action was taken despite my impeccable history. I believe consumers are entitled to transparency, consistency, and fair treatment particularly when adverse financial decisions are being made that materially impact longstanding account relationships and credit accommodations.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation