i cannot understand why american express keeps giving me grief with my credit card - every other purchase i make results in it being cancelled and my having to call them to get it reinstated. their only saving grace is that they have impeccable customer service, none of this 'please hold the line, all our representatives are busy [beethoven's ninth]' business, just immediate connection, please fix my problem, thank you very much. nevertheless, they really ought to get their act together - especially for time-sensitive purchases like the one i just had to make (airline ticket, price increasing possibly as i write this).