The Master Credit Card & Authorized User AU Social Security Number SSN Thread

[BobWang]

ASK

American Express (5 AUs)

Bank of America (Reports AU if address is the same)

Barclays

Capital One (Asks for Employer, Address, DOB, mother's maiden name, 5 AUs)

Citi

NFCU

PenFed (Mail back pdf, DOB & Relationship)

RBS

UMB (Snail mail form for AUs, Relationship)

USAA (Phone, DOB & Relationship, AU also becomes USAA member)

USBank (Fax pdf form back, 4 AUs)

 

 

DON'T ASK

CFNA (Firestone)

Chase

Discover Card (9 AUs)

GEMB (4 AUs)

Lexus

State Farm

 

 

CAN GIVE

?

 

 

CAN'T GIVE

HSBC will not take SSN of AU (Will report if AU has same address)

^

[Lummy]

ASK

American Express (5 AUs)

Bank of America (Reports AU if address is the same)

Barclays

Capital One (Asks for Employer, Address, DOB, mother's maiden name, 5 AUs)

Citi

NFCU

PenFed (Mail back pdf, DOB & Relationship)

RBS

UMB (Snail mail form for AUs, Relationship)

USAA (Phone, DOB & Relationship, AU also becomes USAA member)

USBank (Fax pdf form back, 4 AUs)

 

 

DON'T ASK

CFNA (Firestone)

Chase

Discover Card (9 AUs)

GEMB (4 AUs)

Lexus

State Farm

 

 

CAN GIVE

?

 

 

CAN'T GIVE

HSBC will not take SSN of AU (Will report if AU has same address)

^

 

2 points to add

1) I asked BOA if I should choose "Wife" or other for my Fiance. They said it didn't matter because they don't report AU's.

2) I tried to add SO to HSBC. They said they made a business decision not to allow AU's

[BobWang]

ASK

American Express (5 AUs)

Bank of America (Reports AU if address is the same) (May no longer report AUs)

Barclays

Capital One (Asks for Employer, Address, DOB, mother's maiden name, 5 AUs)

Citi

NFCU

PenFed (Mail back pdf, DOB & Relationship)

RBS

UMB (Snail mail form for AUs, Relationship)

USAA (Phone, DOB & Relationship, AU also becomes USAA member)

USBank (Fax pdf form back, 4 AUs)

 

 

DON'T ASK

CFNA (Firestone)

Chase

Discover Card (9 AUs)

GEMB (4 AUs)

Lexus

State Farm

 

 

CAN GIVE

?

 

 

CAN'T GIVE

HSBC will not take SSN of AU (Will report if AU has same address) (May no longer add AUs)

[BobWang]

^

[cheafie]

If you call US Bank to add an AU, they don't ask.

 

If you submit the form and fax/mail, they do.

[BobWang]

ASK

American Express (5 AUs)

Bank of America (Reports AU if address is the same) (May no longer report AUs)

Barclays

Capital One (Asks for Employer, Address, DOB, mother's maiden name, 5 AUs)

Citi

NFCU

PenFed (Mail back pdf, DOB & Relationship)

RBS

UMB (Snail mail form for AUs, Relationship)

USAA (Phone, DOB & Relationship, AU also becomes USAA member)

US Bank (Fax pdf form back, 4 AUs)

 

 

DON'T ASK

CFNA (Firestone)

Chase

Discover Card (9 AUs)

GEMB (4 AUs)

Lexus

State Farm

US Bank (No ask if you call in)

 

 

CAN GIVE

?

 

 

CAN'T GIVE

HSBC will not take SSN of AU (Will report if AU has same address) (May no longer add AUs)

[mikedub87]

Mr. Wang,

Let me preface this by saying thanks in advance, and sorry if this has been asked already as Im sure it has, I just cant find it.

