Consumer complaint received 2026-04-23 00:00:00
Product: Credit card — General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Trouble using your card — Credit card company won't increase or decrease your credit limit
Company: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
State: TX

Complaint narrative:
b'Complaint Against American Express Repeated Credit Limit Reductions Causing Consumer Harm\n\nI am submitting this complaint regarding a pattern of repeated credit limit reductions by American Express that has directly harmed my credit profile and ability to responsibly manage my debt.\n\nAmerican Express has repeatedly reduced my credit limits, often immediately following material payments, and in several instances lowered my limits to or below my existing balances. These actions have artificially increased my credit utilization, including instances where my accounts were reported as over-limit despite good-faith payments made to improve my standing.\n\nAs a result, my credit profile has been negatively impacted not due to increased borrowing, but due to issuer-initiated limit reductions. These actions have created a self-reinforcing cycle in which my efforts to reduce balances are negated by subsequent limit decreases.\n\nDespite making consistent and, at times, substantial payments toward my balances, American Express has repeatedly reduced my credit limitsoften immediately following those payments. In several instances, these reductions brought my credit limit down to, or even below, my existing balance.\n\nImpact of These Actions\n\nAs a result of these actions, I have experienced:\n\n- Artificially elevated credit utilization ratios\n- Instances where my utilization exceeded 100% due solely to limit reductions\n- Negative impacts to my credit score and overall credit profile\n- Reduced access to alternative credit and refinancing options\n- Over-limit conditions despite making good-faith payments\n\nAmerican Express has indicated that these actions are based on high utilization. However, by repeatedly lowering my limits to match or fall below my balances, they are creating a self-reinforcing cycle in which my utilization remains elevated regardless of my payment behavior.\n\nAdditionally, these limit reductions have often occurred with little or no meaningful advance notice, and in some cases within days of making payments intended to improve my account standing.\n\nI believe this pattern of conduct may constitute an unfair practice, as it penalizes repayment behavior, distorts credit reporting outcomes, and undermines a consumers ability to improve their financial standing despite making good-faith efforts to reduce debt.\n\nAdditional Concern Regarding Notice and Payment-Based Reviews\n\nHistorically, American Express provided advance notice that my credit limit could be reduced unless a payment was made. In some instances, I did not make the requested payment, and I understand that a resulting limit reduction may follow.\n\nHowever, more recent actions have differed in two important ways:\n\n- Credit limits have been reduced without any advance notice\n- Credit limits have been reduced shortly after I made material payments intended to improve my account standing\n\nThis shift has made it difficult to manage my accounts effectively, as I no longer have clear visibility into how my actionsparticularly making paymentsimpact the likelihood of adverse account changes.\n\nAccount History Representative Examples\n1. Delta American Express Card\n\nOriginal Credit Limit: $XXXX XXXX: Notice received indicating limit reduction unless $XXXX payment madeXXXX XXXX payment madeXXXX Limit reduced to $XXXX XXXXBalance reduced to $XXXX: Notice of review; requested $XXXX payment within 3 daysXXXX: Limit reduced to $XXXX (near balance level)XXXX XXXXBalance reduced to $XXXX: Limit reduced to $XXXX (no prior notice)XXXX XXXX XXXX payment madeXXXX: Limit reduced to $XXXX (no prior notice)\nResult: Balance of $XXXX exceeded new limit, placing the account in an over-limit condition despite payment\n2. American Express XXXX Card\n\nOriginal Credit Limit: $XXXX XXXXBalance: $XXXX: Limit reduced to $XXXX (no prior notice received)XXXX XXXX: Notice of review; requested $XXXX paymentXXXX Balance reduced to $XXXX XXXX XXXX payment madeXXXX: Limit reduced to $XXXX (no prior notice)\nResult: Significant limit reduction following payment, materially increasing utilization\n\nPattern of Behavior\n\nAcross both accounts, the pattern is consistent:\n\n- I make payments to reduce balances\n- American Express reduces my credit limit shortly thereafter\n- My utilization remains elevated or increases as a result\n- This elevated utilization is then cited as justification for further reductions\n\nIn addition, the manner in which these actions are taken has changed over time. Historically, American Express provided advance notice that a payment could help avoid a credit limit reduction. More recently, however, credit limits have been reduced without meaningful advance notice and, in some cases, shortly after I made material payments intended to improve my account standing.\n\nThis inconsistency has made it difficult to effectively manage my accounts, as there is no longer a clear or reliable relationship between my payment behavior and the likelihood of adverse account actions.\n\nAs a result, this creates a cycle where it becomes materially more difficult to improve my credit profile despite making good-faith efforts to pay down balances.\n\nSupporting documentation is included as exhibits demonstrating the sequence of material payments followed by credit limit reductions and the resulting increase in utilization and over-limit conditions.'

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation