Authorized user with no SSN?
Jun 26, 2015, 8:07 pm
#31
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,774
Why would AmEx ask for social security number for additional user?
I mean, neither citi nor chase ask for SSN of the additional user (they only need a name). Why would American Express want SSN? Does AmEx run credit check on the additional user?
AmEx really makes things difficult for card holders. In addition to asking for SSN of additional user, they also make you wait for a month before you can use your points from last month's statement.
No way I am keeping AmEx after I squeeze out all the benefits.
AmEx really makes things difficult for card holders. In addition to asking for SSN of additional user, they also make you wait for a month before you can use your points from last month's statement.
No way I am keeping AmEx after I squeeze out all the benefits.
Jun 26, 2015, 8:31 pm
#32
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RDU
Programs: DL(PM), UA(Silver), AA(EXP) Marriott(Ti), HH(Gold), Hertz(PC)
Posts: 2,669
I mean, neither citi nor chase ask for SSN of the additional user (they only need a name). Why would American Express want SSN? Does AmEx run credit check on the additional user?
AmEx really makes things difficult for card holders. In addition to asking for SSN of additional user, they also make you wait for a month before you can use your points from last month's statement.
No way I am keeping AmEx after I squeeze out all the benefits.
AmEx really makes things difficult for card holders. In addition to asking for SSN of additional user, they also make you wait for a month before you can use your points from last month's statement.
No way I am keeping AmEx after I squeeze out all the benefits.
On the other hand, they seem to report on the AUs credit file, which can be seen as helpful for those new to credit (say, my kids).
Jun 28, 2015, 3:50 pm
#33
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: SJC
Programs: IC Spire Amb, RC Plat, Shangri-La GC, and more.
Posts: 148
Jun 28, 2015, 7:09 pm
#35
formerly known as s2kdriver80
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Long Island, New York, USA (JFK <--> OTP)
Programs: Delta SkyMiles, SPG, Marriott Rewards, Amex MR, Chase UR
Posts: 317
Stupid question here. If they can add an AU to your account w/o requiring the SSN, how can the AU build credit if that is their intention?
Jun 29, 2015, 6:17 pm
#36
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,774
I honestly don't want to hand them my AU's ID number (of any kind)....
Jul 6, 2015, 9:09 pm
#37
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: SJC
Programs: IC Spire Amb, RC Plat, Shangri-La GC, and more.
Posts: 148
Not sure why Amex is different.
Jul 6, 2015, 9:58 pm
#38
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Arizona
Posts: 5,689
Fliesdelta got it right. Amex will not give a card to AU if they have previous bad experience. Amex will report on AU credit file if you give them a SSN of an AU so it can help the persons credit. But some adjustments by the three large bureaus were made to prevent people building good credit this way.
Jul 7, 2015, 4:05 am
#39
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,774
I ended up giving them a made-up foreign driver license number, and my AU card was activated. It took 30 minutes. It goes to show how AmEx makes things difficult for its card holders.
That does not make any sense. If AmEx had a bad experience with a certain AU in the past, that AU is not the person who's responsible for all the charges (the main card holder is). If AmEx had any bad experience, then it should be directed at the main card holder since the main card holder is responsible for all the charges regardless of how the AU spends the money.
Fliesdelta got it right. Amex will not give a card to AU if they have previous bad experience. Amex will report on AU credit file if you give them a SSN of an AU so it can help the persons credit. But some adjustments by the three large bureaus were made to prevent people building good credit this way.
Last edited by mia; Jul 7, 2015 at 5:19 am Reason: Combined consecutive replies
Jul 7, 2015, 11:06 pm
#41
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Arizona
Posts: 5,689
I tried to add an employee years ago to a small biz open card and the AU was rejected because of loss earlier on another amex product. I think if you read the fine print the AU is also liable for charges on their card.
Jul 8, 2015, 6:49 pm
#42
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
AMEX being provided with false ID number for an AU -- when the borrower is paying the loan in full and made no deliberate or accidental misrepresentations in the course of being granted the initial credit line for the account -- is a big deal for a U.S. prosecutor? Not commonly.
Amex closing accounts out of ID concerns? It's happened before, even when there was no funny business perpetrated by the customer.
Last edited by GUWonder; Jul 8, 2015 at 7:00 pm
Jul 11, 2015, 4:23 am
#43
Join Date: Jun 2015
Posts: 246
I talked to them about adding AU yesterday.
They can put in the app. for AU w/o any identification number and the system will approve it.
What I was told is the system will send out the CC for AU and a letter requesting identification, BUT you don't need to respond to identification requisition to activate the AU's CC.
Basically the identification requisition can be treated as "OPTIONAL"
They can put in the app. for AU w/o any identification number and the system will approve it.
What I was told is the system will send out the CC for AU and a letter requesting identification, BUT you don't need to respond to identification requisition to activate the AU's CC.
Basically the identification requisition can be treated as "OPTIONAL"
Jul 11, 2015, 4:48 am
#44
Join Date: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,774
I talked to them about adding AU yesterday.
They can put in the app. for AU w/o any identification number and the system will approve it.
What I was told is the system will send out the CC for AU and a letter requesting identification, BUT you don't need to respond to identification requisition to activate the AU's CC.
Basically the identification requisition can be treated as "OPTIONAL"
They can put in the app. for AU w/o any identification number and the system will approve it.
What I was told is the system will send out the CC for AU and a letter requesting identification, BUT you don't need to respond to identification requisition to activate the AU's CC.
Basically the identification requisition can be treated as "OPTIONAL"
This really sucks. I just don't understand why AmEx needs to ask for it. The process of adding AU is much easier for Chase or Citi cards.