One of the many things that blew my mind in this whole ordeal is that I PASSED my financial review no more than two weeks prior to having my limits slashed from $90k to $8k.

I didn't get anywhere contacting AMEX directly. I filed a complaint with the BBB. AMEX replied that they periodically review the card members profiles, blah blah blah, and that there was nothing they could do. I then replied to the BBB saying that I didn't accept AMEX's explanation. BBB threw the complaint back in AMEX's court. AMEX then replied that they would need an updated credit bureau report (Experian) to re-evaluate the actions taken. Sent that in, then received a phone call two weeks later from the Executive Office informing me my lines had been restored. They didn't "apologize", but getting my lines restored was sufficient for me.

Executive Consumer Relations
American Express
777 American Expressway
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33337

The phone number that you represent to be:
VIA FAX: 1-519-750-6088
ATTN: American Express
RLA/Clerical Department

is, in fact, in Ontario CANADA and belongs to a company called NCO Group (www.ncogroup.com). They are one of the largest collection agencies in CANADA. The instruction by AMEX to card holders to send anything to “American Express, RLA/Clerical department” apppears to be a complete and intentional misrepresentation.

From what I have read, AMEX has no intention of responding to your mail/fax and, for that reason, directs you to send it to that number that they represent as being AMEX.

Also, you will be charged about 1.50/min for the INTERNATIONAL fax/telephone charges.

Michael R Says: Your comment is awaiting moderation.
June 10th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
If you want further info, go to the following web address to see who “AMEX” is:

http://rms.ncogroup.com/company/nn_FAQ.html#q1

Just another data point. I had escaped AMEX's credit line slashing mostly unscathed (they did reduce a hilton HHonors card I never use to $500) until this week. All of a sudden my daily use card, a Blue Cash, has had the credit line slashed from $13,000 right down to where my balance was at $3800 (pay in full every month, so just this month's spending thus far). I found out when I tried to pay for dinner with it and it was declined. I also saw that another Blue card, which I never use, has had the line slashed to $1000 from $10,000.

I'm reverting to my backup Chase Freedom card for now, but I need to dig around for a new better rewards card. I have a feeling that rewards in general will be slashed in the near future though.

I've been afraid of them cutting my credit line (which isn't that high to begin with), but they actually increased it this month. The past two months, I've been charging like crazy for a trip and kept having to pay off some of my balance every couple of weeks or so because I kept bumping up against my limit. Was going to make some more purchases that I was afraid might make me go over the limit a couple of days ago, checked my limit, and it had actually increased. Go figure.