in march 2006 I came to san francisco. from romania. I called American Express and asked them to change my address and last name. ok. done. they had romania no address. so now they had new address.
in 2 months… in June 2006… I get a call, and they ask me if i want to join a new “gold card” program. it charges me $100 a year but has many benefits. first year is free. So… ok… I will try i say. I wait… and wait and wait… 3 months later, i don’t get gold Card. I call them and ask.. they say they sent. I ask them to confirm… they have my SF address. so they send again. again i wait… in November 2006 I call again… still not received Gold Card…. they confirm SF address, but say they don’t have my new name… still using my old name… Istvan. So they promise to send again.
I wait and wait… still nothing. I just gave up… i use regular American Express Blue. it has my new name and adddress… actually i have been customer since 1996… so no problem.
today, I try to buy something from ebay. make payment for the laptop from a buyer. i agreed to buy over weekend, and payment was due today. I put American Express… and its rejected. I call them to ask what’s going on. They say, at first they don’t know why rejecting… i dont’ have balance! should be fine. then they see… gold card. Actually, they say i didn’t pay $100 fee, and now i owe $150!!!!! and it’s late, so they block my AMEX.
I DON’T HAVE THE CARD! HOW CAN THEY CHARGE ME IF I ODN’T HAVE CARD! so i ask them, where they sent. they say the address they have is from philadelphia… 6 YEARS AGO!!!!!
So it means, that regular AMEX and Gold card is different even from same company. must be different deparmtnet. but then… IF DIFFERENT… why they get old address? how they communicate? and i asked… they said “oh, sir, if you get gold card you have to update new address….” I said….
“ok… but if you cannot coordinate address and name… then why you can coordinate to block my use of the other Amex? it’s kind of convenient for you, to not coordinate one… but so quick to coordinate the charges…. ”
eventually i spoke with manager… and I explained situation. I don’t get benefits from gold card because no card! also, they sent wrong address…address which is invalid. Anyone couldd use my card! they are putting my credit at risk… for past year! finally they understood, and agree… they returned the charge… so i don’t owe money, and offered to send new Gold Card to correct address… i said…
No thank you, please cancel my card. Your lack of coordination makes me feel i cannot trust your business.
:))