Amex addit'l card holder
Mar 24, 2009 | 8:09 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 4
Amex addit'l card holder
My ex bf had his best friend on his amex as an additional card member, when he moved he called the company to have him removed as the additional holder but the company told him the act holder had to call which apparently he never did and of course the card defaulted with debt and was never paid. My question is, now I wanted to put him as an add'l card holder on my amex platinum travel card, terms say must not have defaulted on an amex acct. Will i be able to add him as an add'l card holder or is he considered to have defaulted also even tho he was just an additional card holder? Everytime i try to call for questions i can't get any help. Would anyone help me out?
Mar 24, 2009 | 9:42 pm
#2
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: USA
Posts: 3,948
My ex bf had his best friend on his amex as an additional card member, when he moved he called the company to have him removed as the additional holder but the company told him the act holder had to call which apparently he never did and of course the card defaulted with debt and was never paid. My question is, now I wanted to put him as an add'l card holder on my amex platinum travel card, terms say must not have defaulted on an amex acct. Will i be able to add him as an add'l card holder or is he considered to have defaulted also even tho he was just an additional card holder? Everytime i try to call for questions i can't get any help. Would anyone help me out?
I was able to add my friend, who was in default with Amex to my SPG business card.
PS: Welcome to Flyertalk
Mar 24, 2009 | 10:07 pm
#3
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 166
My ex bf had his best friend on his amex as an additional card member, when he moved he called the company to have him removed as the additional holder but the company told him the act holder had to call which apparently he never did and of course the card defaulted with debt and was never paid. My question is, now I wanted to put him as an add'l card holder on my amex platinum travel card, terms say must not have defaulted on an amex acct. Will i be able to add him as an add'l card holder or is he considered to have defaulted also even tho he was just an additional card holder? Everytime i try to call for questions i can't get any help. Would anyone help me out?
As far as I can see, I don't think they can penalize you for not knowing if he can or cannot be added to your account.
I believe it will do both of you more good if your ex would try to clean up his credit history. At least, notify the credit card company that he is no longer an authorized user in writing and dispute the record with credit bureaus.
Welcome to FT!
Mar 24, 2009 | 11:07 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 4
Sorry i guess i was a little confusing. I am actually trying to help my friend out who was the add'l auth user not the actual acct holder. He just doesnt have too much of a credit history and i figured i'd help him out. the ex bf was the one who defaulted, i just wasn't sure if my friend (not the ex) would be considered to have defaulted since he was never actually removed when he requested from the ex's (acct holder) acct prior to defaulting on the card.
Thank you for taking the time to help btw..
Thank you for taking the time to help btw..
Mar 24, 2009 | 11:17 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: CLT
Posts: 7,249
I don't believe AMEX does a pull on an authorized user since they are not liable for the bill. How much information do you need to fill out on the authorized user? I've added authorized users with just a name with some issuers, but haven't tried on AMEX.
The friend would be better off trying to build credit in his own name through a secured card or something of that nature. I would personally never add a friend as an authorized user of my cards...or if I did I would never actually release the card to that person.
ETA: to add an additional card to my hilton amex it wanted DOB and SSN, but didn't say if they were required or not.
The friend would be better off trying to build credit in his own name through a secured card or something of that nature. I would personally never add a friend as an authorized user of my cards...or if I did I would never actually release the card to that person.
ETA: to add an additional card to my hilton amex it wanted DOB and SSN, but didn't say if they were required or not.
Last edited by gj83; Mar 24, 2009 at 11:48 pm
Mar 25, 2009 | 2:23 am
#7
In memoriam
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 4,020
Shouldn't this thread be in the Amex forum?
By the way, as I understand it, the credit of the authorized user is irrelevant to the account; it is only the credit of the actual account "owner" that matters. And, remember, it is very, very dangerous to add authorized users to an account. You are really lending them money. And that can lead to big problems.
By the way, as I understand it, the credit of the authorized user is irrelevant to the account; it is only the credit of the actual account "owner" that matters. And, remember, it is very, very dangerous to add authorized users to an account. You are really lending them money. And that can lead to big problems.
Mar 25, 2009 | 12:51 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 166
Sorry i guess i was a little confusing. I am actually trying to help my friend out who was the add'l auth user not the actual acct holder. He just doesnt have too much of a credit history and i figured i'd help him out. the ex bf was the one who defaulted, i just wasn't sure if my friend (not the ex) would be considered to have defaulted since he was never actually removed when he requested from the ex's (acct holder) acct prior to defaulting on the card.
Thank you for taking the time to help btw..
Thank you for taking the time to help btw..
Setting the relationship matters aside, you are basically wondering if you can add a person who is an authorized user on a defaulted account.
Like many have mentioned already, I think it is a risky move on both of you without much benefit.
At least take care of the current issue first, remove him from the defaulted account and clean up the credit history before move on.