I lived in the US for a couple of years to 2002 and when I came back I continued to use my US-based Amex card. I eventually paid this off and cancelled the card in 2005.
Yesterday, out of the blue, I got a bill from them (redirected to my current address) with a debit for $12 odd on it, from a location in Sao Paolo. The statement showed credit limit $0, cash advance limit $0.
I eventually got through to customer services in the US. The conversation went like this:
Amex: Hmm, looks like someone has used it in Spain.
Me: Er, I think you'll find that's Brazil. Somewhere I've never visited.
Amex: Let me put you on hold while I look into it.
some time later
Amex: Sir, we do apologise, it appears that someone manually entered a transaction and typed the wrong digits. We'll credit the amount immediately.
Me: Fine but can you tell me how a transaction was authorised on a credit card card that was cancelled 3 years ago with a $0 credit limit? How can I be sure this won't happen again?
Amex: Oh I don't know, you'd have to contact the authorisations department. We will send you a new bill showing the credited amount.
Me: Well I'd better give you my new address because I only got the bill because my mail is currently being forwarded.
Amex: No problem. What is the password on the account?
Me: I've no idea, I closed it 3 years ago.
Amex: Oh, it appears there is actually no password on the account. Let me set one up. I have to put you on hold.
Time passes..
Amex: sorry to keep you waiting. We don't have enough information to be able to create a password. I'm going to have to speak to the password department(!)
Time passes:
Amex: Sir, I'm sorry but the password department are unable to set a password. They say to send in the portion on the rear of the bill to tell us of an address change.
Me: Right, I'm reading that and it says that if your are outside the US you need to phone up with the new address details to customer services. Which is you, right?
Amex: Oh, you are out of the country?
Me: Yes, I'm in the UK
Amex: Oh, I don't know what we can do then.
Me (losing the will to live): Fine just send the revised bill and I'll just have to hope it doesn't happen again.
Wonder if this can happen to UK-based cards?
Yesterday, out of the blue, I got a bill from them (redirected to my current address) with a debit for $12 odd on it, from a location in Sao Paolo. The statement showed credit limit $0, cash advance limit $0.
I eventually got through to customer services in the US. The conversation went like this:
Amex: Hmm, looks like someone has used it in Spain.
Me: Er, I think you'll find that's Brazil. Somewhere I've never visited.
Amex: Let me put you on hold while I look into it.
some time later
Amex: Sir, we do apologise, it appears that someone manually entered a transaction and typed the wrong digits. We'll credit the amount immediately.
Me: Fine but can you tell me how a transaction was authorised on a credit card card that was cancelled 3 years ago with a $0 credit limit? How can I be sure this won't happen again?
Amex: Oh I don't know, you'd have to contact the authorisations department. We will send you a new bill showing the credited amount.
Me: Well I'd better give you my new address because I only got the bill because my mail is currently being forwarded.
Amex: No problem. What is the password on the account?
Me: I've no idea, I closed it 3 years ago.
Amex: Oh, it appears there is actually no password on the account. Let me set one up. I have to put you on hold.
Time passes..
Amex: sorry to keep you waiting. We don't have enough information to be able to create a password. I'm going to have to speak to the password department(!)
Time passes:
Amex: Sir, I'm sorry but the password department are unable to set a password. They say to send in the portion on the rear of the bill to tell us of an address change.
Me: Right, I'm reading that and it says that if your are outside the US you need to phone up with the new address details to customer services. Which is you, right?
Amex: Oh, you are out of the country?
Me: Yes, I'm in the UK
Amex: Oh, I don't know what we can do then.
Me (losing the will to live): Fine just send the revised bill and I'll just have to hope it doesn't happen again.
Wonder if this can happen to UK-based cards?
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