topic Re: American Express Issues in Credit Cards

American Express Issues

getmycreditright — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 01:01:10 GMT

So, I got approved for an SPG back on 11/4 and since I've gotten the card, I've run all my transactions through it. Well about 30 minutes ago, I run my card at Walmart (trying to take advantage of early black Friday deals) and get denied. I'm nowhere near being maxed, so I call up AMEX and the CSR said they have identity concerns and that they need to contact a financial institution that I'm affiliated with to get some information. They also said I needed to call back in the morning so they can verify everything.

Have you guys ever heard of such a thing? This is extremely frustrating.

Re: American Express Issues

trumpet-205 — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 01:02:14 GMT

Hopefully it is just identity verification, not FR.

Re: American Express Issues

clownfico — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 01:15:13 GMT

I experienced something similar. It's rather normal and happens when you're a new member and charge more than a $100. I was left with the impression AMEX just wants to track your charging patterns (computer-guided). Chase Sapphire does something similar. It usually involves a conference call between the cardholder, AMEX, and your bank. Just make sure your bank has the same information that you provided AMEX! Usually you're muted and the verification takes place between AMEX and your bank.

Re: American Express Issues

shakalaka — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 01:15:21 GMT

Yes, the same happened to my after an online purchase, soon after I activated my Zync. They do a three way call with your bank to confirm your identity. If your bank is open, you should be able to do it right away. I did it on a Saturday late night with my credit union.

After that no more issues with American Express. Only love from them.

Re: American Express Issues

Repo-ed — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 01:37:50 GMT

yes! its half the reason i cancelled crap1 - they had to verify everything MULTIPLE times! would not allow me to make payments, until they contacted my banks to verify i owned the accounts...MAKE payments...nuts

Re: American Express Issues

youngandcreditwrthy — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 03:38:02 GMT

I'd be careful using Amex at Walmart anyway lol In fact, I do not use Amex at Walmart.

Re: American Express Issues

improvingmycredit — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 09:06:00 GMT

@youngandcreditwrthy wrote:
I'd be careful using Amex at Walmart anyway lol In fact, I do not use Amex at Walmart.

Hey All! I don't agree with this at all ^^^^^. There is no reason at all to not use your Amex at any big box store. In fact- Walmart currently has a contract with Amex to market one of their newest products- "BlueBird". Just an FYI- I use my Amex products anywhere I go and for everything including a pack of gum.

Re: American Express Issues

getmycreditright — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 12:16:50 GMT

Yeah I don't agree with it either. I put any and everything on that card. As long as they are getting PIF'd each month for considerable amounts, they should be good.

Thanks to all who responded I will give them a call in a few hours to try to get this situated once and for all. I will update.

Re: American Express Issues

Repo-ed — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 12:47:41 GMT

Amex could not care any less where you use their card, where their card is accepted.

100% Fact.

Re: American Express Issues

Revelate — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 14:26:13 GMT

@Repo-ed wrote:
Amex could not care any less where you use their card, where their card is accepted.

100% Fact.

Not that we could really ever find out, but I would bet against that, not that I let it change my behaviors in the slightest.

Amex at one point, and likely still, absolutely cares about it's prestiege... and it is very, very easy to build an accurate profile when looking at the individual transactions. So easy I'd be stunned and amazed if they haven't done something similar in the past decade.

I know if I were Amex or any other lender (Chase in particular) I'd absolutely look at such things and there may be simple correlations vis a vis people who drive a Mercedes are less likely to flake on a credit card payment than people who drive a BMW, and I'm pretty confident that'd be entirely legal to make a decision off of too... and AFAIK lenders can get to this level of detail with the information that is collected from the merchants.

So if they're likely looking at that level for various reasons, why would they not take the extra step to reinforce their core marketing scheme? There are some products (Centurion) which we absolutely know aren't available to most mortals, and likely there's some amount of flash in one's profile that has to exist regardless of how much you spend to be invited to apply. It would not surprise me in the slightest to find something similar even on the lower tier cards.

