American Express — CFPB Complaint Data
Data source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. Data current as of August 9, 2026. View the live CFPB record.
A CFPB complaint means a consumer submitted a complaint against American Express and the company was given a chance to respond — it isn't a lawsuit, a fine, or a verified finding that the company did something wrong. Raw complaint counts also aren't adjusted for company size: a large national company will show more complaints than a small one even if it handles a lower share of its accounts poorly.
49% of American Express's complaints on record are about "took or threatened to take negative or legal action" — the single most common issue category.
Top complaint issues
The specific problems people reported, most common first.
- Took or threatened to take negative or legal action — what to do234
- Attempts to collect debt not owed — what to do142
- Written notification about debt — what to do47
- False statements or representation16
- Communication tactics — what to do16
Complaint trend (monthly)
State distribution
Where complaints against American Express are coming from.
Have a problem with American Express?
A CFPB complaint is free, takes about 10 minutes, and generally requires American Express to respond within 15 days. Before you file: attach documents (statements, letters, screenshots), be specific about the product and problem, and state exactly what resolution you want.