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IPFS News Link • Property Rights

Free money from American Express

• Mark Yannone
It's as ethical as an income tax, an invasion and occupation of Iraq, or a court that forbids the use of the Constitution, but in 2008 it's the way we do things in the United States of America.

1 Comments in Response to

Comment by Lucky Red
Entered on:
This is not quite accurate much less as easy and simple as it appears.

1. When you report the charge to Amex, you need to provide a reason (and, yes, there is paperwork attached to the request).

2. Amex deducts the charge from your statement but only temporarily while they investigate the charges (usually a month).

3. They contact the merchant and ask for their side of the story.

4. They make a decision based on the information provided to them from both sides. And either the charge is reinstated or dropped.

Of course, the beuty of it is that if the merchant doesn't reply to the request for information, you get off scott free and don't have to pay the charge. And, yes, it does happen, particularly with the airlines because of the volume of business they do.

NO - I do not work for American Express or the airlines but I'm a long-time customer of both, use their services often and have done this from time to time.

BTW, there is no provision of this whatsoever on the FDCP (which deals with collection of debt not contested monthly charges on credit cards). If anyone would rule over that it would be FCRA and no, they have no provisions for that either (and, yes, I'm in the credit & collections field).

So, please, don't go around spreading false rumors and screw up the last little advantage we the consumers have on our side.



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