Edit: my assertion assumes Amex could figure out the infrastructure and development side, which is non-trivial, and I do have second-hand knowledge that they haven't always been good at that, but that they have enough resources and knowledge to eventually get to the right solutions... or at least have in the past.

Re: American Express Issues

Jutz — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 14:56:27 GMT

I hate that we have so many threads about AMEX devolve into this discussion, but it's been pointed out before... It's not the actual usage of the card at a place like WM, it's a change in overall financial patterns. If you went from shopping at Whole Foods and eating out regularly along with PIF and having overall UTIL low across all cards, to shopping primarily at Walmart, carrying a balance, rising UTiL on other cards, and maybe even other installment loan issues, then sure, AMEX might be likely to do a FR which subsequently might lead to getting a card closed.

Here's my point against it: some of the most successful individuals or families I've known are smart with money. This means saving money on things that might be able to be purchased as Walmart. One family in particular shopped primarily at Walmart, and on the weekends went down to their sailboat.

Re: American Express Issues

getmycreditright — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 19:12:50 GMT

Well I just got off the phone with them and the CSR said that they do this with new cardmembers. We were on a three-way call with my bank and then I had to verify my address along with a few other things and that was it. AMEX lifted the fraud alert on my card and I am now able to use it again. I made sure it was a one-time only deal, and they confirmed that it was.

Re: American Express Issues

Anonymous — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 23:35:38 GMT

Luckly they didn't fr you

Re: American Express Issues

armbenderc — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 23:43:36 GMT

@getmycreditright wrote:
Well I just got off the phone with them and the CSR said that they do this with new cardmembers. We were on a three-way call with my bank and then I had to verify my address along with a few other things and that was it. AMEX lifted the fraud alert on my card and I am now able to use it again. I made sure it was a one-time only deal, and they confirmed that it was.

Good to hear. I love my Amex Green, I am hoping to get BCE soon.

How do you like the SPG?

Re: American Express Issues

Sparkz1920 — Fri, 23 Nov 2012 23:51:03 GMT

That's interesting

The same night I got my Delta Skymiles I ran through 500 on there so I could get my miles....nobody ever called me or locked my account.

Re: American Express Issues

shakalaka — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 00:09:33 GMT

It is not always with the first charge. I ran short of 1K trough my Zync and after an online purchase at Office Depot it happened. And they will not do this with every memebr I guess.

Since then (2 months) ago no more questions. Just fun with my Zync.

Re: American Express Issues

getmycreditright — Sat, 24 Nov 2012 02:12:27 GMT

@armbenderc wrote:
@getmycreditright wrote:
Well I just got off the phone with them and the CSR said that they do this with new cardmembers. We were on a three-way call with my bank and then I had to verify my address along with a few other things and that was it. AMEX lifted the fraud alert on my card and I am now able to use it again. I made sure it was a one-time only deal, and they confirmed that it was.
Good to hear. I love my Amex Green, I am hoping to get BCE soon.

How do you like the SPG?

I like it so far. My first statement just closed, so I should be receiving my 15,000 starpoints (which equates to 3 free nights). I also like the 1:1 conversion for american airline miles as well. Other than this issue (which turned out, wasn't really an issue), AMEX has been great. Their customer service was a lot better than I expected.

Re: American Express Issues

Simplyjays — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 16:35:38 GMT

ahh freaky i hope they dont do that to me! how many times has this happened to you?

Re: American Express Issues

Simplyjays — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 16:36:10 GMT

whats FR?

Re: American Express Issues

Anonymous — Sun, 24 Feb 2013 18:59:36 GMT

@youngandcreditwrthy wrote:
I'd be careful using Amex at Walmart anyway lol In fact, I do not use Amex at Walmart.

Walmart is about the only place I use my AMEX lol