Chalkie

I have a question the answer to which I am hoping that folks here may know, or at least be able to provide some information for further review or research directions.

A friend of mine was recently widowed. She is a secondary cardholder on her late husband's Centurion card (he has been a Centurion cardholder for many years - greater than 20, I believe). She wants to keep the Centurion card as she likes the benefits (and doesn't mind paying the annual fee; I've suggested she could save some money but she's not really interested in that and frankly it looks like she doesn't need to worry about that). She will be a woman of substance with her inheritance, but she won't have any ongoing employment income, only investment income once she invests the life insurance policies, retirement savings and other testamentary benefits she will receive (which I gather will be high 7 figures; maybe 8).

I assume she will have to apply in her own right for a new Centurion card - but is there any way to avoid having to do so or is there a basis for her to plead her case on the basis of her assets (rather than income). Has anyone had to deal with Amex Centurion in such circumstances, or have any advice or information on what to do / where to start?

newbie88

Usually when the primary card holder dies the account becomes void. So your friend will have to "apply" for the card.

LondonElite

I agree. I don't think there is a grandfathering clause for this situation, she'll have to reapply. I don''t know, but I can imagine Amex being happy to extend membership to her.

MSPeconomist

If there isn't a process to apply to transfer the account to her, she will probably have to pay the initial fee again. She might be able to request to continue to work with the same Centurion employee.


Ten million in financial assets (not counting the home, etc.) would mean $500,000 pretax annual income using a 5% guideline. That's not enormous for Centurion.

mia

I would read here: https://www.americanexpress.com/us/h...rdmembers.html

There is a process for taking over an account, but I do not know if Centurion accounts are eligible,

Chalkie

That's very helpful. Thanks so much.

Hipplewm

Depending on the amount of points on the account, transferring them over could be worth a significant amount of money as well

newbie88

You may also want to warn your friend that making any purchases after her husband's death maybe illegal.

LondonElite

Against Amex policy possibly, but unlikely to be ‘illegal’ in a criminal context. Especially if the friend is the beneficiary.

s0ssos

Why say something if you aren't certain?

Anyway the smart thing is not to transfer points but just to use them. She shouldn't notify Amex that her husband has died, until she has taken care of the stuff in the account (like points).

Often1

Someone who left an estate in the neighborhood of $10 Million (remember, that was just the life insurance) is likely to have a professional retained to handle the estate. In fact, more than simply an executor/administrator, but also tax counsel and perhaps an accountant. One of the first things that any professional would do is to notify all identifiable creditors of the death.

Bleeding off points post-mortem on Centurion with a $10 Million + estate simply puts the professionals in an awkward and perhaps quite adverse position during the probate and other settlement processes.

This will cause others on the account to be contacted to determine what, if anything, they wish to do about further credit. Best that she get the Centurion issue affirmatively settled and not wait.

newbie88

Its one thing to be the beneficiary of the will and another to have that will to go through probate. Strange things can happen in probate.

I think using points after the date of death will not win points with amex especially if you are trying to retain the card/apply for the card.

MSPeconomist

That professional should be able to advise the survivor about keeping the AmEx account too, although hopefully the professional didn't already contact AmEx without telling the person or warning her to avoid using the card in the meantime.

AFAM-DFW

Per #2 in the below page of creditcards.com, use of a deceased person's credit card is fraud. As a practical matter though, the credit card company won't complain as long as they get paid.

https://www.creditcards.com/credit-c...ving%20spouse.

On the takeover of account Amex page, I read it to be more about how an executor can get access to see charges to the account and make payments.

MSPeconomist

Is that the same as the use of one's *own* card as an authorized user on a deceased person's account? What if the authorized user isn't immediately notified of the death?