 

1) Could you please elaborate more on AMEX and how it is negative for me to be added to a cardholder's account? My situation- Score is about 590. My dads is 740 with a solid credit history. He has an AMEX opened in 1982 that has a pristine history. Obviously if I could get added to that, along with some Department Store Charge Cards from the 80s, and an older Discover card, it would really help improve my score. Are you saying:

 

a) AMEX would tell me to go F myself after pulling my credit, and Id be denied

they would approve me as a joint cardholder but then would stand over my dad like a schoolyard bully, and if he tried to get future cards from them, they would deny him?

c) Amex would tell me to go F myself and deny me, and then for my dad trying to add a low credit score person, they would then blacklist him and screw him for future cards?

 

2) When you say ask/dont ask, I understand who does and doesnt based to your awesome posts above, but a) does that mean if they "ASK you for a SS#", then you will be denied since you have a low score, and its not even worth trying to get added because you wont get approved and you will also get hit with a hard inquiry pull, or does it mean you will get added, but also have a hard inquiry? (which in that case its worth the inquiry to me if I can get added to an aged Citi, if thats all Im getting dinged with)

 

3) Do the original cardholders get hit with an additional hard inquiry to, or just me?

 

Thanks sir. Much appreciation for your answers.

[BobWang]

Mr. Wang,

Let me preface this by saying thanks in advance, and sorry if this has been asked already as Im sure it has, I just cant find it.

 

1) Could you please elaborate more on AMEX and how it is negative for me to be added to a cardholder's account? My situation- Score is about 590. My dads is 740 with a solid credit history. He has an AMEX opened in 1982 that has a pristine history. Obviously if I could get added to that, along with some Department Store Charge Cards from the 80s, and an older Discover card, it would really help improve my score. Are you saying:

 

a) AMEX would tell me to go F myself after pulling my credit, and Id be denied If you are blacklisted, AmEx will deny without pulling.

they would approve me as a joint cardholder but then would stand over my dad like a schoolyard bully, and if he tried to get future cards from them, they would deny him? There is some guilt-by-association practiced at AmEx.

c) Amex would tell me to go F myself and deny me, and then for my dad trying to add a low credit score person, they would then blacklist him and screw him for future cards? Your dad may be in for a full Financial Review, no problem if tax returns reflect applications.

 

2) When you say ask/dont ask, I understand who does and doesnt based to your awesome posts above, but a) does that mean if they "ASK you for a SS#", then you will be denied since you have a low score, and its not even worth trying to get added because you wont get approved and you will also get hit with a hard inquiry pull, or does it mean you will get added, but also have a hard inquiry? (which in that case its worth the inquiry to me if I can get added to an aged Citi, if thats all Im getting dinged with) No hard inquiries for AUs, ASKING for SSN just increases the chances that the AU account will report to CRAs

 

3) Do the original cardholders get hit with an additional hard inquiry to, or just me? No additional hard inquiries for either.

 

Thanks sir. Much appreciation for your answers.

[mikedub87]

Thanks BW....FWIW, my dad called AMEX about something else yesterday and I listened on the other line since he was going to ask about this later in the call to gauge their reaction. Instead, before he got a chance to even ask one question, the CSR put the full court press on him on trying to add AU's to the card! She was really giving him the hard sell on why he should do it, to the point that it was clear that the CSR's are probably having a monthly contest or getting a bonus for every added AU.

 

He even went as far as to ask her that if he put his son on, would it help him with his credit and she said absolutely, I recommend it. lol....The sell was you can add up to 5 users now for free, and then following year its $35, so maybe AMEX is just assuming hey at least we can make $35 from this somehow. Moving forward, he did add me and she asked for the social and after about 2 seconds was excited and said approved. lol, so im not seeing any stringency over there, at least with the case that I had.

 

My take from it is it's probably safe, just dont abuse it and draw attention to it, even though as I said, AMEX is actually suggesting it when you call in. I will let you know if it starts showing up in my credit report though as its a moot point if it does not.

Edited August 9, 2012 by mikedub87

[BobWang]

When you get your AmEx, if it doesn't say "Member Since 1982", have your dad call to backdate your account.

[mikedub87]

When you get your AmEx, if it doesn't say "Member Since 1982", have your dad call to backdate your account.

 

Thanks Bob!

[WAD]

Bob,

 

Do you know if USBank reports AUs? If so, do they report them even if they live at another address?

 

I have read Macy's reports, but have no first hand experience yet.

