     Dave Cole (Dcolela) | Thursday, November 23, 2000 - 11:09 am 
TANGENTIAL BUT RELEVANT
I've had similar experiences to Frank's, in attempting to stop pre-approved charges being applied directly to a Visa card. As I learned through the process, Visa's policy seems to favor the creditor, in cases where the cardholder wants to end his/her relationship with a given creditor. They told me that I must advise the creditor of my withdrawal of direct-debit authorization, and instruct them to terminate their direct access to my account. From there, you must remain vigilant, to see that it happens; and to reverse any unauthorized charges.
However, the point of my post is to say that I have not found this to be the case with American Express. They seem to have the proper 'cardholder perspective'. When I found that a certain nameless phone company (after reading of Denise Richardson's nightmare, caution, in naming names, would seem prudent) was raping me on the amount they were charging me for international phone calls from my office line (more than 10 times the rate of that on my private line in the same residence), I called said phone company immediately and complained that both lines should be on the same calling plan, as I had requested when I subscribed to a special global plan. They claimed that I had not ordered the service on my other line, and refused to even give me the benefit of the doubt; standing hard and fast on a bill that was in excess of $500. They wouldn't even consider meeting me half-way.
Needless to say, my next call was to American Express. They didn't quibble for a moment about crediting my account and charging back the phone company. Next, they advised the phone company that their authorization to access to my account had been revoked, and that further charges would not be permitted. Knowing that these things don't occur with the precision that they should, Amex also put in place an automatic reversal of any and all charges from this creditor, effective immediately.
I had told, said phone company, that I refused to accept responsibility for their $500+ bill, with the ultimate intention of compromising at splitting it. Deservedly, they seem too disorganized to have ever noticed that this billing amount was charged-back to them; and that they have never billed me, nor have I ever paid, for that month's service on my office line. Obviously, I changed my long distance carrier, on my office line, on the day of this dispute.
Happy Thanksgiving to all!!! |
| Dave Cole (Dcolela) | Saturday, November 25, 2000 - 11:53 pm
Christine,
Amex is also much better about not reporting minor short-term delinquencies. Essentially, your monthly payment is due on the 1st. It's late if not paid by the 15th, but there are no finance charges. If not paid by the 25th, they'll put a hold on the account, pending receipt of your payment; but won't report anything to the CRA's. What happens beyond that, I don't know. They also have a better online statement, and account management website, than others. The only complaint I have about Amex is that not all merchants will accept it. |
