AMEX Assurance Company / American Express Car Rental Insurance Loss of use not paid for even though policy says it is covered Nationwide

I signed up for premium car rental coverage through American Express several years ago.  I am charged a one time fee of $20 to have added insurance coverage on my rental vehicle.  Most of it is redundant to my personal auto policy but I prefered to use it instead of a $500 deductable and claim on my personal policy. 

However, the $500 deductible would have been cheaper.  According to the AMEX policy they do not pay for any administrative cost the rental car company charges nor do they cover the diminution of value.  That is in the fine print, which of course I didn't read until I had an dent in my fender.  As a matter of fact the dent was so insignificant that neither I nor the person checking in the vehicle saw it as we checked in the vehicle.  However, several days later I got a call saying there was a dent. Since I had full coverage I didn't even argue, just said ok and gave them my information as well as calling AMEX and giving them the info.

AMEX did not pay the claim.  I spent many hours on the phone with Alamo and AMEX doing the leg work for the claim.  AMEX did finally pay the cost of repairs.  That was when I learned the administrative fee of $100 and the diminution of value was $98 (that's how insignificant the dent was).  However, the loss of use was charged at the highest full daily rate and was charged for 5 days.  $342.  Alamo Rental Car would not provide proof of loss of use and stated that they do not have to provide that information by law.  AMEX said they would not pay loss of use without proof and that is their policy.  So I went looking "again" at the fine print.  It states loss of use is a covered option.  Then if you meander down into the 27 pages of document you will find notice that is proof is not provided by rental company AMEX will not pay.  So there you have it. $540.38 later, many many hours on the phone with rental car company, AMEX insurance and my attorney (which didn't even make either company blink) I would have been better off to use either the standard coverage on any credit card or my personal insurance.

Needless to say I will not be using AMEX assurance for my rental car insurance nor will I be renting from Alamo Rental Car who I believe over inflated all cost for repairs and especially loss of use!

SPxxxxx