Jonathan Oxer
[Blog]
Blog > Amex sucks even harder
>> Amex sucks even harder
Wed, Aug 23rd 5:27pm 2006: Bad People
After my previous bad experience of Amex suspending my card while I was trying to pay for my travel to OSCON I got a bit paranoid about it, so after they reactivated the card I paid an extra $1000 onto it even though the next bill hadn't even been sent to me yet. AFAIK it's not possible to have a positive account balance on Amex: you spend the money, they send you a statement, and you have a month to pay it. But I didn't want to end up in the US desperately needing the card only to find out they'd sent out a statement while I was gone and suspended the card again, so the extra grand was a show of good faith that the next bill would be paid.
So what happens? In the US I arrive at the hotel in Portland, try to pay on Amex, and it's declined. Again. *After* I've sent them an extra $1k. *Before* the next statement is due.
I think I've set a new record. Not only have I had an Amex card suspended when my account was fully paid up, but I've now had one suspended after I had paid them more than they'd asked me for.
My reaction last time was "screw you, Amex".
That doesn't even start to cover it this time.
After my previous bad experience of Amex suspending my card while I was trying to pay for my travel to OSCON I got a bit paranoid about it, so after they reactivated the card I paid an extra $1000 onto it even though the next bill hadn't even been sent to me yet. AFAIK it's not possible to have a positive account balance on Amex: you spend the money, they send you a statement, and you have a month to pay it. But I didn't want to end up in the US desperately needing the card only to find out they'd sent out a statement while I was gone and suspended the card again, so the extra grand was a show of good faith that the next bill would be paid.
So what happens? In the US I arrive at the hotel in Portland, try to pay on Amex, and it's declined. Again. *After* I've sent them an extra $1k. *Before* the next statement is due.
I think I've set a new record. Not only have I had an Amex card suspended when my account was fully paid up, but I've now had one suspended after I had paid them more than they'd asked me for.
My reaction last time was "screw you, Amex".
That doesn't even start to cover it this time.
[ Back to top ]