additonal cardholder
Apr 5, 2005, 4:31 am
#16
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Edinburgh, UK
Programs: BA Gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 968
My friend was declined a card (by 1 point if that means anything). I kindly offered him an additional card on my account. He was happy, no annual fee and I get his MR points 
The CSR told him that if he is put on as additional card holder, he would probably be accepted in 6 months if he reapplied.
All my additional card holders can call up CS. Unless I authorise them, they are not allowed to know the full balance (only what they have spent), change any of the main account details. They are also not allowed to know who else has a card on my account. My Gold cardholders have been told they should call up the Plat line and are able to use the concierge and travel services etc
Chris
The CSR told him that if he is put on as additional card holder, he would probably be accepted in 6 months if he reapplied.
All my additional card holders can call up CS. Unless I authorise them, they are not allowed to know the full balance (only what they have spent), change any of the main account details. They are also not allowed to know who else has a card on my account. My Gold cardholders have been told they should call up the Plat line and are able to use the concierge and travel services etc
Chris
Apr 5, 2005, 5:21 pm
#17
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: DCA/IAD
Programs: AA Gold, Amex Plat
Posts: 4,007
Originally Posted by 925
No. It neither hurts nor helps. Unless you fail to pay the bill.
It's especially useful for parents who want to help build their college age child's credit history. Even if they don't give the child an additional card, they can put him or her on as an authorized user, and the account will report to the credit bureaus, e.g., as "open since 1976" (or however long the parent has had an Amex card). A long account history is always a plus on a credit report, even if such account reports as "open" before the child was even born!
You do have to provide the additional cardholder's SSN to Amex for it to show up on his or her credit reports, however.