I activated, that is, I punched numbers on a dial pad after a successful connection to a credit card company telephone line, a credit card I have owned since 2000.
I did this two weeks ago because I saw that American Express offers collision damage waiver insurance. Then I went to the car rental office to make my reservation.

Today I entered the car rental agency to pick up my vehicle and to pay in advance for the rental. I brought my American Express credit card and furnished it for processing. The transaction did not go through. I called American Express and learned my account was closed.

So yes, Americans, you can be given a replacement card and balance transfer checks and be allowed to activate that replacement card when your account is closed. If this makes sense to you please explain it to me. Because I am of little brain and little understanding in this.

I learned my VISA card allows collision damage waiver benefit, but not before an automaton tried to send me to the internet. I am not on the internet 24/7 and needed this information immediately.