Credit Card Programs - How does the authorized user concept work - can my wife add me as authorized user?

How does the authorized user concept work?

My wife would be a first time applicant for Marriott Chase Visa credit card. She will get 50K points on her newly formed Marriott account after first use. She does not travel on business at all, and is planning to add me as authorized user.

So when I use the Marriott Chase visa card now to pay for my business travel, do the Credit card related points go to my Marriott account or my wife's?

And will the folio mention her name as the card owner or will it be my name? Because in order for me to get reimbursed from my company, I definitely need the folio credit card mentioned to be in my name

Thanks in advance.

Your wife's - the charges and the related earned points always go to the Primary owner of the card.

The primary owner also is responsible for all the charges made by any authorized user.

In other words, unless the authorized user is a trusted one, dont ever add someone to your account as authorized user, because all the obligations remain with the primary owner of the card, no matter what.

When you get your authorized user card, the card bears your name, so the folio using the card would be in your name - however the points will go to 2 different places - charges on the card goes to her's, stay earning goes to yours.

The authorized card itself has your name, but the account is in your wife's name. Basically, as far as any merchant is concerned, it's your card. As far as the bank is concerned, it's your wife's account only.

Hmmm....I see a disconnect in the above 2 answers.

Scenario - my wife has primry card, and I'm authorized user.

I purchase gasoline at the pump. Whose name appears on the pump receipt?

Hmmm....I see a disconnect in the above 2 answers.

Scenario - my wife has primry card, and I'm authorized user.

I purchase gasoline at the pump. Whose name appears on the pump receipt?

If you use your plastic, on your wife's account, which has your name on it, your name will appear on the receipt.

All points earned on the card will accrue to your wife's account.

Hmmm....I see a disconnect in the above 2 answers.

Scenario - my wife has primry card, and I'm authorized user.

I purchase gasoline at the pump. Whose name appears on the pump receipt?

My response was meant to agree with Happy's post. Sorry if it was confusing to you. The gasoline station is the merchant, so yes, as far as they are concerned, it is your card and your name will be on the receipt. However, with your bank, all charges show on your wife's account and your wife is responsible for paying it off.

Just to add to the discussion: it took me a while (and many missed opportunities) to realize that being an authorized user on an account does not limit one from opening their own account.

I can add my wife as an authorized user for my UA Mileage Explorer card then later she can get her own UA Mileage Explorer card. This can help when trying to meet minimum spend and you want both parties spending on one account.

Just to add to the discussion: it took me a while (and many missed opportunities) to realize that being an authorized user on an account does not limit one from opening their own account.

I can add my wife as an authorized user for my UA Mileage Explorer card then later she can get her own UA Mileage Explorer card. This can help when trying to meet minimum spend and you want both parties spending on one account.

You can definitely do this. In my late teen years I gave my dad an additional card to help me meet minimum spends. My parents occasionally had two of the same cards, one of their own and an additional card from the other. Sometimes cards will also give bonus points/miles for adding an additional user.

Sometimes cards will also give bonus points/miles for adding an additional user.
When they do that, how do you add an additional user if you live alone (and far from any relatives), if the only "real" reason you're interested in an additional user is for the extra bonus points/miles? Can you name someone else and then not give them card? Does the card typically have to be used? If so, can you use it yourself in a case where the card is not checked against the name (say, at an automated kiosk)?

When they do that, how do you add an additional user if you live alone (and far from any relatives), if the only "real" reason you're interested in an additional user is for the extra bonus points/miles? Can you name someone else and then not give them card? Does the card typically have to be used? If so, can you use it yourself in a case where the card is not checked against the name (say, at an automated kiosk)?

Sure, you can request an additional card for anyone. There's no need to use it. If you don't plan on using it, you could just cut it up and throw it out. Remember, all additional cards are "your" cards. Since they charge to your account, you're responsible for it, not anyone else. Also, additional cards usually have the same exact card number (Amex issues cards with different numbers, I believe).

my experience is you need to supply DOB &SSN for the authorized user. The history also reports on their credit report.

When they do that, how do you add an additional user if you live alone (and far from any relatives), if the only "real" reason you're interested in an additional user is for the extra bonus points/miles? Can you name someone else and then not give them card? Does the card typically have to be used? If so, can you use it yourself in a case where the card is not checked against the name (say, at an automated kiosk)?

Definitely.

You dont even need to give the AU the physical card.

In many cases the AU cards dont need to be used in order to earn bonus. Though some offers (from AMEX last year's madness) the bonus came from AU's meeting a spend requirement.

BTW, AMEX is the only issuer requires AU's SSN in order to issue an AU card which also has a different card number than the Primary's card. Still, all the responsibilities are laid squarely with the primary user's account.

Do online purchase so no ID verification is ever needed if the AU card must be used or meet spend requirement to get bonus. Otherwise, cut it up and cancel the AU cards a few months later after the bonuses are posted.

my experience is you need to supply DOB &SSN for the authorized user. The history also reports on their credit report.

Only for AMEX's cards.

Chase does not ask for anything.

Couples' credit reports often show AU information even without DOB or SSN info - because over the years the credit reporting bureaux tend to merge info with the same address etc.

In fact on our reports, EQ erroneously merged my employment history to my husband's report several years ago - making his employment history does not make any sense when one actually looks at the time line... but so far nobody ever asks anything about it, despite several doz cards have already gone thru.:rolleyes:

my experience is you need to supply DOB &SSN for the authorized user. The history also reports on their credit report.

Is the authorized users report also pulled when adding them during the application process?

Is the authorized users report also pulled when adding them during the application process?

No, because no new credit is being extended. However, being an authorized user will show up on your credit report (in terms of which cards you hold).

No, because no new credit is being extended. However, being an authorized user will show up on your credit report (in terms of which cards you hold).

Is this amex only? Otherwise how can being an authorized user show up without providing ssn (assuming not a couple)?

No, because no new credit is being extended. However, being an authorized user will show up on your credit report (in terms of which cards you hold).

Thanks, I was looking over the apps for the Chase Ink and Amex SPG cards, both ask for AU's SSN #. I was afraid to apply when I saw this because I didn't want AU's credit pulled since AU will be applying for same exact cards in own name too. I've been AU on other Chase and Amex cards and SSN was not requested so I was hesitant.

Thanks, I was looking over the apps for the Chase Ink and Amex SPG cards, both ask for AU's SSN #. I was afraid to apply when I saw this because I didn't want AU's credit pulled since AU will be applying for same exact cards in own name too. I've been AU on other Chase and Amex cards and SSN was not requested so I was hesitant.

So my wife is an AU in my Chase Sapphire Card, if she wants to apply for her own Chase Sapphire Card she would not be able to get the (card/sign up bonus) because she is already an AU with my card?

So my wife is an AU in my Chase Sapphire Card, if she wants to apply for her own Chase Sapphire Card she would not be able to get the (card/sign up bonus) because she is already an AU with my card?

No, this is false. Being an AU has no bearing on that person getting the same card for him/herself.

The person you quoted was asking about hard credit pulls.

Also, if you read the first page of the thread, you would've found the answer to your question there.

No, this is false. Being an AU has no bearing on that person getting the same card for him/herself.

The person you quoted was asking about hard credit pulls.

Yes, was just wondering about hard pulls. I read an SPG master thread post where someone added AU later on and when Amex requested SSN they declined giving info and still got AU card. As an AU on other Amex and Chase cards I've never been required to give my SSN, so I was surprised when I saw it on those apps. Cards always end up on my CR anyway because same household.

No, because no new credit is being extended. However, being an authorized user will show up on your credit report (in terms of which cards you hold).

This isn't necessarily true. My brother has been an authorized user on a few of my mom's CCs for over a decade. But he applied for a car loan a few weeks ago and was denied. His credit report was non-existent...he had no score because he has no record of any credit...no credit cards, nothing. Can anyone explain why that is?

P.S. The dealer asked if he had been in jail or in witness protection. ;) Nope..would have made for a fun explanation though!