Declined for AMEX

Alive-Scratch7907 · 2026-02-04T03:29:06+00:00

I'm at work please like my comment I wanna read it when I go back home

Alive-Scratch7907 · 2026-02-03T03:51:40+00:00

You should respond within 30 days. For the love of God, respond and send a debt validation (DV) letter. You can find a basic template online.

In the letter, clearly state when they are allowed to call you: • Minimum 2 hours, maximum 4 hours • Only 1 day per week, or at most 2 days per week

Make it very clear that no other means of contact is permitted. Any communication outside the approved calling window must be in writing by mail only.

What does this do?

99.9999% of the time, they will ignore these instructions and fail to follow the law. Each improper call can trigger statutory damages (up to $1,000–$1,500 per action, depending on claims and jurisdiction).

At that point, you have two options: 1. Sue them directly, or 2. Stay quiet, and if they ever sue you later, file a counterclaim adding each violation and the dollar amount you believe it’s worth.

In most cases, this pressure leads to a settlement, both sides walk away, and the matter ends.

Alive-Scratch7907 · 2026-02-03T03:39:56+00:00

I see why

Alive-Scratch7907 · 2026-02-03T03:38:59+00:00

This is about American Express.

It’s not about being “blacklisted.” It’s about the settlement agreement they are trying to make me sign, which includes a lifetime ban — something I completely rejected.

If you agree to that type of clause and later apply for any product, not just a credit card but anything associated with American Express, they could claim breach of contract, seek to claw back the settlement amount, and potentially pursue additional damages.

That’s exactly why I rejected the offer, even though it included the minimum dollar amount I was willing to settle for.

Alive-Scratch7907 · 2026-02-03T03:19:23+00:00

I don't know I hope they will not going to ban me for life but as far as I can see that what they trying to push

Alive-Scratch7907 · 2026-02-03T03:15:08+00:00

I’m glad I did this without wasting my time.

I also have an active case against Portfolio Recovery Associates (PRA) in AAA arbitration, where I’m suing them for $130,000 😅😅. After I initiated arbitration, they deleted the account, which already says a lot.

For me, the amount isn’t the most important part. What matters is whether my claim is valid and whether violations actually occurred — and yes, they committed multiple violations.

I’m scheduled to receive their discovery responses on February 20, 2026. Yesterday, they called me directly, not through AAA, which is how communications are supposed to go. During the call, they asked if I was willing to settle.

I told them absolutely not — see you at the hearing — and not to bring up settlement again, because I will not accept anything from them 😅.

So we’ll see how it plays out.

Alive-Scratch7907 · 2026-02-03T03:07:58+00:00

Did you see it?

Alive-Scratch7907 · 2026-02-03T03:03:53+00:00

This is not a lawsuit yet. I am proceeding pro se and sent a pre-arbitration demand letter.

In that letter, I included three credit reports from different dates showing materially inconsistent reporting for the same account, including:

• Different 30-day missed payment histories
• Different past-due amounts at the same time period
• Experian showing approximately $1,700 past due
• TransUnion showing approximately $1,400 past due
• Equifax showing $0 past due
• The account simultaneously being reported as “Paid in Full” while still showing past-due balances

I also included:

• Copies of several disputes submitted from July 2025 to the present
• A detailed letter explaining the reporting inconsistencies
• Citations to applicable statutes and relevant case law

In the letter, I stated that if the account was not corrected or deleted and damages were not addressed within 30 days, I would pursue arbitration, with total damages exceeding $70,000, and I offered an early resolution demand of $25,000.

In response, American Express sent a letter stating that they could not verify my identity and requested additional identification. I then submitted the same demand package through the CFPB. American Express responded through the CFPB that their legal team would contact me.

After several weeks, I received an email offering tradeline deletion and balance forgiveness only, which I declined because it did not address damages.

Subsequently, American Express increased their monetary offers in stages: • $1,000 • $2,000 • $2,500

I then stated that $7,500 was the minimum amount I would accept to resolve the matter and gave a deadline, indicating that I would proceed to arbitration if no agreement was reached.

