Question Of The Week: Can I Open A Card If I’m An Authorized User Also?
Our question of the week is a common one: can I open this credit card if I’m an authorized user on it also? I’ve heard this question a lot of times, and the problem is that the answer isn’t clearly written in stone somewhere simple or easy to find. We’ll break down this question and a few caveats that can help you navigate this situation with the different banks.
The Question
Our question of the week comes from David in our Facebook group:
Key Terms
Essentially, David’s question is this:
I’m an authorized user on card x. Can I also get that card for myself and earn the bonus from the welcome offer?
David’s question is about the Platinum Card from American Express, but it applies to all personal cards with all banks.
He used a few abbreviations. You can find those here if any are unfamiliar. And more about the Amex Pop-Up is here.
Authorized User Specifics
To the question at hand.
There can be benefits to adding someone as an authorizer user on your card. You can help boost their credit score or credit history / length. Sometimes, you might get a bonus.
On the flip side, being an authorized user on someone else’s card does not count as you having the card. While the person who adds you to their card may earn a welcome offer or bonus, you didn’t. And you didn’t “have” the card. You were never the main user–the one responsible or paying the bill.
Because credit card application rules are based on YOUR accounts, this shouldn’t affect you.
Navigating The Real-World Application
According to the rules, you didn’t have the card, didn’t earn the welcome offer, so you should be eligible (if you meet the other application rules) for a bonus. There are 2 situations where the bank could ask about this.
1 – Chase 5/24 rule
When you are an authorized user on an account, it should show up on your credit report. That’s if it’s a personal card, which it is in David’s question. If that account is less than 2 years old, the automated computer systems which process your credit card application may count this when adding up the number of accounts you’ve opened recently. If that puts you at 5 or more, Chase could deny your application.
This can be easily remedied during a reconsideration call, though. “I believe you’re counting a card where I’m just an authorized user. I didn’t open that account and am not responsible for the bill.”
2 – If the bank asks why you’re getting the card when you already can enjoy its features
This is definitely not very common, but it happens. A bank asked my wife this during a reconsideration call previously. In their eyes, you already are enjoying the perks of the card. You can use the ‘tap to pay’ and ‘travel insurance’ and other things they advertise as features of the card. Those are well and good.
You know what you don’t get as an authorized user? None of the points earned from your purchases go into your pocket. None of the cash back goes to you. You may not get some of the premium perks that the primary user gets, like elite status or free checked bags if you travel without that person.
That’s an easy point to make if the bank asks. “I see the perks I’m missing and want to have those for myself” and then list the perks the card has. Easy!
Final Thoughts
People ask “can I get this card if I’m an authorized user?” semi-regularly. We looked at the ‘yes’ answer and then a pair of questions you might encounter from banks. Both of them have simple answers I have found effective. If I’m an authorized user on a card, I still can get that card for myself and still should be eligible for its welcome offer.
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