I used to work for American Express Optima customer service.
I was trained to provide first class customer service, and that I did. In learning all about this card, my initial thought was, this card is great, this company is great, I've got to have this card!
Mind you, unless you have outstanding credit, you won't qualify for this card. They go as far back as 2 years into your credit history. I was initially declined for this card. My credit was fairly new, I had little credit, but it was good credit. This unfortunately is not good enough to meet their minimum requirements. I had to call and fight to get this card, just because I was an employee. Which worked out in my favor. However, what I didn't realize, is that I would be fighting with this company for the life of this balance. Needless to say, I have moved, and I am no longer working for this company. I am in no way shape or form a bitter employee. It was by far one of the best companies I have ever worked for. However, on the flip side of things, they obviously treat their employees better than they do their customers.
I'm not quite sure when this company took a turn for the worse, but for the last 2 years of having this card I have had nothing but heartache and pain. First off, the customer service has deteriorated. It's pathetic. Most of the people working for this company have terrible attitudes, and their supervisors are surprisingly even WORSE. This is a ruthless bunch of money grubbing thieves, who have no empathy WHATSOEVER for their valued customers. I have never been late on any payment with them. However, I did have a mix up when I made a payment over the phone, and they never changed my previous banking information, thus bouncing my unused checking account with another bank, and causing a late fee with American Express. This of course was brought to my attention by an overdraft notice from my bank, NOT from American Express. Who knows how long they would have waited to tell me, while collecting interest and late fees!This situation proved to be the last straw. They were totally uncooperative. I had their credit department harassing me, and when I gave them the past due payment, they insisted that I make a double payment. No negotiations! If I didn't do this their way, they were going to close the account. This is where I draw the line. How dare they! They need not worry about closing my account for me, I will do it myself the second this $3500 balance is paid off!
They will not, absolutely in no way shape or form will they negotiate interest rates. I'm currently being robbed monthly at nearly 16% interest. No balance transfer rates have EVER been offered to me in the last 2 years I've had this card. In order to get a better interest rate, you have to apply, and QUALIFY for another type of their credit card, like BLUE. They cannot change my statement date unless I close the account and open a new one. Basically, if you're getting the picture here, they are totally NOT willing to work with you, which is a major inconvenience! That's unacceptable to me. I have lost all faith in this company, they have given me false hopes, wrong information, HORRIBLE customer service, in EVERY department, from BLUE, to new accounts, supervisors, customer service, pay by phone and the credit department. All of them are HORRIBLE and beyond repair. I absolutely refuse to interact with these people any further. I deal with this card strictly online, and make payments over the phone. Once my Citibank balance is down to 0, in about 2-3 months, I'm transferring my ENTIRE American Express balance over to Citibank (at a balance transfer rate of 5.99%) and closing out this pathetic excuse for a credit card. American Express, over the years has left nothing but a bad taste in my mouth. I refuse to continue doing business with them any further. There are many credit cards out there, the hassle and heartache you get by carrying this card in your wallet is unsurpassed. Whatever you do, do not waste your time applying for this card. Most likely you won't get approved, because they're requirements are crystal clear credit, and If you do get approved, and manage to obtain this card, it will bring nothing but problems!

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