NEW YORK POST: American Express beats up on its best customers

AMEX ILLS OF THE VERY WELL HEELED
By JAMES FANELLI
January 4, 2009 --
Even New York professionals raking in six-figure incomes have been sideswiped by the recent credit crunch, with some having their American Express cards unexpectedly canceled.
One jewelry-company exec saw her AmEx credit lines dwindle down even though she had never fallen behind on payments.
Ronnie Dobkin, a card holder since 1997, was embarrassed when her platinum card was declined at a fancy dinner.
"It was totally shocking," Dobkin, 53, told The Post.
About a month ago, Dobkin had taken out a $633,000 mortgage condo. The financing temporarily dropped her credit rating.
According to consumer groups, credit-card issuers have grown tightfisted. "We're always evaluating our risk-management strategies and making changes as needed," said AmEx spokeswoman Lisa Gonzalez.