Getting Back In With Amex

[Anonymous]

When I was in college (about 25 years ago) I had the green American Express card. I paid in full a day late once and they closed my account. That was the last I heard until I started rebuilding my credit a year ago and saw Amex on my credit reports. That same account appeared to have been reopened and charged off with a $3,000 balance several years prior. I have in fact made lots of credit mistakes, but I've definitely never had another Amex, nor reopened the original. It was removed from all my credit reports since I reported it as fraud. I'd talked to Amex on the phone numerous times and requested account statements, mailing address, opening date, what was purchased, and other details. (I never received statements or any communication about the account so I can only assume they mailed statements to an alternate address.) I've also requested information by mail twice. I've never received any sort of response, which I find quite frustrating.

I had assumed I was dead to Amex after the college incident but realized that was obviously not the case. So my question is, how do I get back in with Amex? It was legitimate fraud, but I feel certain it will be held against me in the future. Should I just write off having an Amex in the future?

[FinStar]

Hi @Anonymous - welcome to the forums.

Unfortunately, until the AmEx situation is sorted out, whether it was fraud or something that was inadvertently overlooked, there won't be an option to re-establish a relationship with them for a long, long time.  Have you reached out to their fraud investigations department to discuss?

[Anonymous]

The fraud department says the only way to get all the records is to request them by mail, which I've done twice and received no response. One phone rep offered to send the most recent statement, but I never got that either. Everyone else I've talked to says you have to deal with it via snail mail. I feel a bit out of options.

[FinStar]

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@Anonymous wrote:

The fraud department says the only way to get all the records is to request them by mail, which I've done twice and received no response. One phone rep offered to send the most recent statement, but I never got that either. Everyone else I've talked to says you have to deal with it via snail mail. I feel a bit out of options.

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Are you requesting these records via standard mail or via certified mail (with receipt)?  If the latter, and you have proof, perhaps leveraging the CFPB might be something to look into for AmEx to respond.  Perhaps other members can provide alternative options for getting these records.

[Anonymous]

I have not sent it certified (with receipt) as I didn't figure they had any obligation to respond beyond removing it from my credit reports, but I will give that a go. The kicker is that I have a suspicion about who may have opened the account and would have reported it to the police if I had documentation showing the purchases and where the bills were mailed.

[Remedios]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I have not sent it certified (with receipt) as I didn't figure they had any obligation to respond beyond removing it from my credit reports, but I will give that a go. The kicker is that I have a suspicion about who may have opened the account and would have reported it to the police if I had documentation showing the purchases and where the bills were mailed.

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They are under no obligation to remove the account.

If consumer alleges fraud, consumer  is  required to start with a police report (and a few other things). 

You will also need it in order for CRA to place a fraud block (making account invisible).

Amex will do their own investigation since they are the ones sitting on information such as where did the payments originate, where was the card used, AUs (if any), recorded calls (if any), email, passwords etc.

While CRAs are obligated to proceed certain way in cases of stolen identity, lender may be harder to convince (though, they cannot stop placement of fraud block).