American Express

[chris5219]

Hi All,

I don't know if anyone has had a similar problem to me. Some years ago I had an American Express card the payments were up to date but sometimes I was late paying. I had a phone call from American Express saying if I didn't pay it asap it will get passed to a debt collector. I paid but it still got passed to Newman's DCA. I was charged £235.00 for this "privledge" Newman's started to hassle me for payment I queried the £235.00 charge and was told in was in the terms and conditions I told them I had never seen this. I had started to feel ill by this time as we had other debt problems and the with the stress of anything I just put this on the "back burner" for the time being. Newman's phoned me almost every night I offered them £50.00 per month they wanted £70.00 although I couldn't really afford this I paid them £70.00 under duress. During an argument with them I told them I was going to a debt management service this was said in anger i was fed up with the phone calls. They took me at my word and passed the account back to American Express I started paying American Express £70.00 per month. Then out of the blue a letter arrived from AIC DCA. They also charged me £275.00 they started to hassle me at work and home and in letters. By this time I was angry I'd been charged all this money I had never stopped paying anyone but I still got all this hassle. I contacted Payplan who sorted it all out for me and AIC went quiet for a couple of years. In December 2005 I got made redundant from work and then had some sort of breakdown I now have agoraphobia and cant work. Payplan pay token payments to our creditors now because although my husband works we have a huge mortgage. Our creditors accepted this until along came CapQuest they took over Amex account. Although they never charged me I was bullied into paying £50.00 per month which I did until this month when I just couldn't afford it so I cancelled the DD and wrote to Capquest and explained why. I then had a call from one of them at Capquest saying if I don't pay they will take me to court and add all the interest on I said do that then. I then got a letter from H.L. Legal saying they want full payment by 10th August. I decided to write to Capquest enclosing £10.00 asking for an S.A.R - (Subject Access Request). Meanwhile I get another letter from H.L. Legal adding on solicitors and court fees plus £58.72 I dont know what this is, but they told me they would be adding interest on a daily basis until its paid. This was dated 6th August bearing in mind I was supposed to have had until 10th August to pay. Capquest then acknowledged the letter and asked me to pay token payments until they get the information I want. I feel I have not been fairly treated by American Express the card was paid up to date and over £500.00 of charges wasn't right. I've asked Amex several times for statements and terms and conditions but never got an answer. Plus I dont think all my payments have been applied because the amount never seems to go down Capquest have never acknowledged Payplan who have been paying them all along and AIC before them.

Sorry about the long story but American Express are horrible to deal with, none of my other creditors are like this.

[Mamie]

Hi and welcome to CAG, sorry I cant advise you on this, until someone comes along who can have a look through the debt forum, lots of good advice giving there.

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/#debt-action-group

 

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/faq.php

[Stornoway]

I had horrendous problems with Newman and Amex - they are the pits. Newman charged me best part of £1000 after my card defaulted but I managed to get it fully refunded after I asked them to justify how the charge was made up - ie in the same way as penalty charges it should reflect their actual costs only.

 

I also made a formal complaint after they threatened to make me bankrupt in an english court - they cant as I live in Scotland and unreasonable threats like this are outwith the FSA guidelines for debt collection. You should fight them and take back the initiative with the support of CAG.

[MadKit]

I read a post today that said American Express were prompt, polite and professional. I could think of a lot of things they are and they are none of the above!