Amex yanks my chain

W261w261 · ‎07-31-2021

I have a relatively new Gold card, in addition to other Amex cards. I believe I got it in April. Shortly after receiving it, in connection with something else, I asked the CSR what my spend limit was. After the usual speech about limits set according to use, he said that out of the box the card had a limit of 27k. I PIF once for perhaps 1500 or so then ramped up my spending. My total balance is about 12k, with 4k due next week. Yesterday they denied a 125 charge, and sent me a "sorry Charlie" email. I called Amex and said "What about the 27k limit," and where was the shot-across-the-bow warning that I was approaching my limit? The rep, after complimenting me on my long relationship with Amex (always PIF btw) , said that "each card stands on its own," and that it takes about 6 months of experience to "settle in" a new card. He recommended using the "how much can I spend" function regularly (which I had not done, as 12k<27k).

He also said as a rule of thumb for those 6 months, to not exceed the prior average monthly spend by more than 50% and I should be ok.

So no warning, 27k dropped to say 13k, existing cardholder (2 others currently). The only explanation is that in the past 45 days my overall UTIL has gone from say 1% to 35% because of two big purchases not on Amex. Maybe I made them nervous? Or was the CSR speaking truth?

SoCalGardener · ‎07-31-2021

@W261w261 wrote:
I have a relatively new Gold card, in addition to other Amex cards. I believe I got it in April. Shortly after receiving it, in connection with something else, I asked the CSR what my spend limit was. After the usual speech about limits set according to use, he said that out of the box the card had a limit of 27k. I PIF once for perhaps 1500 or so then ramped up my spending. My total balance is about 12k, with 4k due next week. Yesterday they denied a 125 charge, and sent me a "sorry Charlie" email. I called Amex and said "What about the 27k limit," and where was the shot-across-the-bow warning that I was approaching my limit? The rep, after complimenting me on my long relationship with Amex (always PIF btw) , said that "each card stands on its own," and that it takes about 6 months of experience to "settle in" a new card. He recommended using the "how much can I spend" function regularly (which I had not done, as 12k<27k).
He also said as a rule of thumb for those 6 months, to not exceed the prior average monthly spend by more than 50% and I should be ok.

I've seen stern warnings NOT to use that feature regularly/often, that doing so could result in...bad things.

I'm sorry this happened to you. I know I'd be shocked if a charge that SHOULD have gone through without question was declined. I hope this was online--and spared you the humiliation of a clerk giving you funny looks.

American Express Blue Cash Preferred Card

padme · ‎07-31-2021

thats kinda rude

Yasselife · ‎07-31-2021

I've never understood why some people take this as humiliation; If I've was in front of the line and this happens to me, how would you perceive it?

I say this in a soft friendly tone by the way, lol, just trying to understand because I've heard many share the same opinion as yours.

Gardening since: August 11, 2025

UncleB · ‎07-31-2021

@SoCalGardener wrote:
@W261w261 wrote:
I have a relatively new Gold card, in addition to other Amex cards. I believe I got it in April. Shortly after receiving it, in connection with something else, I asked the CSR what my spend limit was. After the usual speech about limits set according to use, he said that out of the box the card had a limit of 27k. I PIF once for perhaps 1500 or so then ramped up my spending. My total balance is about 12k, with 4k due next week. Yesterday they denied a 125 charge, and sent me a "sorry Charlie" email. I called Amex and said "What about the 27k limit," and where was the shot-across-the-bow warning that I was approaching my limit? The rep, after complimenting me on my long relationship with Amex (always PIF btw) , said that "each card stands on its own," and that it takes about 6 months of experience to "settle in" a new card. He recommended using the "how much can I spend" function regularly (which I had not done, as 12k<27k).
He also said as a rule of thumb for those 6 months, to not exceed the prior average monthly spend by more than 50% and I should be ok.

I've seen stern warnings NOT to use that feature regularly/often, that doing so could result in...bad things.

I'm sorry this happened to you. I know I'd be shocked if a charge that SHOULD have gone through without question was declined. I hope this was online--and spared you the humiliation of a clerk giving you funny looks.

The warnings are not to "play" with the button to try to determine one's maximum spending ability. Using the button as intended to let Amex know of an impending larger-than-usual charge is completely fine (and is the button's intended use).

That said, I don't think it would have helped in this instance, since the charge that was declined was rather modest and under normal circumstances there wouldn't have been an issue.

I'm actually surprised Amex didn't reach-out by email or phone to let the OP know he was at his spending limit... in the past we've seen multiple reports of this (especially the automated emails).

This absolutely sucks - no way around it - but it's a great example of how one's spending limit is truly dynamic, and is subject to change as one's credit variables change. Side note: I suspect the OP's sudden (and significant) higher than usual utilization likely made a difference.

