No more American Express!

I have never trusted credit cards or for that matter banks in general. All they care is their bottom-line! They try to sneak in fees whenever possible and then mail updated terms and conditions with plenty of fine print. Anyway...now that I have cleared the air out there and established my complete bias, let me proceed with rest of my rant.

Couple months back I purchased 2 airline tickets to Atlantic City using my American Express credit card. What I didn't realize was that American Express auto-included travel insurance for $37 per ticket. I only find that when I look at my statement. This was a week or so before my trip so I called customer service and simply ask that they refund my money because I do not require travel insurance, which I am sure has fine print as well. Insurance, the greatest scam run on mankind rant for a later time. So...they claim it cannot be fully refunded. Apparently they can return $7 per ticket. Like any other hapless customer I ask that I speak with the supervisor. That person gives me the same story but no real explanation. Just "I am sorry Sir but we cannot fully refund it". It made no sense to me. I never select travel insurance but got charged. AND I haven't traveled yet so I haven't really used that stupid thing anyway. So why would I pay for it? The supervisor says I had signed up for this. Well, that's ridiculous!! I am told I can dispute the charge so fine...I will dispute the charge, I said. By this time I already hate american express and anything they stand for. So I cancel my card. Heck ya! I cancel that slimy-ass sleazeball credit card and shred it.

The story doesn't end here though. I had ask that they send me proof of me signing up for this "service". I get a mail couple weeks later saying I had signed up over the phone so there is no proof that can be presented. The dispute has been settled and I owe them the money. I called but that call went nowhere now that I am not even a customer. I posted on forums, filed a case on BBB, filed complaints on multiple consumer but nothing...absolutely nothing!

My misery doesn't end here...while I am battling this charge again, those crooks charge me a $19 late fee. WTF! Now I have to call again and dispute that crap. Ugh! And if I just refuse to pay it will show up on credit history and hurt me! Where are consumer rights here?

Whatever the outcome of this is...I will never, never ever carry an american express card. They belong in the right place...garbage. And in the right form...shredded.