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Amex called with questions (no AA)

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wasCB14
Super Contributor

Amex called with questions (no AA)

Amex called me today with some questions about my business.

 

I don't remember the questions verbatim, but there were four, and they were variations of "Do you offer your customers money orders or do you cash checks in excess of $1k per customer per day?"

 

My $13k BBP sits at ~300% utilization, and I have a large payment due in a few days. Unprompted, I told him I knew I had a big payment coming up and wanted to keep my money a little longer for the extra interest, but would have no problem paying as agreed.

 

I asked him if the large balance had anything to do with the timing of the call, and he said it didn't...that the call was routine.

 

No AA, but I'm maybe a little dubious that the timing was coincidental!

Personal spend: Amex Gold, Amex Schwab Plat., BofA PR+CCR(x2), Costco
Business use: Amex Bus. Plat., BBP, Lowes Amex AU, CFU AU
Perks: Delta Plat., United Explorer, IHG49, Hyatt, "Old SPG"
Mostly SD: Freedom Flex, Freedom, Arrival
Upgrade/Downgrade games: ED, BCE
SUB chasing: AA Platinum Select
Message 1 of 11
10 REPLIES 10
simplynoir
Community Leader
Mega Contributor

Re: Amex called with questions (no AA)

LOL routine. That was probably a "hey, you got a way to pay this off other than MS methods?" call right there.

Message 2 of 11
wasCB14
Super Contributor

Re: Amex called with questions (no AA)


@simplynoir wrote:

LOL routine. That was probably a "hey, you got a way to pay this off other than MS methods?" call right there.


That might explain it. It was definitely a recorded line, but I don't know enough about MS to tell if his questions were focused on that or potential money laundering.

 

Probably the former, as I've only used Paypal rarely and for legitimate transactions. Never used Plastiq.

 

I'm paying $27k in a few days and may keep the other ~$12k at 0% for a few more months. No idea if they'll be uneasy about my "only" paying card down to ~92% utilization, or if they'll figure someone who can pay $27k at once and on time is good for the other ~$12k.

Personal spend: Amex Gold, Amex Schwab Plat., BofA PR+CCR(x2), Costco
Business use: Amex Bus. Plat., BBP, Lowes Amex AU, CFU AU
Perks: Delta Plat., United Explorer, IHG49, Hyatt, "Old SPG"
Mostly SD: Freedom Flex, Freedom, Arrival
Upgrade/Downgrade games: ED, BCE
SUB chasing: AA Platinum Select
Message 3 of 11
simplynoir
Community Leader
Mega Contributor

Re: Amex called with questions (no AA)

Unless they call again you should probably be fine. If anything they want to make sure you can pay what is over the limit when the time comes and considering they allowed it without too much of a fuss I don't think will be an issue.

Message 4 of 11
LittleSal
Frequent Contributor

Re: Amex called with questions (no AA)

Ya. They were probably worried about that balance.

I have my BBP @ 98% right now because of the 0%. I was about $20k over limit last month.
Message 5 of 11
wasCB14
Super Contributor

Re: Amex called with questions (no AA)

The timing would seem a little funny. I mean, they said nothing when they approved the charges. I've not been late.

 

Maybe it was meant as a sort of "friendly...for now" reminder call. "We know you're probably good for it, just be sure you've got enough in checking."

 

Maybe they don't treat the Schwab credit (which I got days ago) as a sort of "backdoor FR" after all.