 

Discover and Chase will report even without SS#. This works mostly if you live at the same address or if you add the AU to an account that for sure reports such as Citi. Citi will update their report with your address.

[BobWang]

Bob,

 

Do you know if USBank reports AUs? If so, do they report them even if they live at another address?

 

I have read Macy's reports, but have no first hand experience yet.

 

Discover and Chase will report even without SS#. This works mostly if you live at the same address or if you add the AU to an account that for sure reports such as Citi. Citi will update their report with your address.

My Lexus Visa Siggy, issued by US Bank, does not report my AUs.

[WAD]

Bummer Bob.

 

Macy's allows 8 AUs. Does not ask for nor will include SSN. They will report individuals who have same address as you. . Similar to Chase and Discover. Add to list please.

[WAD]

Oh also add HSBC please. They'll report only same address and do not take SSN. They can add it as a "note", but this does nothing.

[BobWang]

Bummer Bob.

 

Macy's allows 8 AUs. Does not ask for nor will include SSN. They will report individuals who have same address as you. . Similar to Chase and Discover. Add to list please.

Oh, my US Bank AUs have different addresses, maybe that's why they don't report.

[BobWang]

ASK

American Express (5 AUs)

Bank of America (Reports AU if address is the same) (May no longer report AUs)

Barclays

Capital One (Asks for Employer, Address, DOB, mother's maiden name, 5 AUs)

Citi

NFCU

PenFed (Mail back pdf, DOB & Relationship)

RBS

UMB (Snail mail form for AUs, Relationship)

USAA (Phone, DOB & Relationship, AU also becomes USAA member)

US Bank (Fax pdf form back, 4 AUs)

 

 

DON'T ASK

CFNA (Firestone)

Chase (Report AUs at same address)

Discover Card (9 AUs, Report AUs at same address)

GEMB (4 AUs)

Lexus

Macy's (8 AUs, Report AUs at same address)

State Farm

US Bank (No ask if you call in)

 

 

CAN GIVE

?

 

 

CAN'T GIVE

HSBC will not take SSN of AU (Will report if AU has same address) (May no longer add AUs)

[WAD]

Bob,

 

There are tricks to getting all of these that only do "same address" to report.

 

1) You must add the individual to a card that for sure reports them based on their SSN, such as Barclay or Citi, Cap One, etc.

-- This will update their credit profile with your address once Barclay, Citi, etc report them.

 

2) Once the other cards have reported them, your address should appear on their report. Now add them to the "address must match" cards. They should report.

 

This is not a "guaranteed" way, but it works pretty often.

 

 

Bummer Bob.

 

Macy's allows 8 AUs. Does not ask for nor will include SSN. They will report individuals who have same address as you. . Similar to Chase and Discover. Add to list please.

Oh, my US Bank AUs have different addresses, maybe that's why they don't report.

[BobWang]

Bob,

 

There are tricks to getting all of these that only do "same address" to report.

 

1) You must add the individual to a card that for sure reports them based on their SSN, such as Barclay or Citi, Cap One, etc.

-- This will update their credit profile with your address once Barclay, Citi, etc report them.

 

2) Once the other cards have reported them, your address should appear on their report. Now add them to the "address must match" cards. They should report.

 

This is not a "guaranteed" way, but it works pretty often.

Good point, if you don't mind, I'm going to add this piece of advice to the list.

[BobWang]

Bob,

 

There are tricks to getting all of these that only do "same address" to report.

 

1) You must add the individual to a card that for sure reports them based on their SSN, such as Barclay or Citi, Cap One, etc.

-- This will update their credit profile with your address once Barclay, Citi, etc report them.

 

2) Once the other cards have reported them, your address should appear on their report. Now add them to the "address must match" cards. They should report.

 

This is not a "guaranteed" way, but it works pretty often.

