Even this doesn't always work. I did this and a charge was still blocked in the Frankfurt airport. But at least when I called they noticed that I had called and told them I was traveling.

It's so annoying because they screw around with you, but then the only human being you can talk to is somebody who doesn't deserve to be yelled at.

This is by design. These CC companies are into some major scumbaggery -- and then these scumbag architects of usury and deception hide begin minimum-wage CSRs. You can never shit on the person who deserves to be shit on.

PS: I have no debt and pay my balance on time. My credit score is very good. And is STILL get fucked with by these assholes. It's become a facot of life -- like death and taxes, dealing with the Satan of credit card companies is unavoidable -- at least if you want to live normally in a modern society by building good credit instead of "dropping out" like a fucking stinky Eugene, Oregon hippie on some 'shroom farm.

I received an e-mail from American Express stating that they were reducing my line of credit because of the "difficult economic environment". When I called customer service, I informed them I did not care if they lowed my line of credit, I just wanted to make sure it would not affect my FICO score. The CSR told me that it WOULD negatively impact my FICO!!!

I am very livid because American Express should not have the power to damage an individual's FICO score in this tough economy when they choose to lower a customer’s line of credit!!! I am doing all in my power to pay and close off this credit card as soon as I am able. I am disgusted that American Express has negatively impacted my FICO score!!

Therese

Even worse is that these CHEAP bastards didn't hold up their end of the deal for 2 free domestic airline tickets that were promised. They even sent literature stating that I know had 50,000 points in my Membership Rewards account!

AMEX IS SH!T

All they managed to do is make me birth and nurture a pretty nasty grudge that, when the better times come (and they WILL), will result in my not only eliminating them from my business plan, but will make me an ardent critic to any other business owner who even considers using them. I WILL make sure this costs them thousands of times what they cost me.

Oh wow....if a hotel EVER did that to my card I would raise bloody hell. What if they were with children or someone elderly? That's just plain sick...

Lucky your Mom, in that case - good for her! :)

I guess they're a teensy bit more lenient when it comes to dishing out adverse action against those who pay them that lovely $450 annual fee every year!

I can understand having no other credit/charge cards. But to not carry a debit card (or checkbook, if you're over 75 y/o) as well is just .. Odd. And dumb.

@sleze69: That's what I've done when I was travelling heavily. I always have 2-3 cards with me, simply because something may go wrong (demagnitized card, overlimit, lost card) and it's a royal pain to be left somewhere without money.

I think they started realizing they can make more money from interest than they would from annual fees and transaction charges alone.

@WTFN: Just found this:
[www.my3cents.com] May offer some help for those who have had Amex screw them...

@MsAnthropy: Actually she has a platinum Amex. *shrug* She's great with all her other bills, and her credit score is ridiculously high. I think it's just because they allow her to do it and so far it hasn't effected her negatively that she just doesn't make it a priority.

@ouiserboudreaux: But you are losing out on the points/cash back of using a personal credit card. Even if you had a 1% cashback card, every $2000 trip would give back $20. Depending on how often/how expensive trips are, that does add up over time.

Rewards point with a hotel or an airline add up even quicker if you use their credit card.

My comment is about the $11 part. I never use my cash on business trips because if you charge everything on the company card, you aren't out any personal money. No waiting for an expense report, no forgetting you spent that money in cash. Which do you think is quicker - a swipe of a card or getting a receipt for $11 (i worked for a company that once demanded all receipts, no per meal allowance stuff)?

I've read too many horror stories about AMEX for me to go out and get one on my own. Say what you want about Chase, but I have never, ever had any problems with them, and I've never paid them a dime in interest either.

After 20 minutes on the phone, it turns out that AMEX has a policy regarding fraud: "Should a customer's card be used in two different states for gas in rapid succession, a fraud alert will be placed on the card and credit will be stopped until the customer calls to verify the proper possession and use of the card."

Seriously, I've never heard anything so RETARDED. This leaves road-trippers completely screwed, especially since the only way to discover this limitation is to activate it. WTF.

I canceled the card and when paid off, I told them never to contact me again under any circumstances. They at least had enough sense to take that seriously.

The nature of the disruption was such that I still get blood-boilingly angry when I think about it. As far as I am concerned, the only proper state for those vermin is trapped under the smoldering remains of their financial empire. I hope the happenings listed here are a sign that the whole cesspit is falling in on itself.

"Also, I'm not dumb enough to travel out of town carrying a single credit card and no other method of payment."

Well, until the Amex meltdown, one never needed anything ELSE but an Amex Card when traveling. If a place didn't take Amex, it usually wasn't worth patronizing, despite what Visa would have you believe.

So if traveling with only an Amex is "dumb" then I guess there are hordes of "dumb" travelers out there -- well, at least until mid 2008.

Now it appears that Amex has melted down to the point of cutting of their nose to spite their face. I have little doubt that my Amex card, which I've had for 11 years, will probably be canceled soon, too, because I also pay my balance in full each month.

So traveling with only an Amex card AFTER mid-2008 is definitely dumb. But prior to that, I wouldn't call it dumb.

Amex used to equal class -- now it's apparently synonymous with idiotic feces-throwing monkeys.

I'm sorry that you had to find out in such an inconvenient way.

I guess all I have to say is that those of you who think it won't happen to you should take another card with you when you travel...just in case.

Is this all simply done by computer? My limit was reduced by 50 percent yesterday!

There's been quite a few reports of AmEx imposing spending limits on their charge cards. So your "no preset spending limit" Green/Gold/Platinum card might suddenly develop a limit of $1,500, or something. Of course, there always IS an "exposure limit" on them (I mean, just because the card supposedly doesn't have a credit limit, just go out and try to buy your own airplane or something on it and see what happens...!), but they have now taken to imposing real credit limits on some poor unfortunates who pay a fee for the privilege of an AmEx charge card. :(

This is happening to a LOT of people who have previously had a fantastic relationship with AmEx. When they call to find out what's gone wrong, they get read some scripted nonsense that explains nothing. There really does NOT have to be more to the story than this. I hope it doesn't happen to you.

Ugh, Eyebrows McGee, just do a Google search on "AmEx credit line decrease" or... hell, just spend a few idle minutes scanning the credit card forum on myFICO.com or CreditBoards.com... it's depressing stuff. Some people post about the adverse action AmEx have taken against them and you can think "ooh, I can see why they did it" and others... the majority, in fact... you're left casting around trying to figure out what on earth they could have possibly done to upset American Express. Lived in the wrong part of the country, had a mortgage through the wrong lender, shopped at the wrong store... who knows, but it's happening to plenty of people who've never been late on a payment, aren't knee-deep in debt, have good credit scores, and are genuinely utterly bemused as to why this has happened.

After reading about so much of this, I have to say I'm stunned my AmEx accounts and their credit lines are still intact. Not that I've done anything "wrong", but it seems that just the mere fact of having an AmEx product in your purse can be enough to make them dislike you. :(

Yeah, there's a lot of card issuers for whom that would be the ideal customer. I'm betting TinkishDelight's mom's card isn't an AmEx, though....? They're not too big on that kind of thing, it would appear.

If something like that EVER happened to me (and yes, I would spot it very quickly if my available credit on a card was suddenly reduced to zero, and a quick call to the issuer would explain why within seconds), I would be raising merry hell. That's not the kind of thing a hotel employee is going to get away with on a regular basis - and ClarenceCochonTheEasterPig, if you tried it even once, that makes you an utter fucking arsehole and I hope you WERE fired.

Anyone in a job like that has to deal with rude people. And there are better (and equally satisfying, less job-threatening, making-you-far-worse-than-them) ways to deal with them, too.

@jscott73: I was singing their praises, too, until I noticed on my last statement my rate had been hiked a bit. I was pretty sure that they had to notify anyone about Changes in Terms and Conditions in a separate form of communication, since I normally toss my paper bill aside since I pay my bill online.

After I complained, there was nothing I could really do. My fault for not keeping up with due dilligence. Nonetheless, Amex is no longer my favourite card company.

That said, they're still better than Bank of America.

They do give you the "option" to carry a balance on their credit cards, but I think the general consensus is that they'd really rather you didn't, and if you do, don't carry it for more than maybe three months before paying it off in full. Their business was built on charge cards, and I think they have trouble getting out of that mindset - certainly they seem to think (judging by the reasons I've read about for people having their cards closed or credit lines decreased) that if you're carrying a balance, that's because you can't afford to pay it off. They're not just concerned about what you're doing with their card, they'll check your credit reports each and every month (sometimes multiple times a month) and are prone to freak out at the slightest hint of out-of-pattern behavior.

I think if I'd been the subject of this post, and suffered such a huge credit limit decrease at the hands of AmEx, I'd have immediately become paranoid about using the card at all, let alone traveling away from home without any kind of backup. If a card issuer decreases the amount of money they trust me with by upwards of 90%, I'm not going to rely on that card to work when I nip out to buy a pint of milk, let alone as my only source of funds on a business trip.

Sorry to hear of another victim of AmEx's craziness. I love my AmEx right now, but I know they could decide they don't like me at any given moment for pretty much any reason, or no reason, at all. :(

@ClarenceCochonTheEasterPig: Your revenge fantasy was really cute to read, but as you were just a (front-desk?) peon if you tried that more than once on purpose you'd be fired. I think you're lying.

With credit card companies canceling accounts of people with good credit scores and their account is in good standing. Don't this affect those people's credit score by lowering it?

This is why I hate credit report agencies. They will view a closed account as a negative even if the card was closed by the company with a strange reason and reduce the customers credit score.

It would be very nice to see a class action lawsuit against companies that randomly close good standing accounts. That or just regulate the credit report agencies so that accounts that are closed by the company for stupid reasons would not reduce the credit scores of the customers.

If the companies can do stupid things like this then what is really the point of trying to keep control of your financial responsibility. We pay on time and bail them out when they need help and they screw us over by canceling accounts for the most strangest reasons.

Hell why don't we just cancel their bailouts and request payment in full!!!

weirdly, when i checked my balance again, my limit had returned to its previous level. all of this occurred without any notification.

F'd up.

I was paying for things on this card that I was reimbursed for (college tuition) and had a balance on the card as high as $12,000 before it got declined at a gas station.

I just got a notice in the mail saying they're cutting my credit limit down to $2,310, exactly. Which just happens to be about $10 over my outstanding balance. I also just logged into my account today and under outstanding balance it says "$4 available credit". So it looks like they're now telling all their customers how much they have left to spend.

While I have to give it to Amex for trying to be proactive and stop some of their losses before the credit card bubble breaks, I honestly believe that this move will backfire and end up hurting their reputation long term

@Ubermunch:
I know, I know! I never said it was noble! But you never know who has access to your info. I had a credit card company who posted a payment late and then told me they applied it to my HELOC accidentally. And I didn't even have my HELOC with them!
And yes, I have been treated equally badly, and no, I have no shame. I'll be happy to polish your halo for you one day.

@Yossarian: $2000 limit on my Blue Card still active. Keeping the fingers crossed they don't lower it.

That's 2.8% in annual fees if you use the credit limit to its fullest every month of the year. Where do I sign up!?

When I was in the hotel business, if a customer were rude, we would authorize a card repeatedly until it declined. Of course, the holds would reverse a few days later, but until then, the customer would terribly inconvenienced.

Had you no shame at all? Honestly, I'm not sure I'd admit to being such an asshole in a public forum. +1 for honesty... -10 for being a complete jerk.

Fees are high and the value of the card depends on how you use it.

On thing that sets the seemingly ridiculously priced Platinum card (who cares anymore) is the rental accident insurrance. Oh sure, lots of cards cover your rental car. But very few (and the Platinum is one) do it with a 0$ deductible. Even the Gold card has a $250 deductible.

Just sayin'.

Visiting the adult entertainment venue every time you are out of town is reason enough to cancel your card.

@mythago: Nail on the head right here. It seems that it's impossible to avoid blame around here lately. I miss active moderation.

I don't care if there is more to the story, if something happened to the OP's credit or what not, AmEx has decided to close accounts without notice time and time again, that should be enough for anyone, not just those affected, to swear them off.

Luckily I paid mine off all the time and was not reliant on them but there are many people out there that could be drastically hurt financially by a move like this. AmEx is only making the economic situation worse by doing this.

@Chris Thompson: Maybe they are trying to convert the accounts to Blue ect where they figure people will NOT pay off their accounts each month and thereby be more profitable???

@Bittles: I'm pretty sure if you read the fine print you'll see that you have no pre-set spending limit. Try to charge that shiny new Audi R8 and you'll find out pretty quickly that the transaction won't go through. Also, AFAIK, the annual fee on a Gold Card is still less than $100.

AMEX has about 12 different cards, 4 of them are PIF only.

I've gone through the Green and Gold cards and now have a Platinum (the Black card will have to wait until I win the lottery). I've never had any issues with AMEX. On the couple of charge backs I've had and the one time a store refused to accept a return, AMEX went after them like a rabid weasel and resolved the situations to my 100% satisfaction. I'd use the card for every purchase if I could.

As far as people still using cash, I literally don't remember the last time I paid cash for anything.

@ClarenceCochonTheEasterPig: HA! That's why I always say be nice to those in the service industry. They can and will fuck up your life. Instant karma.

Thankfully I always carry my debit card too but luckily I wasn't traveling since the only credit card I has on me was AmEx.

I called AmEx and the rep was like "Yeah it was declined because your account was closed effective yesterday". No warnings, letter or emails. She transferred me to a "specialist" who said the same thing but sounded annoyed.

I just explained that they are losing a customer for life because of this and since I am only 32 that was going to be a big loss for them.

They think they are making sound financial judgments but it seems like their approach to this will backfire in the end as all these people they cancel will hopefully swear off AmEx for life.

American Express has cards that allow you to carry a balance (Blue Products, Many CoBrand Products, Clear, etc). There are also cards that you have to pay off in full each month - known as CHARGE cards.

Also, to say that AmEx makes no money off of you if you pay it in full each month is just BS. It's called the discount rate - and it's the rate AmEx charges the merchant to accept the AmEx card. It can be any amount so AmEx does make money off of you just for using it...

But hey, glad Ken Chenault gets to remain employed as a result of taxpayer largesse. Go easy on that gold card, Ken!

/Really asking, had no idea they could cancel your card at a moments notice.

I'm shocked my mom's card hasn't been restricted/cancelled yet. She almost always pays it late. Not more than 30 days so I don't believe it effects her credit. It's not like she isn't able to pay it either, she just doesn't care. Due dates apparently don't apply to her . Then again with folks like Gwyneth Paltrow shilling for them perhaps she's just their target audience.

That's what I get for always paying at least twice the minimum, on time, every month. I obviously need to be punished.

I hear conflicting info every time there's an AMEX story. Some people tell me "Oh they're the way to go; get a Blue Cash, etc., etc.," and then I hear something like this: "They cancel a guy; you can't carry a balance" (which I couldn't have a card unless I carried a balance). Every card is the one to get, or it's worthless. How can I make a decision?!

Know what I'm getting? Confused!

Depending on where I am travelling, I will empty out my wallet of things that I don't need.

However, when I travel, I always have a non-Amex card. Why? Visa/MC is accepted at more places than Amex and I don't want to be stranded. I also take my bank card so I can get cash if I need it (cash advances ONLY in an EXTREME emergency).

BTW - Amex offers, to some of its cardholders, the ability to pay over time. They practically begged me to "authorize" its addition to my Gold Card. I finally did when they gave me 10,000 points just to sign up for it. I still pay off on time.

This is the Amex I've always known. They've left me stranded and digging through my wallet for a different card on two different trips.

On one of my recent calls to customer service, the CSR said, "I want to thank you for being an American Express member for...well basically my whole life." I've had the Amex account for over 20 years, and use it only in the most controlled manner. Despite my responsible history with Amex that literally spans a generation, my most recent communication from Amex was as others have just described--a letter reducing my credit limit to a fraction of what it had been.

I would suggest carefully reading their terms and conditions. Typically changes to an account do come with a warning or notification.

If this was truly done without ANY notification, you may have a cases for damages.

Many legal societies have an "ask a lawyer" day where an initial consultation is free, or consider your attorney general.

It is such foolishness to travel with only 1 card - always have a backup - be it credit, debit, or a combination. Even if your card weren't cancelled, so many things can happen to temporarily decrease access to funds. When I was in the hotel business, if a customer were rude, we would authorize a card repeatedly until it declined. Of course, the holds would reverse a few days later, but until then, the customer would terribly inconvenienced. And remember, people still use cash! Eleven dollars.... jeez.

@shadowsurfr1: Just about every amex card requires you to pay it off each month, they are non-interest accounts unless you are 30+days late in which they will freeze your account and charge you a huge fee.

They make their money by charging a higher upfront fee for the vendors (Visa/MC charge around 2%, while amex charges up to 5% of your purchase). In addition since they get paid off each month, they don't need to pay as much interest on the money they lent to you for the month.

With that in mind, I'm wondering what other crazy shit American Express is going to pull next. They're still trying to get me to recommend their cards to friends in the Web login (to pay my bill), so I suspect they're still opening new accounts.

Cash? Debit card maybe? Makes me nervous for this guy that he only uses credit while traveling. My suggestion is that for future reference he carry enough cash (if at all possible) in his checking account to be able to use his debit card as backup.