Anonymous · ‎07-31-2021

@W261w261 wrote:
I have a relatively new Gold card, in addition to other Amex cards. I believe I got it in April. Shortly after receiving it, in connection with something else, I asked the CSR what my spend limit was. After the usual speech about limits set according to use, he said that out of the box the card had a limit of 27k. I PIF once for perhaps 1500 or so then ramped up my spending. My total balance is about 12k, with 4k due next week. Yesterday they denied a 125 charge, and sent me a "sorry Charlie" email. I called Amex and said "What about the 27k limit," and where was the shot-across-the-bow warning that I was approaching my limit? The rep, after complimenting me on my long relationship with Amex (always PIF btw) , said that "each card stands on its own," and that it takes about 6 months of experience to "settle in" a new card. He recommended using the "how much can I spend" function regularly (which I had not done, as 12k<27k).
He also said as a rule of thumb for those 6 months, to not exceed the prior average monthly spend by more than 50% and I should be ok.
So no warning, 27k dropped to say 13k, existing cardholder (2 others currently). The only explanation is that in the past 45 days my overall UTIL has gone from say 1% to 35% because of two big purchases not on Amex. Maybe I made them nervous? Or was the CSR speaking truth?

I don't put too much stock into that spending limit thing. At the end of the day they pretty much look at your spending habits over several months and that is normally about the range they really give you. So if they tell you it's 27K but you're only spending 5k per month for several months they won't let you get anywhere near the 27K because that will break your previous spending habits and they see it as a red flag. They will not tell you this but that is what they do. My plat card had a big limit on it. Went on a application spree early this year which of course dropped my scores (opened over 10 new accounts. lol). About a month later Amex sends me an email saying they have reduced my Plat card spending limit to like 3k and said it was because my scores had dropped. No negatives or anything. Amex is a weird bird at the end of the day.

Remedios · ‎07-31-2021

@W261w261 wrote:
I have a relatively new Gold card, in addition to other Amex cards. I believe I got it in April. Shortly after receiving it, in connection with something else, I asked the CSR what my spend limit was. After the usual speech about limits set according to use, he said that out of the box the card had a limit of 27k. I PIF once for perhaps 1500 or so then ramped up my spending. My total balance is about 12k, with 4k due next week. Yesterday they denied a 125 charge, and sent me a "sorry Charlie" email. I called Amex and said "What about the 27k limit," and where was the shot-across-the-bow warning that I was approaching my limit? The rep, after complimenting me on my long relationship with Amex (always PIF btw) , said that "each card stands on its own," and that it takes about 6 months of experience to "settle in" a new card. He recommended using the "how much can I spend" function regularly (which I had not done, as 12k<27k).
He also said as a rule of thumb for those 6 months, to not exceed the prior average monthly spend by more than 50% and I should be ok.
So no warning, 27k dropped to say 13k, existing cardholder (2 others currently). The only explanation is that in the past 45 days my overall UTIL has gone from say 1% to 35% because of two big purchases not on Amex. Maybe I made them nervous? Or was the CSR speaking truth?

@W261w261 you burned Amex twice.

It's normal for them not to have abundance of faith.

I think you should feel pleasantly surprised they allowed $12K and give it more time.

CreditCrusader · ‎08-01-2021

@Remedios wrote:
@W261w261 wrote:
I have a relatively new Gold card, in addition to other Amex cards. I believe I got it in April. Shortly after receiving it, in connection with something else, I asked the CSR what my spend limit was. After the usual speech about limits set according to use, he said that out of the box the card had a limit of 27k. I PIF once for perhaps 1500 or so then ramped up my spending. My total balance is about 12k, with 4k due next week. Yesterday they denied a 125 charge, and sent me a "sorry Charlie" email. I called Amex and said "What about the 27k limit," and where was the shot-across-the-bow warning that I was approaching my limit? The rep, after complimenting me on my long relationship with Amex (always PIF btw) , said that "each card stands on its own," and that it takes about 6 months of experience to "settle in" a new card. He recommended using the "how much can I spend" function regularly (which I had not done, as 12k<27k).
He also said as a rule of thumb for those 6 months, to not exceed the prior average monthly spend by more than 50% and I should be ok.
So no warning, 27k dropped to say 13k, existing cardholder (2 others currently). The only explanation is that in the past 45 days my overall UTIL has gone from say 1% to 35% because of two big purchases not on Amex. Maybe I made them nervous? Or was the CSR speaking truth?

@W261w261 you burned Amex twice.
It's normal for them not to have abundance of faith.
I think you should feel pleasantly surprised they allowed $12K and give it more time.

+1000

In my wallet: Local Credit Union $25,000, Northwest Bank VISA $25,000, AMEX BCP $15,000

SoCalGardener · ‎08-01-2021

@Yasselife wrote:
I've never understood why some people take this as humiliation; If I've was in front of the line and this happens to me, how would you perceive it?

*I* would feel empathy for you ("been there, done that"); I'd feel badly for you; I'd feel embarrassed for you.

I say this in a soft friendly tone by the way, lol, just trying to understand because I've heard many share the same opinion as yours.

It's been many years since I've had anything declined, but I remember when it used to happen--when we had bad financial problems--and I felt so embarrassed, I wanted to shrink away into the ground like the Wicked Witch of the West, with a puff of smoke all that's left of me. Maybe other people don't react the same way, but I felt such utter humiliation, I wouldn't wish that on anyone.

theNavigator · ‎08-01-2021

Same here. They just cut my limit by 13k and I am paying my balance off and never doing business with them again. I don't care what their reasonings are, and yes they have that right, BUT what I do with my credit and as long as I pay my balances and bills should be none of their fing business. I am more than livid tbh, never had a company do this to me and won't stand for it.