American Express Credit Cards
Promotional check ripoff

I received promotional checks from American Express, in recognition for my being such a good customer and was invited to use them to pay my bills, take a weekend trip, write myself a check for cash, do some shopping, all at a very low promotional rate for a specified amount of time.

As I read the fine print, and being a reasonably intelligent person, I understood that American Express was offering me this promotion, based on information provided by a credit-reporting agency.in my mind, that meant I was already approved. I understood this approval also to be based on my current credit limit and as long as I didn't exceed this limit, these checks would be honored anywhere that American Express is taken.

Had I understood that this promotion was to be based on further checks to my credit report after the factmeaning after I had written the checks, after they passed through the merchant's check verification system, and after they were returned to the American Express company and that any information (which I find to be a frivolous reason given the fact that I had already been approved for a credit card), found to be detrimental would render them dishonored, I never would have used the checks.

Further, had I understood that these checks would outrightly be dishonored by American Express, leaving me in the embarrassing position of having merchants that I have done business with for years, think that I wrote them bad checks, I never would have used them. Why the American Express company did not cover them under the terms of my regular credit card account, which they are clearly linked to by the same account number, I cannot understand. Could you imagine the problems I would be facing had I used one of these checks to say, pay my mortgage?

Because these checks were sent to me, unsolicited, as a gesture of my standing with the company, I believe it shows an extreme lack of integrity on the part of American Express not to honor the use of these checks. I spoke with one of the account managers and was told that these checks are completely separate from my credit card account and can't be honored in the same way as if I had used my card, yet there was nothing in the promotional materials that stated there was a possibility I would be disapproved, even at my regular interest rate and they have the very same account number as my credit card.

She went on to tell me that had I used my card, there would not be a problem, yet, when I received the promotional material and the checks, no where did it say I had the option of using my card to receive the same promotional rate. It would have been far easier for me to simply hand over my card than take the time to write out checks. Since I wasn't given that option in order to receive the promotional rate, I was obviously obligated to use the checks in order to receive it!

The only reason that I can think of for American Express not to honor these checks, even if they were to decline my approval at the promotional rate and simply attach the amounts of the check's charges to my regular credit account (which at the time I wrote these checks was well below my credit limit), is that the American Express company must be getting some kind of kickback from the check verification agencies, since undoubtedly, when the merchants contact me to get their money, I will be charged a returned check fee.

I have also been left in the very difficult position of having to explain the reason why those checks were dishonored and have to deal with the embarrassment associated with being known as a bad check passer and likely have further business transactions with them put into question! Why didn't American Express simply convert the amounts over to my regular credit card account? Why put the merchants, who accepted those checks on good faith, through the cost and hassle of having to track down their money?

I can't tell you how disgusted I am! What they have done to me and likely countless others, as I can't imagine I was the only one of millions of Amex customers to receive an offer like this, is reprehensible and it has certainly opened my eyes to the sly practices of credit companies.

The old sayings, let the buyer beware and if it sounds to good to be true... Are slapping me in the face right now.

Company: American Express Credit Cards
Country: USA
State: Florida
City: Fort Lauderdale
Address: 777 American Express Way
Phone: 8008425303

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