Consumer complaint received 2025-12-04 00:00:00
Product: Credit card — General-purpose credit card or charge card
Issue: Getting a credit card — Application denied
Company: AMERICAN EXPRESS COMPANY
State: NY

Complaint narrative:
I. INTRODUCTION & SUMMARY OF VIOLATIONS I am filing this formal complaint because American Express ( AMEX ) has engaged in discriminatory, unlawful, and harmful lending practices, violating multiple federal statutes in their handling of my credit applications, including my application for the American Express XXXX XXXX XXXX, and various business credit products. 

AMEX has : Denied me credit products without lawful justification Required excessive and discriminatory documentation Willingly damaged my credit score through hard inquiries while providing no credit approvals Benefited from my fully completed application without honoring it Refused to evaluate my qualifications under legally required uniform criteria Violated Truth in Lending Act requirements Violated Equal Credit Opportunity Act protections Violated federal XXXX banking regulations Created an unfair, discriminatory, and hostile lending environment Their actions were willful, harmful, deceptive, and in direct opposition to federal consumer protection standards. 


-- - II. AMERICAN EXPRESSS ILLEGAL AND DISCRIMINATORY ACTIONS American Express : XXXX. Denied me for every credit product applied for including the XXXX XXXX without lawful, transparent justification. 


XXXX. Imposed documentation and requirements not demanded from other applicants, a key element of discrimination under ECOA. 


XXXX. Used invasive, excessive, and unequal standards to obstruct my approval. 


XXXX. Pulled hard inquiries knowing they would deny the applications, causing measurable harm to my credit. 


XXXX. Used the application bond and underwriting process for their benefit while refusing to issue credit. 


XXXX. Created adverse credit reporting consequences, despite being fully responsible for the denial. 



This constitutes financial injury, emotional distress, statutory violations, and commercial misconduct. 


XXXX XXXX XXXX. FEDERAL LAWS VIOLATED BY AMERICAN EXPRESS -- - 1. 12 CFR Part 1026 Regulation Z ( TILA ) 1026.5a Credit/Charge Card Application Disclosures AMEX failed to provide : Clear disclosure of underwriting criteria Transparent cost disclosures Legally required information regarding premium card products 1026.60 Application and Solicitation Disclosure Requirements AMEX failed to : Explain approval criteria Provide honest evaluation standards Disclose relevant credit terms 1026.12 Prohibited Practices AMEX illegally : Increased my liability through hard inquiries Penalized me without providing credit Added obligations to my credit file without lawful cause These violations constitute deceptive, non-transparent, and harmful practices under TILA.

-- - 2. 12 CFR Part 1002 Regulation B ( Equal Credit Opportunity Act ) AMEX is prohibited from : Discriminating in ANY part of a credit transaction Using unequal standards Requesting excessive documentation from specific applicants Concealing reasons for denial Applying subjective, arbitrary criteria AMEX violated ECOA because : They treated me differently than comparable applicants They demanded documentation beyond normal underwriting standards They refused to provide legitimate reasons for denial They demonstrated a pattern of discriminatory denial across multiple products They harmed my credit while withholding equal access This is direct, irrefutable ECOA discrimination. 


-- - XXXX. 26 CFR 301.6311-2 Federal Credit Payment Compliance AMEX participates in federal payment systems yet : Denied me access to credit mechanisms recognized by federal law Interfered with my ability to use financial instruments permitted by federal statute Withheld participation rights without lawful cause This constitutes unlawful obstruction of federally authorized credit pathways. 


-- - XXXX. 31 CFR Part 1028 Customer Identification & Fair Compliance Standards AMEX violated : KYC documentation standards Fair and equal compliance behavior Uniform treatment obligations By demanding documentation far beyond what is required and selectively obstructing my application, AMEX engaged in profiling, discrimination, and unfair lending conduct. 


-- - XXXX. HARM CAUSED BY AMERICAN EXPRESS AMEXs violations resulted in : Direct XXXX XXXX damage from unnecessary hard inquiries Loss of financial opportunities Discriminatory treatment Emotional and reputational harm Withheld access to premium financial products Unfair obstruction of my credit profile Misuse of application data without providing credit This is a severe and ongoing injury.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation