topic Re: HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH MY DREAM CARD (AMEX) in Credit Cards

HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH MY DREAM CARD (AMEX)

Morphyyy — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 18:21:28 GMT

Honestly this is just ridiculous. As I've said a bunch of time AMEX has always been my dream card and I've worked years to get on with them.

A couple days ago I was approved for the BCE and GOLD card and had to call to verify address.. ok normal stuff been there before.

I now have my gold card and I activated it, checked spending power all that good stuff.

Made a $50 purchae at walmart - no problme

Make a $350 purchase at gucci - declined

Try to check spending power says unavailable need to call in to verify information

Call in and told I have a fraud alert blah blah so I scan my ID for the 3rd time so far and they say ok you're good to go

Make #350 purchase again at gucci DECLINED

call back in and say I'm on a higher level of fraud alert now and have to call back in the morning when they are open

Get ahold of somebody, they say I need to scan ID and submit selfie this time... call disconnected great....

Call back in and I'm told the verification failed now i need to upload front and back of ID to notarycam.com and wait

submit information was told should only take a few minutes and I'm now on 30 minutes waiting to hear something

Told if I dont submit within 15 days account could be closed

this is just ridiculous for how excited I was to get this card and finally get it and I'm treated like this when I've proven myself over and over again makes me want to just close the card why pay AF if i can't even use it and get flagged for fraud for such a small purchase

They really killed the vibe for me that I had for this card

Re: HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH MY DREAM CARD (AMEX)

Horseshoez — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 18:39:52 GMT

@Morphyyy wrote:
Honestly this is just ridiculous. As I've said a bunch of time AMEX has always been my dream card and I've worked years to get on with them.

A couple days ago I was approved for the BCE and GOLD card and had to call to verify address.. ok normal stuff been there before.
I now have my gold card and I activated it, checked spending power all that good stuff.
Made a $50 purchae at walmart - no problme
Make a $350 purchase at gucci - declined
Try to check spending power says unavailable need to call in to verify information
Call in and told I have a fraud alert blah blah so I scan my ID for the 3rd time so far and they say ok you're good to go
Make #350 purchase again at gucci DECLINED
call back in and say I'm on a higher level of fraud alert now and have to call back in the morning when they are open
Get ahold of somebody, they say I need to scan ID and submit selfie this time... call disconnected great....
Call back in and I'm told the verification failed now i need to upload front and back of ID to notarycam.com and wait
submit information was told should only take a few minutes and I'm now on 30 minutes waiting to hear something
Told if I dont submit within 15 days account could be closed

this is just ridiculous for how excited I was to get this card and finally get it and I'm treated like this when I've proven myself over and over again makes me want to just close the card why pay AF if i can't even use it and get flagged for fraud for such a small purchase

They really killed the vibe for me that I had for this card

Sorry about your experience, but I am not even remotely surprised. Why? First an incedental Walmart purchase and then a hit at Gucci? That has "Fraud" and "Red-Flag" written all over it. Here's the thing, credit card issuers in general, and in my experience, AMEX in particular, has very good fraud algorithms, and have had for many decades.

True story, back in 1982 I went to buy a fairly nice Sony TV with my AMEX card (now called the Green Card); the charge was declined and the store was asked to call AMEX. When the manager got on the phone with them they asked if I was still in the store, I was, and he handed the phone to me. The AMEX CSR asked me to identify three foriegn countries I'd made charges in during the previous few months. I was stunned and then realized what was happening, I replied, "France, Holland, and Italy." The CSR thanked me and told me to try the charge again; it went through the second time.

Re: HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH MY DREAM CARD (AMEX)

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 19:13:07 GMT

Yes, but actual phone calls were normal back in 82. lol

Today it would be a text prompt where you could validate said charge. While I personally don't get this very often, it does happen from time to time with online purchases who've had known data breach issues. I don't think I've ever been in store and had an issue, though I've yet to go on shopping spree mere days of having said card. And yes, that type of spending pattern is a typical fraud indicator. Especailly if you have a known address issues i would imagine it get complicated.

As annoying as this can be i think, as others have posted, it's better that Amex is proactive with potential fraud issues rather than wait and see approach. And it's certainly better to get this sorted before any kind of travel is attempted.

Re: HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH MY DREAM CARD (AMEX)

Mr_Mojo_Risin — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 19:13:29 GMT

@Morphyyy wrote:
Honestly this is just ridiculous. As I've said a bunch of time AMEX has always been my dream card and I've worked years to get on with them.

A couple days ago I was approved for the BCE and GOLD card and had to call to verify address.. ok normal stuff been there before.
I now have my gold card and I activated it, checked spending power all that good stuff.
Made a $50 purchae at walmart - no problme
Make a $350 purchase at gucci - declined
Try to check spending power says unavailable need to call in to verify information
Call in and told I have a fraud alert blah blah so I scan my ID for the 3rd time so far and they say ok you're good to go
Make #350 purchase again at gucci DECLINED
call back in and say I'm on a higher level of fraud alert now and have to call back in the morning when they are open
Get ahold of somebody, they say I need to scan ID and submit selfie this time... call disconnected great....
Call back in and I'm told the verification failed now i need to upload front and back of ID to notarycam.com and wait
submit information was told should only take a few minutes and I'm now on 30 minutes waiting to hear something
Told if I dont submit within 15 days account could be closed

this is just ridiculous for how excited I was to get this card and finally get it and I'm treated like this when I've proven myself over and over again makes me want to just close the card why pay AF if i can't even use it and get flagged for fraud for such a small purchase

They really killed the vibe for me that I had for this card

I'm sorry to hear this for you.

I remember your recent post about how excited you were, hopefully it's worked out very soon.

Seems a little overkill...

Re: HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH MY DREAM CARD (AMEX)

FinStar — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 19:43:56 GMT

@Morphyyy- definitely a very frustrating experience for sure. Hopefully, it'll all get resolved and your card will be good to go.

Btw, my bday is not for another couple months, may I ask what the surprise gift you were getting from Gucci? j/k

Re: HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH MY DREAM CARD (AMEX)

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 19:51:47 GMT

Wow. That's a lot of drama for a credit card.

Re: HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH MY DREAM CARD (AMEX)

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 20:24:23 GMT

Using an Amex charge card is just like driving on the highway. You first use the on ramp to get up to highway speed then you merge with the rest of the traffic. You don't just start out driving at 70 mph or above.

OP sorry to hear about your experience but you've probably set off all sorts of alarms with Amex. First you had to have your address verified. It happens but it's not "normal stuff" as you claim. Then you activated a charge card and immediately checked spending power (Its well known in these forums that you don't mess with the spending power button unless you intend to make a purchase in the amount you checked). Then made a purchase at Walmart and tried to make one at Gucci. There's a phrase for that pattern of spending that is occasionally thrown around in these forums but I'd hestitate to use it here; but be assured that sort of immediate spending at two literally polar opposite types of businesses would trigger fraud warnings for almost any lender.

Re: HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH MY DREAM CARD (AMEX)

Jnbmom — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 20:26:16 GMT

It does seem a little bit of overkill but just like other banks AMEX takes fraud seriously if they think that might be the case which it isn't of course.

If you don't want to go through verifying yet again you can just close it . I sometimes don't understand why people think AMEX is all that , plenty of other banks out there .

Re: HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH MY DREAM CARD (AMEX)

Morphyyy — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 20:31:02 GMT

I agree it has basically messed up my whole day tbh.

Update as of now:
I did the notary interview and got ID notarized and called back
Was told I now need to submit front and back of ID and SS card to a secured message center
Waited a hour for the link to the encrypted message center but never got it
Called back in waited 45 minutes for me to be told to type in the link instead so I did and made a account
I submitted documents and checked send me a copy ... received no copy
I'm now on hold again while the agent tries to see if my documents came through and if they did its a 72 hour process to approve or deny verification

wow definitely not worth it

Re: HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH MY DREAM CARD (AMEX)

Morphyyy — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 21:15:18 GMT

@FinStar wrote:
@Morphyyy- definitely a very frustrating experience for sure. Hopefully, it'll all get resolved and your card will be good to go.

Btw, my bday is not for another couple months, may I ask what the surprise gift you were getting from Gucci? j/k

Thank you lol and if they ever get it fixed I'll get you a surprise haha

Re: HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH MY DREAM CARD (AMEX)

Morphyyy — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 20:33:03 GMT

I understand that how it flagged but that's just how we shop. One minute we are at Walmart and then Gucci and then in a different state at a different store and never had a issue with any other card for shopping like that so idk maybe this card isn't for me if shopping at a bunch of different stores and traveling is going to do this to me every time lol

Re: HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH MY DREAM CARD (AMEX)

Cashbackjunky — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 20:40:21 GMT

@Morphyyy wrote:
I understand that how it flagged but that's just how we shop. One minute we are at Walmart and then Gucci and then in a different state at a different store and never had a issue with any other card for shopping like that so idk maybe this card isn't for me if shopping at a bunch of different stores and traveling is going to do this to me every time lol

I highly doubt it'll be every time. I think this was likely because you JUST activated the card (checked spending power) and went from Walmart to Gucci.

I'm sure once you get your ID verified, it'll be smooth sailing.

I know it's easier said than done but try to weather the storm.

Cheers!

Re: HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH MY DREAM CARD (AMEX)

Morphyyy — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 20:54:46 GMT

Thank you! I got the agent to do it faster than 72 hours and she said everything is good now and my purchase has finally went through lol

Re: HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH MY DREAM CARD (AMEX)

FinStar — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 21:17:55 GMT

@Morphyyy wrote:
Thank you! I got the agent to do it faster than 72 hours and she said everything is good now and my purchase has finally went through lol

Glad to hear everything worked out in the end! Gucci here we come!

Re: HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH MY DREAM CARD (AMEX)

Remedios — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 21:28:25 GMT

Now that's it's settled and everyone is happy... Gucci is tacky, next time let amex save you.

Kiddin' (kinda).

Glad it all worked out in the end!

Re: HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH MY DREAM CARD (AMEX)

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 21:31:38 GMT

Glad it worked out. FWIW, I disagree with those saying Walmart Gucci transition is red flag. OP was spending (or rather trying to spend!) $350 which is not a huge amount, and could just as easily been spent at Walmart. If it was $10+K, I might be more inclined to agree.

Re: HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH MY DREAM CARD (AMEX)

Jnbmom — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 21:37:58 GMT

Glad it worked out for you 😊

You have more patience than me , no way I would have done all that for a card 😞

Re: HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH MY DREAM CARD (AMEX)

Brian_Earl_Spilner — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 21:38:34 GMT

Sometimes it be like that. FYI, Gucci offers Affirm if it doesn't work out with Amex.

Re: HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH MY DREAM CARD (AMEX)

Loquat — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 22:00:11 GMT

With Amex, who really knows the reason for the flag on the account. I’ve had a new card with them where the first swipe was north of $5k to pay for the sales tax on a new vehicle for myself and my wife and no issue. I didn’t use the check spending button, just swiped and approved.

I’ve also had a new card where decline and had to go through a similar situation as the OP with the calling for verification, one person saying all was well only to be told that I needed to be cleared by someone higher than the original. Now I didn’t have to go to any websites or any of that but I did have to clear 2 level of verification. With this purchase it was a new iMac purchased directly from Apple.

I figured at the time that the reason I had issues with the iMac purchase that was much cheaper than sales tax on our vehicle was because with the iMac I used the instant number that they provide until the physical card came whereas with the sales tax of our vehicles I actually had the card in hand.

Don’t know if that was the reason for the flag but it was the only time I’ve had such an issue with Amex.

Re: HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE WITH MY DREAM CARD (AMEX)

Turbobuick — Thu, 17 Jun 2021 00:34:46 GMT

@Morphyyy wrote:
I agree it has basically messed up my whole day tbh.

Update as of now:
I did the notary interview and got ID notarized and called back
Was told I now need to submit front and back of ID and SS card to a secured message center
Waited a hour for the link to the encrypted message center but never got it
Called back in waited 45 minutes for me to be told to type in the link instead so I did and made a account
I submitted documents and checked send me a copy ... received no copy
I'm now on hold again while the agent tries to see if my documents came through and if they did its a 72 hour process to approve or deny verification

wow definitely not worth it

You got way more patience than many... your dream card is now the nightmare card. Sorry. I would not tolerate this abuse. There are too many better choices.