Amex F/R Master Thread

[MEIR613]

Just got declined trying to use my AMEX business gold, for 2 x 500 VR's at CVS. The teller didn't straight out say I'd been declined, but said "you'll need to choose another form of payment."
Previously bought 2 x 500 VR's at a different CVS about 10 days ago, shortly after opening the card, and it went through without a problem.
Should I call Amex to find out why it was declined or could this trigger the dreaded FR?

thanks

Probably, the damage is done.

[aryeh1]

Just got declined trying to use my AMEX business gold, for 2 x 500 VR's at CVS. The teller didn't straight out say I'd been declined, but said "you'll need to choose another form of payment."
Previously bought 2 x 500 VR's at a different CVS about 10 days ago, shortly after opening the card, and it went through without a problem.
Should I call Amex to find out why it was declined or could this trigger the dreaded FR?

thanks

Don't think its a FR probally just they blocked it as they think its fraud.

[gloreglabert]

Just a followup, just completed my second FR brought on by too many beans.  No cards closed, but limit on one card cut in half (the one used for most of the beans) and got a lousy low spend limit on biz gold (which is just a month old).

[compddd]

Just a followup, just completed my second FR brought on by too many beans.  No cards closed, but limit on one card cut in half (the one used for most of the beans) and got a lousy low spend limit on biz gold (which is just a month old).

How do you know it was caused by beans?

[compddd]

Just got declined trying to use my AMEX business gold, for 2 x 500 VR's at CVS. The teller didn't straight out say I'd been declined, but said "you'll need to choose another form of payment."
Previously bought 2 x 500 VR's at a different CVS about 10 days ago, shortly after opening the card, and it went through without a problem.
Should I call Amex to find out why it was declined or could this trigger the dreaded FR?

thanks

This happened yesterday when I purchased one bean and I logged into Amex.com and it said fraud alert please call. Spoke to a robot that asked me to verify transactions and fraud alert was lifted.

[gloreglabert]

How do you know it was caused by beans?

Well, to clarify, I'm fairly confident that an application for the Biz Gold triggered an account review, and when the rep saw all the bean purchases (not on the BGR), she initiated the FR.  I say that because (1) I'd been pushing large numbers of beans through the existing card for months with no problems from Amex, (2) the F/R occurred a few weeks after the BGR app with no other notable spending changes or things that might trigger a review, and (3) the rep grilled me at length only on the bean purchases, and barely even mentioned the existence of the BGR.

[yitzf]

Well, to clarify, I'm fairly confident that an application for the Biz Gold triggered an account review, and when the rep saw all the bean purchases (not on the BGR), she initiated the FR.  I say that because (1) I'd been pushing large numbers of beans through the existing card for months with no problems from Amex, (2) the F/R occurred a few weeks after the BGR app with no other notable spending changes or things that might trigger a review, and (3) the rep grilled me at length only on the bean purchases, and barely even mentioned the existence of the BGR.

What did you tell her?
Did you admit?

[gloreglabert]

What did you tell her?
Did you admit?

It was clear I was buying GCs and not real purchases -- she pointed out the discrepancy in annual income vs how much I'd been spending, so there was only so much I could deny.  I was pretty vague, basically just said I was buying GCs and using them for all kinds of purchases (i.e., not at CVS).  She wasn't pleased, obviously, but I don't think there was any ideal thing to tell her.

[churnbabychurn]

Anyone have experience using Giftcardmall.com to purchase visa GC with amex re FR risk?

[metziah]

Just a followup, just completed my second FR brought on by too many beans.  No cards closed, but limit on one card cut in half (the one used for most of the beans) and got a lousy low spend limit on biz gold (which is just a month old).

Excuse my ignorance but what are BEANS?

[n198ua]

Excuse my ignorance but what are BEANS?

Vanilla Reloads

[wierdal832]

my wife just got a call  from amex, she wasnt really sure what they wanted so she told them that i dont handle the finances youll have to call back later when im home.

anyways i called back the number that called her and it said welcome to american express F/R dept.... should i bother calling back or just forget about it..i have 190k MR points in that account which i dont wana lose

[wierdal832]

my wife just got a call  from amex, she wasnt really sure what they wanted so she told them that i dont handle the finances youll have to call back later when im home.

anyways i called back the number that called her and it said welcome to american express F/R dept.... should i bother calling back or just forget about it..i have 190k MR points in that account which i dont wana lose

i logged into her account and i can still access everything

[gloreglabert]

my wife just got a call  from amex, she wasnt really sure what they wanted so she told them that i dont handle the finances youll have to call back later when im home.

anyways i called back the number that called her and it said welcome to american express F/R dept.... should i bother calling back or just forget about it..i have 190k MR points in that account which i dont wana lose

If they've initiated a F/R and you don't give them what they want, they'll close your accounts in 5 days.

But if you didn't lie on the applications then you shouldn't have too much to worry about if you cooperate, so I'd just call them back and get it over with.

[wierdal832]

If they've initiated a F/R and you don't give them what they want, they'll close your accounts in 5 days.

But if you didn't lie on the applications then you shouldn't have too much to worry about if you cooperate, so I'd just call them back and get it over with.

well just in case i dont pass, id rather not lose those points. and sell them today or tom

[gloreglabert]

i logged into her account and i can still access everything

If there's a big scary "Charging Suspended. Call XYZ" message on her account, then she's already under F/R and the clock is ticking.  If not, she's not yet under F/R, but might be soon if you don't call them back.  Or I guess there's a chance they'll just forget about it if you don't return their call, but I wouldn't bet much on that.

[wierdal832]

If there's a big scary "Charging Suspended. Call XYZ" message on her account, then she's already under F/R and the clock is ticking.  If not, she's not yet under F/R, but might be soon if you don't call them back.  Or I guess there's a chance they'll just forget about it if you don't return their call, but I wouldn't bet much on that.

account looks reg.... say i call back and they start a f/r, and they ask for proof of income. can i show my tax papers since we are married, or she needs her own?

[gloreglabert]

account looks reg.... say i call back and they start a f/r, and they ask for proof of income. can i show my tax papers since we are married, or she needs her own?

If you filed a joint return you'd send that in.  If you filed individually they probably wouldn't care or want to see anything on yours.

[wierdal832]

If you filed a joint return you'd send that in.  If you filed individually they probably wouldn't care or want to see anything on yours.

it was joint.... nxt q is, say they close the biz card they called abt, wud i lose the points? i have personal gold as well

[gloreglabert]

it was joint.... nxt q is, say they close the biz card they called abt, wud i lose the points? i have personal gold as well

Assuming they're tied to the same MR account (probably are), points would be safe.  Only need to have one card open tied to it.