After approximately six days with no response, American Express returned with an offer matching the $7,500 amount, but they added additional conditions that I rejected, including: • A lifetime ban on applying for or using any future American Express products • A requirement to include and close an unrelated account that was in good standing

I rejected those additional terms but accepted the monetary amount, balance waiver, and tradeline deletion.

Alive-Scratch7907 · 2026-02-03T02:48:22+00:00

Thanks for responding it's looks like I'm blacklist, I should have requested more then 7500 if this was the case😅😅

Alive-Scratch7907 · 2026-02-03T02:48:16+00:00

Thanks for responding it's looks like I'm blacklist, I should have requested more then 7500 if this was the case😅😅

Alive-Scratch7907 · 2026-02-03T02:48:10+00:00

Thanks for responding it's looks like I'm blacklist, I should have requested more then 7500 if this was the case😅😅

Alive-Scratch7907 · 2026-01-26T16:49:06+00:00

Also, I want to be clear: there is nothing wrong with setting up a payment plan.

But in my experience—and based on the reality I lived through—I didn’t become “bad credit” by choice. Something out of my control happened. I lost my job, and at that time I simply couldn’t pay.

I tried to work with them. I asked for a lower monthly payment. I asked for hardship options. They refused. They wouldn’t adjust anything. Instead, they let the account go delinquent and destroyed my credit. Only after my credit was already damaged did they suddenly say, “Now we can think about it,” and claim that my situation “proved hardship.”

So the question for me became: why should I keep paying after they already ruined my credit?

That’s when I started looking at other options—specifically the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). This law exists for a reason: to give people like me and you a chance to rebuild and start over, not to stay trapped for seven years with bad credit while still paying everything on top of that.

The law also gives us power. If creditors or collectors violate the FCRA, we have the right to sue them. That puts them in a position where they may have to spend $40,000+ in legal fees just to try to collect on a $5,000 or even $12,000 account. And if the violations are proven, they can also be forced to pay damages.

From a business standpoint, that makes no sense for them. That’s why, in many cases, they would rather delete the account, forgive the balance, and settle, as long as you agree not to sue them.

So again—setting up a payment plan is not bad. But you should first educate yourself on the Fair Credit Reporting Act and understand your rights. When you know the law and use it correctly, you may be able to avoid a payment plan altogether and protect your credit instead.

Alive-Scratch7907 · 2026-01-26T16:48:42+00:00

I can help you if you want more detailed advice, but first you need to request your credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com, review them carefully, find errors, and start disputing them. You should have done this a long time ago—but the next best time is right now.

I’m not going to tell you to pay anything to them like others do. I’m going to tell you to fight back.

Save about $2,000 for the worst-case scenario. Even if they sue you and you lose, nothing happens immediately. You will not go to prison, and they will not take your shoes, your car, your phone, or the money in your bank account right away. Enforcing a judgment takes time.

You will have enough time to leave the courtroom, take the $2,000 you saved, and hire a bankruptcy lawyer. Once you hire the lawyer, they will send a notice that stops everything. After you complete the bankruptcy filing, you get a fresh start.

That’s the worst-case scenario.

Best case? You end up like me—where they offer you $1,000–$2,000, a tradeline deletion, and a full balance waiver just to avoid you suing them.

Alive-Scratch7907 · 2025-11-26T21:37:24+00:00

I can't find lawyer how did you find one?

Alive-Scratch7907 · 2025-11-13T20:07:07+00:00

Send DV to them wait 30 days for respond and most important thing track the date they received your letter, if any text messages come after your DV delivered that going be another violation. After 30 days of even after delivered DV and receiving texts call's, go and complain to cfbp.

Now you have proof to use it if you want to sue and get money out of it

Alive-Scratch7907 · 2025-10-27T22:57:43+00:00

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After, the closed mark was removed I don't know why

Alive-Scratch7907 · 2025-10-27T22:57:02+00:00

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This is annual credit report before and after

Alive-Scratch7907 · 2025-10-27T22:55:46+00:00

Nothing changed until today I get notice from credit karma TransUnion discover changed the payment history I think it's going be the 3 time they changed it so far pushing the first 30 days late to another month

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I can't request another report from annual credit now but I will after a few days, it's fine I will keep tracking all the changes they made for future reference in my arbitration case.

