Credit Card Forum
  1. #1
    jimpghpa
    jimpghpa is offline
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    Unhappy Annual fee for unused credit cards? Not always this dumb

    I am a smart consumer but made a dumb mistake. Signed up for american express card a year ago and forgot all about it. Never used the card. Never got any correspondence from AE until last month got an email statement for $0. Replied to email stating please close this account. Now this month just got an email statement for $175 which I assume is an annual fee. Stupid me I should have called and cancelled card. Any suggestions? Think I can get out of paying this? Thanks for any advice!!!!!!!!!
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    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote     Jul 5, 11, 6:22 am
  2. #2
    jeffysdad
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    Check for a record of the email that you sent them on the Amex website in the communications area or in your sent folder of your email account. You should definitely complain like hell until they rescind the fee and close the account. Tell them you'll file a complaint with the BBB, the FTC and the Atty General's office in your state. Make it clear that you will give them far more grief than $175 would ever be worth. You were careless and lazy to let this happen, but that's what they were counting on, especially since they don't alert you that they'll be charging you the fee.
    CARDS (and why)
    FIA Card Services: Fidelity Amex (best cash back excepting 5% cards), Fidelity Visa (spare)
    Chase: Freedom (only for 5% reward categories, purchases under $10), Sapphire (not in use), Amazon Rewards (for Amazon purchases only)
    CapitalOne: No Hassle Rewards (no foreign transaction fee, my only MasterCard, not in use)
    Amex: Blue Cash Everyday (not in use)
    Discover: More (only for 5% reward categories)
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    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote     Jul 5, 11, 12:05 pm
  3. #3
    Money card
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    you applied for the Gold rewards card that has an annual fee of 175$
    Did you call up and activate your card? If you did I believe you have to pay. But if you didn't call them up and tell them what happened and see if you have to pay you might not have to.
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    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote     Jul 7, 11, 7:52 pm
  4. #4
    Pete838
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    I believe they give you 30 days after the renewal fee hits to cancel with refund. Call them and ask. They may offer to waive the fee to keep it open in hopes you will use it in the coming year.
    Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same.
    Ronald Reagan
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    Reply With Quote Reply With Quote     Jul 10, 11, 8:35 am
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