LIVING WITH MCL

Every year it's the same thing. American Express debits my Starwood Preferred Guest card for a $45 membership fee, I call them to get a good will credit, and every year they tell me the same thing. I'm sorry we can't issue you a credit. Then I talk to a few other people, write an email, and with the exception of last year, I have always been able to obtain a credit for the membership. Last year, if you remember , was different. No matter what I did, I couldn't get any satisfaction from anyone, and I ended up cancelling the card. Of course about a week after doing that, someone at American Express, who does have the authority to give me the credit, called, and not only gave me the credit, but gave me an extra $50 to boot . So I agreed to use the card again. She also gave me her name and number to call, should this happen again. Unfortunately I lost her number, but did remember her name, so I thought I would still be able to get in touch with her, and solve my problem. Bu...

Several months ago I wrote about how American Express was unwilling to credit me the $45 annual membership fee on my Starwood Preferred Guest American Express card, knowing they would lose over $500 in merchant generated fees a year from me using that card. Eventually I did get the credit (plus an extra $50 for my troubles), but it took canceling the card, to finally catch the attention of someone at American Express who realized losing $500 per year wasn't worth gaining a measly $45 annual membership fee. Now just recently I experience a very similar problem with my cable internet provider (Charter Communications). When Charter wanted to raise my monthly fee to $69.98 per month, I balked, and got them to agree to a charge equivalent to Verizon FIOS service + $2 more ($44.98/month). I agreed to the extra $2 per month, because service was good, and it was worth $2 per month not having to switch providers. But the next month I received a bill for $47.64. Apparently because I didn...

I just received a telephone call from a Miss Potter (no relation to Harry) at American Express (AMEX), concerning the cancellation of my Starwood Preferred Guest credit card, after numerous attempts to get a $45 good will credit for the annual membership fee failed. It appears there is at least one person at AMEX, still versed in the now almost lost art of mathematics, who realized, losing a customer, who generates well over $500 annually in merchant fees, by trying to squeeze an additional $45 out of that customer, was not good business. She's over nighting my new cards to me today, and even gave me her direct telephone line, in case I encounter a similar problem in the future. My faith in American business [at least my faith in American Express] has been restored. Uhm! I wonder if maybe she read my blog. :)

As if my experience with American Express wasn't bad enough, now I can't believe Verizon is just as intransigent. Lately I've been having problems with my wireless connection. It seems anytime I get more than 10 feet away from the router, my internet connection fades out, and connectivity is hit or miss. Mostly miss. So I contact Verizon, and discover my wireless connection is only guaranteed for 10 feet or line of sight from the router. THAT'S RIDICULOUS! What's the point of having a wireless connection, if you can't get a connection anywhere in the house. Besides this has only been a problem for the past one or two months. I never had a problem connecting before. Incidentally this is on 3 different computers (including a brand new MAC), so I know it's not a computer problem. So anywaze, I contact Verizon, and I also discovered that the router is only warranted for one year. SAY WHAT? I never bought the router in the first place. It was included wi...

It didn't even take 5 days, for me to receive my first offer for a new American Express (AMEX) Starwood Preferred Guest credit card, since canceling the identical card Monday, because AMEX refused to give me a good will credit for the annual fee. And not only is there no annual fee for the first year with this offer, they're even going to give me 10,000 bonus points for signing up. I only wish someone would explain to me why AMEX would do this? The logic certainly escapes me, but then again I'm only a metallurgical engineer, and not trained in the world of high finance. I actually almost took the bait, but then I figured, why bother? Besides I'm sure I'll get another offer in the mail again shortly. Maybe they'll even up the ante the next time. :)