Amex debt advice

ihatethree

Hi,
I've had a Amex blue credit card for a few years now. About 3 years ago they wrote to me telling me they were stopping my card and were putting me on 'fixed monthly payments' until the balance was paid off. The card was never overlimit and not in arrears, at least not for more than a day or two.
The payments were set at the 2.5% of the outstanding balance at the time, which made it £80 per month. I didn'y pay much attention to it, my attitude was that if they didn'y want my custom that was fine.
I carried on paying this amount, although I didn't notice but the payment amounts didn't come down with the balance.
About 6 months ago due to the downturn I found it increasingly difficult to meet the monthly payments, so I contacted Amex and explained that I could not afford the £80, but offered £40 per month. This I pointed out was still well above the 2.5% minimum payment, which would have been about £25. They did not want to know. I carried on paying what I could, not always the full £80 but always more than £25. A few more phone calls went backwards and forwards, I also sent them several letters but I did not recieve one written reply. I then raised a complaint with the Financial Ombudsman. Again I recieved no reply so I have now escalated this complaint.

Three days ago I logged onto their account to make a payment, to find a message that they had cancelled my account and I was unable to make a payment.
Today I got a phone call from a debt collection agency called RMA, this got a bit heated as they didn't seem to understand plain English, or simple mathematics, first telling me that I need to pay off the whole balance and then saying they want it over 2 months.
I told them that there is no way I can do that so they have demanded I send them details of all my income and outgoings, and copies of bank statements, so they can decide what I can afford to pay!
It also turns out from this phone call that Amex were (conveniently) still using my old address. THis is rubbish as I phoned them when I moved house (18 months ago) to inform them, and every letter I've sent has been from my new address. They also tried to tell me that when Amex initially stopped my card they changed the t+c's on the account and could therefore demand what they wanted. I was not informed of this in writing and certainly didn't sign any agreement pertaining to this.
The current balance is a little over £500. I have been advised to keep sending Amex payments as they cannot reject them, and all the while I pay above the minimum payment there is nothing they can do, but this phone call has really annoyed me. Can anone advise me how I should proceed?

Thanks very much

bengalknights

Get in touch with your local DMP/CAB who will act on your behalf in dealing with amex and the debt collectors.