Personal spend: Amex Gold, Amex Schwab Plat., BofA PR+CCR(x2), Costco
Business use: Amex Bus. Plat., BBP, Lowes Amex AU, CFU AU
Perks: Delta Plat., United Explorer, IHG49, Hyatt, "Old SPG"
Mostly SD: Freedom Flex, Freedom, Arrival
Upgrade/Downgrade games: ED, BCE
SUB chasing: AA Platinum Select
Message 6 of 11
sarge12
Senior Contributor

Re: Amex called with questions (no AA)

I would be a little concerned that it was a scam to get your card info, but cold calls from any of my cards or financial business get my antannae up. These scammers these days are getting ever more sneaky. I guess it could be that Christy at cardholder services is just obsessed with me. I sometimes want to ask what happened to Rachel who used to call me daily. Did cardholder services fire Rachel? Rachel is my ex daily caller girlfriend, now it is Christy...called me 3 times yesterday. Microsoft is very concerned about my computer, and the IRS says they are sending the cops after me. I would be concerned that I may be visited by someone wanting to cash a check over 1000 dollars. That just does not sound like anything AMEX has done before. I always say I will call them back at the phone number on the card, and ask their extension and name. Every card issuers cold call was prompted by attempted fraudulent charge.

TU fico08=812 07/16/23
EX fico08=809 07/16/23
EQ fico09=812 07/16/23
EX fico09=821 07/16/23
EQ fico bankcard08=832 07/16/23
TU Fico Bankcard 08=840 07/16/23
EQ NG1 fico=802 04/17/21
EQ Resilience index score=58 03/09/21
Unknown score from EX=784 used by Cap1 07/10/20
Message 7 of 11
wasCB14
Super Contributor

Re: Amex called with questions (no AA)

He didn't ask for any card info. I had to have him clarify some of what he was asking, but ultimately they were all just yes-or-no questions. No account numbers, verification codes, expiration data, etc.

 

I can't really think of any businesses that would cash a stranger's check for $1000 other than an actual check-cashing business. A business that relies on strangers would need to advertise, and if a scammer needed to cold-call a business to find out if it would cash a stranger's check for over $1000, that would seem to confirm it wouldn't. Or maybe it's more common elsewhere.

Personal spend: Amex Gold, Amex Schwab Plat., BofA PR+CCR(x2), Costco
Business use: Amex Bus. Plat., BBP, Lowes Amex AU, CFU AU
Perks: Delta Plat., United Explorer, IHG49, Hyatt, "Old SPG"
Mostly SD: Freedom Flex, Freedom, Arrival
Upgrade/Downgrade games: ED, BCE
SUB chasing: AA Platinum Select
Message 8 of 11
sarge12
Senior Contributor

Re: Amex called with questions (no AA)


@wasCB14 wrote:

He didn't ask for any card info. I had to have him clarify some of what he was asking, but ultimately they were all just yes-or-no questions. No account numbers, verification codes, expiration data, etc.

 

I can't really think of any businesses that would cash a stranger's check for $1000 other than an actual check-cashing business. A business that relies on strangers would need to advertise, and if a scammer needed to cold-call a business to find out if it would cash a stranger's check for over $1000, that would seem to confirm it wouldn't. Or maybe it's more common elsewhere.


Believe it or not...there are scammers now that their only objective is to get the recorded word "yes" from the victim, at least that is what I have read. I doubt this is the case here, but apparently they use an edited version where they are asking if you are agreeing to subscribe to whatever, with the recorded yes. It is just ridiculous that we live in an age when people have to worry about saying the word yes, but unfortunately that is the case.

TU fico08=812 07/16/23
EX fico08=809 07/16/23
EQ fico09=812 07/16/23
EX fico09=821 07/16/23
EQ fico bankcard08=832 07/16/23
TU Fico Bankcard 08=840 07/16/23
EQ NG1 fico=802 04/17/21
EQ Resilience index score=58 03/09/21
Unknown score from EX=784 used by Cap1 07/10/20
Message 9 of 11
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Amex called with questions (no AA)

I have to pause everytime I answer an "unknown" number, and when they ask if this is so and so. Then I say "speaking". I try never to use the response "yes", unless it turns out that they are indeed someone I know or do business with. Actually the other day I checked my VM, and it was in Chinese. Needless to say I have no idea what was said. lol

 

It's annoying at how many times my phone rings from telemarketers these days. Especially from fake local numbers.

Message 10 of 11
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