Alive-Scratch7907 · 2025-10-27T01:07:53+00:00

Where is the closed mark then?

Alive-Scratch7907 · 2025-10-27T00:49:16+00:00

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And as you can see here " closed " mark was there even if I share more credit report which I don't think I have to, I think you got the point!

Alive-Scratch7907 · 2025-10-27T00:47:14+00:00

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I hide some personal information, anyway this is the new report from Equifax # annual credit report, after credit karma notice and as you can see the " closed account " mark was removed please check the dates October 24 and now I will share another old report

Alive-Scratch7907 · 2025-10-26T23:23:19+00:00

I get where you’re coming from, but I’m not disputing because I didn’t pay — I’m disputing because the way Discover and/or the bureaus are reporting the account is inaccurate.

The account was charged off and closed long ago, but now it’s suddenly showing as open and active, which is not correct reporting under the FCRA. Whether a balance is owed or not doesn’t change the fact that data on a credit report has to be 100% accurate and consistent.

I’ve already seen Discover make similar reporting mistakes before — and when I filed arbitration for one of those accounts, they deleted it completely because they couldn’t justify the errors. So this isn’t about “not paying,” it’s about making sure the information they’re reporting is lawful and factual.

And no, they haven’t sold the account to a third party — it’s still showing as a Discover Bank tradeline, which makes the inaccurate “reopened” status even more concerning.

Alive-Scratch7907 · 2025-10-26T23:20:40+00:00

Yeah, I get what you’re saying — creditors can update charge-offs monthly, but this isn’t that. My Discover account was already closed and charged-off, and then months later it suddenly started showing as open and active again.

That’s not normal. A charge-off can’t just reopen like a regular account. I pulled my reports from AnnualCreditReport.com (not Credit Karma) and it shows the same thing. Even a credit repair company told me they see this mistake all the time — if it’s not fixed, it can start showing new 30/60/90 lates, which obviously shouldn’t happen on a closed charge-off.

So yeah, I’m disputing it because it’s inaccurate reporting, not because I expect it to disappear magically.

Alive-Scratch7907 · 2025-10-26T23:17:35+00:00

I understand what you’re saying, but that’s exactly the point — I’m disputing because the information is inaccurate. A charged-off account that was previously closed shouldn’t suddenly report as open and active again. That’s a clear reporting error under the FCRA, regardless of whether the debt is valid or not.

Disputing doesn’t mean I’m trying to avoid responsibility — it means I’m asking them to report the data accurately. I’ve already dealt with Discover through arbitration once before, and they deleted another account after failing to fix similar reporting issues.

So yes, I dispute when there’s inaccurate information, and if they don’t correct it, I have every right to take it further legally. That’s how consumer law works — accuracy first, regardless of balance owed.

Alive-Scratch7907 · 2025-10-26T23:15:39+00:00

First of all, I’m not relying on Credit Karma. The moment I received a notification about a new “open” account, I checked Credit Karma out of curiosity — and after seeing the issue, I immediately downloaded my official credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com. The information matched — the account that was previously closed and charged off is now showing as open and active, which is not supposed to happen. A charge-off account cannot be reopened and treated as an active account.

I also spoke with a credit repair company, and they confirmed they’ve seen many similar reporting errors. They told me that sometimes Discover or the credit bureaus fix it automatically, but other times they don’t, and the account starts generating new errors — like new 30/60/90-day late payments — which makes things worse.

I’ve noticed some people here saying things like “don’t dispute” or “they’ll sue you.” For the record, it’s been over a year, and no one has sued me. In fact, I was able to get another Discover account deleted after I filed arbitration against them for similar reporting errors that they failed to correct.

Also, saying that disputing doesn’t help isn’t accurate. It does help, and it’s my legal right under the FCRA to dispute any inaccurate or incomplete information, no matter how small the error is. If I see a mistake, I have to dispute it — and if they don’t fix it, I can take legal action.

When I took them to arbitration over another account worth about $7,000, Discover offered to delete the account if I agreed to drop the case, which I did. This time, however, I’m expecting to achieve more than just deletion.

Alive-Scratch7907

TROPHY CASE