Consumer complaint received 2026-04-22 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: NY

Complaint narrative:
To : Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ) Via : consumerfinance.gov/complaint RE : Formal Complaint Against American Express Sudden Suspension of Multiple Business Credit Card Accounts Without Adequate Notice Dear CFPB Representative, XXXX. Overview o f Complaint I am filing this formal complaint against American Express regarding the sudden, simultaneous suspension o f all of m y business credit card accounts without prior notice. This abrupt action caused significant disruption to my business operations and constitutes what I believe to be an unfair and deceptive practice under the Consumer Financial Protection Act. XXXX. Account Information The following American Express business accounts were suspended simultaneously : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Description o f Events Without any advance warning, American Express suspended all of the above business credit card accounts simultaneously, citing a financial review. I was subsequently asked t o sign and submit IRS Form XXXX, which I complied with promptly. I also submitted a request for an extension regarding m y XXXX tax documents, as those filings had not yet been completed at the time o f the request. The sudden and simultaneous suspension of all accounts- with no advance notice - left my business without access to credit across all cards at once. This caused immediate operational disruption and prevented me from conducting normal business activities. XXXX. Harm Caused Sudden loss of access to all business credit simultaneously, with no warning period. Business operations were disrupted due to inability to use credit cards for purchases and vendor payments. : Reputational harm and potential embarrassment from declined transactions. Financial stress from having to immediately find alternative funding sources for ongoing business expenses. Due to the unreliability demonstrated by American Express, I felt compelled t o cancel my accounts entirely, even though I had been a long-standing customer. XXXX. Basis for Complaint While I understand that creditors may conduct financial reviews, I believe American Express acted improperly in the following ways : Failure to provide advance notice before suspending all accounts simultaneously. Disproportionate action - suspending XXXX accounts at once with no opportunity to respond before the suspension took effect. Lack o f clear communication about the specific reason for the review, the timeline, or the criteria for reinstatement. The suspension occurred despite my having accounts in good standing and no prior negative history of delinquency. XXXX. Resolution Requested I respectfully request that the CFPB : Investigate American Express 's practice of simultaneously suspending multiple business credit card accounts without prior notice. Require American Express to provide a written explanation of the specific cause and legal basis for the account suspensions. Ensure that American Express implements adequate notice procedures before suspending customer accounts in the future. Review whether American Express 's conduct constitutes an unfair, deceptive, or abusive act or practice ( UDAAP ) under federal consumer protection law. Document this complaint as part of any broader investigation into American Express 's financial review practices. XXXX. Supporting Documentation I a m prepared to provide the following documentation upon request : Screenshots o f suspended account balances and payment due dates. Copy of the signed IRS Form XXXX XXXX t o American Express XXXX Copy of the extension request submitted for XXXX tax documents. Any correspondence received from American Express regarding the financial review. I appreciate the CFPB 's attention to this matter and ask that this complaint be formally investigated. American Express 's conduct has caused real and measurable harm to m y business, and I believe other business customers may have experienced similar treatment. XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation