American Express Membership Rewards - Platinum Charge Card Authorized Users

Hi, I have the Plat charge card. I called up today to add a couple of authorized users on my card and I was reluctant to give their SSNs to the rep. I understand that they will overnight the card to your home, but the rep told me that if I did not give SSNs, Amex CANNOT overnight the cards. I thought that was pretty bizzare. What has SSNs got to do with how they mail the cards? Any thoughts or experiences on this?

Thanks.

No experience, but I see an incremental security risk. Let's say I lift your wallet at the airport and watch you board an airplane. I call American Express and have sufficient information from your wallet to authenticate myself as you. I order a couple cards in names for which I have other stolen identification. American Express cannot validate these names against a credit record without Social Security numbers, they are merely names. I know where you live, that the cards will be delivered tomorrow, and that you will probably be away. I intercept the cards.

During the flight you discover that your wallet is missing, and call Amex to report the lost card, but of course you don't report the new cards because you do not even know they exist until the next bill arrives.

It's a nice theory and even a good idea, but I don't buy it. You have to call to activate the cards anyway, and there you'll have to provide lots of other info not necessarily found in the wallet. Amex is also the only one that wants SSNs for the additional cardmembers. Why? It's not their credit. Visa and MC don't require that info. I agree with the OP, we have enough big brother as it is.

My wife and my sales manager have an extension of my Amex, they're both non-US citizens and have no SSN. No problems.

I was trying to get a couple of cards for a office co-worker and his wife. They have a 7 hour layover in LA and they want to use the AA lounge there (flying AA). They have 3 kids and probably hurting for money, so I figured that I would help out a bit (they save $100 for the 2 person pass on AL). They do have SSNs, but I really don't want to know that info. I managed to give bogus birthdates, but I did not want to give bogus SSNs.

They may save the $100, but you will pay that plus more. To get additional Platinum cards, the fee is $175 for the first 3. So, unless you currently pay this fee for your spouse, you may want to look closer.

it has always been pricey to get additional cards, that is one of the major downsides with amex.

They may save the $100, but you will pay that plus more. To get additional Platinum cards, the fee is $175 for the first 3. So, unless you currently pay this fee for your spouse, you may want to look closer.

True, but I am on the deal where first 3 additional cards are free for the first year. And yes, my wife already has one, so the incremental cost was nothing. Thanks for the heads-up.

I was trying to get a couple of cards for a office co-worker and his wife. They have a 7 hour layover in LA and they want to use the AA lounge there (flying AA). They have 3 kids and probably hurting for money, so I figured that I would help out a bit (they save $100 for the 2 person pass on AL). They do have SSNs, but I really don't want to know that info. I managed to give bogus birthdates, but I did not want to give bogus SSNs.

If it's a husband and wife, and you are trying to help them get AA lounge access, why do you need to get them 2 cards?

Pick one of them, and get one card. It grants access for the holder and two guests, or for the holder plus spouse and kids. You don't need both of them to have cards...

If it's a husband and wife, and you are trying to help them get AA lounge access, why do you need to get them 2 cards?

Pick one of them, and get one card. It grants access for the holder and two guests, or for the holder plus spouse and kids. You don't need both of them to have cards...

Oh ok. For some reason, I was under the impression that you can only take 2 kids along with your spouse.

Applied for a supplementary card for my son, supplying all the required information online. (relationship, date of birth, my card details)

Received a letter with a form asking for my card number and printed code, signature and son's signature and d-o-b. Fair enough.

Now, they want more besides...utility bill or similar or bank statement. Had to go to the bank to get one: he has suppressed paper statements, just like AX asked me to do with them.

So now 20 days since I applied, and tomorrow he will be getting on a plane without it. Maybe we'll have a card for when he gets back?