Another Great Reason to Use American Express

Most people know that American Express has solid customer service, which is one of the many reasons consumers choose to use their credit cards, but the way they handle credit card fraud and simple disputes is perhaps the most useful feature of the card issuer.

The way their dispute system works is beyond simple. You dispute a charge or claim credit card fraud and American Express refunds the amount of the charge.

In the eyes of American Express, the cardholder is always right, and the merchant is always wrong. This is the reason many merchants don’t accept American Express as a payment option.

American Express also charges merchants a bit more per transaction than Visa and MasterCard, and merchants assume anyone carrying an American Express credit card will also have a Visa or MasterCard in their purse or wallet.

You’ll never see a merchant that accepts credit cards not accept Visa or MasterCard, but you will come across merchants who firmly say no to American Express. Many of these merchants know about the excellent refund policy, and realize they have little chance of disputing a cardholder’s claims unless they choose to go to court, which typically isn’t worth the trouble.

The fraud/dispute system is more complicated with other credit card issuers such as Chase or Citibank. With these companies you have to fill out the fraud or dispute claim and watch a back and forth game between the merchant and the card issuer go on before you ultimately do or do not get the charge refunded.

American Express takes the guessing and the legwork out of the process by defaulting in favor of the cardholder every time a dispute or fraud takes place.

Check out the Blue from American Express and the Blue Cash, both are fee-free and offer great rewards.

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