topic Re: American Express gets stranger and stranger... in Credit Cards

American Express gets stranger and stranger...

Anonymous — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 14:53:59 GMT

Got my new Optima "Recovery" card from AMEX. Was finally able to pay online after my statement cut. PIF. Have been a member since 1997, and my one CO that became two was on my Platinum card that originated in 1997. On the website my new Optima shows member since 2003. My card shows member since 2008. I called the number on the back of the Optima and rep said that he'd send me a new card that says member since 2003, but he has no other information for me. His records show NO accounts earlier than 2003. I asked him if he could share that information with the three credit reporting agencies since they showed me with CO's x 2 on accts that were opened in 1997, plus a closed Optima acct that shows member since 1997. He said he could not see that on his computer. I said, "Can you see all my account information for American Express?" He said, "Yes." I said, "So American Express has no information on me prior to 2003?" He said , "Yes." I again asked him if he could communicate that to the three credit reporting agencies since I was looking at my credit reports and I could see three American Express accts that were member since 1997. He told me he couldn't do that. When I asked him who could, he told me he didn't know, but he would send me a new card with member since 2003 on it. I had NO new Amex products in 2003. I have no idea where that date came from. Now if I thought they would clear the two CO's off my credit report I would be glad to lose the history. However, I am stuck with losing the history and apparently maintaining the CO's. What should I do next? Is this another example of the right hand of AMEX not knowing what the left is doing? Any suggestions appreciated about what I can do next.

Re: American Express gets stranger and stranger...

Red1Blue — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 17:09:05 GMT

Ask them to remove the charge off even if you loose some history. It is the best way going forward.

Re: American Express gets stranger and stranger...

Anonymous — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 20:57:25 GMT

Who should I ask to remove the charge off--American Express or the three CRA's. I am not exactly sure how to to about it. Any help appreciated.

Re: American Express gets stranger and stranger...

Anonymous — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 21:12:26 GMT

Meme60 wrote:
Who should I ask to remove the charge off--American Express or the three CRA's. I am not exactly sure how to to about it. Any help appreciated.

How does a CRA verify disputed information?

Just some food for thought.

Re: American Express gets stranger and stranger...

Anonymous — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 22:17:26 GMT

I know not to ask the CRA to verify...My question was who do I ask to remove the CO's? Should I contact American Express, who says they have no record prior to 2003, and they can't tell me what that acct was, or the CRA's to say the information is incorrect.

Re: American Express gets stranger and stranger...

Anonymous — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 22:25:40 GMT

Meme60 wrote:
I know not to ask the CRA to verify...My question was who do I ask to remove the CO's? Should I contact American Express, who says they have no record prior to 2003, and they can't tell me what that acct was, or the CRA's to say the information is incorrect.

Think about what I asked.

Where does the CRA go to verify an account? What would happen if the CRA tried to verify these accounts for you?

Re: American Express gets stranger and stranger...

Anonymous — Fri, 22 Feb 2008 22:50:11 GMT

When you dispute with the CRAs, they go to the OC to verify the information. If the information can't be verified, it must be deleted.

The OC has already told you they can't find a record of your account.

Following me?

Re: American Express gets stranger and stranger...

Anonymous — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 00:50:08 GMT

I spoke with someone from AMEx who answered when I called the number on the back of my Optima card. He said that he had access to all files on the computer from Amex, and that there was nothing there prior to 2003. Do you think that I am safe sending letters to CRA's asking for my files to be corrected? I am concerned that there is someone in Amex who really has my old files and that they will verify the info--or that the CRA's won't really check. How can I be sure? My second question is, do you think I should wait until my Optima posts to my three credit reports to see if they correct and remove the old CO's? This is so confusing.

Re: American Express gets stranger and stranger...

Red1Blue — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 01:17:05 GMT

You have to do some thing or other with these charge offs. Dispute with all 3 CRA's and if they can not verify they have to remove the negative information. You'r fico will go up. If they do verify then you can go back to Amex and have them change your cards to that date and then the average age of your new accounts will increase. Eitherway you win. So start with dispute of all 3 CRA's and take the next step.

Re: American Express gets stranger and stranger...

Anonymous — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 01:29:39 GMT

Meme60 wrote:
I spoke with someone from AMEx who answered when I called the number on the back of my Optima card. He said that he had access to all files on the computer from Amex, and that there was nothing there prior to 2003. Do you think that I am safe sending letters to CRA's asking for my files to be corrected? I am concerned that there is someone in Amex who really has my old files and that they will verify the info--or that the CRA's won't really check. How can I be sure? My second question is, do you think I should wait until my Optima posts to my three credit reports to see if they correct and remove the old CO's? This is so confusing.

Yes, send dispute letters to the CRAs. They are required by law to investigate your dispute and resolve it within 30 days.

As far as your second question, if it were me, I would get the dispute done before the new Amex tradeline reports. CRAs have been known to mess things up when they update reports. I wouldn't want them to delete my brand new Amex tradeline by accident. No danger of that if you get the dispute done before the new tradeline is even there.

Re: American Express gets stranger and stranger...

Anonymous — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 13:17:41 GMT

Thanks. I'll send out disputes today.