 

ASK

American Express (5 AUs)

Bank of America (Reports AU if address is the same) (May no longer report AUs)

Barclays

Capital One (Asks for Employer, Address, DOB, mother's maiden name, 5 AUs)

Citi

NFCU

PenFed (Mail back pdf, DOB & Relationship)

RBS

UMB (Snail mail form for AUs, Relationship)

USAA (Phone, DOB & Relationship, AU also becomes USAA member)

US Bank (Fax pdf form back, 4 AUs)

 

 

DON'T ASK

CFNA (Firestone)

Chase (Report AUs at same address)

Discover Card (9 AUs, Report AUs at same address)

GEMB (4 AUs)

Lexus

Macy's (8 AUs, Report AUs at same address)

State Farm

US Bank (No ask if you call in)

 

 

CAN GIVE

?

 

 

CAN'T GIVE

HSBC will not take SSN of AU (Will report if AU has same address) (May no longer add AUs)

[deemac]

My HSBC card was acquired by Cap1. (I was a little surprised because I knew that Household Bank branded cards were going there, but thought the HSBC one was not.) I added my kids just last week, though I had to call in to do it as the online page for that is disabled. They did ask me for the ss# of each.

 

 

 

ASK

American Express (5 AUs)

Bank of America (Reports AU if address is the same)

Barclays

Capital One (Asks for Employer, Address, DOB, mother's maiden name, 5 AUs)

Citi

NFCU

PenFed (Mail back pdf, DOB & Relationship)

RBS

UMB (Snail mail form for AUs, Relationship)

USAA (Phone, DOB & Relationship, AU also becomes USAA member)

USBank (Fax pdf form back, 4 AUs)

 

 

DON'T ASK

CFNA (Firestone)

Chase

Discover Card (9 AUs)

GEMB (4 AUs)

Lexus

State Farm

 

 

CAN GIVE

?

 

 

CAN'T GIVE

HSBC will not take SSN of AU (Will report if AU has same address)

^

 

2 points to add

1) I asked BOA if I should choose "Wife" or other for my Fiance. They said it didn't matter because they don't report AU's.

2) I tried to add SO to HSBC. They said they made a business decision not to allow AU's

Edited August 11, 2012 by deemac

[deemac]

So, does that mean that adding my kids onto two Cap1 cards (actually a Cap1 and HSBC) won't accomplish a thing?

[BobWang]

Bob,

 

There are tricks to getting all of these that only do "same address" to report.

 

1) You must add the individual to a card that for sure reports them based on their SSN, such as Barclay or Citi, Cap One, etc.

-- This will update their credit profile with your address once Barclay, Citi, etc report them.

 

2) Once the other cards have reported them, your address should appear on their report. Now add them to the "address must match" cards. They should report.

 

This is not a "guaranteed" way, but it works pretty often.

 

ASK

American Express (5 AUs)

Bank of America (Reports AU if address is the same) (May no longer report AUs)

Barclays

Capital One (Asks for Employer, Address, DOB, mother's maiden name, 5 AUs)

Citi

HSBC (If Capital One issues it)

NFCU

PenFed (Mail back pdf, DOB & Relationship)

RBS

UMB (Snail mail form for AUs, Relationship)

USAA (Phone, DOB & Relationship, AU also becomes USAA member)

US Bank (Fax pdf form back, 4 AUs)

 

 

DON'T ASK

CFNA (Firestone)

Chase (Report AUs at same address)

Discover Card (9 AUs, Report AUs at same address)

GEMB (4 AUs)

Lexus

Macy's (8 AUs, Report AUs at same address)

State Farm

US Bank (No ask if you call in)

 

 

CAN GIVE

?

 

 

CAN'T GIVE

HSBC (non-Capital One) will not take SSN of AU (Will report if AU has same address) (May no longer add AUs)

[BobWang]

So, does that mean that adding my kids onto two Cap1 cards (actually a Cap1 and HSBC) won't accomplish a thing?

Only way to know for sure is to do it.

 

If you have pristine credit, there's no harm in adding kids.

[deemac]

I did a couple weeks ago. Both card statements cut this coming week, so I guess I'll find out soon. BOA declined my daughter for a student card without a co-signer, citing lack of history. I don't really want to be a cosigner on a card forever, though of my 3 kids she's the one I most trust to manage her credit carefully. I was surprised that was the reason they gave, seeing as it was specifically a student card, but I suspect the reason had more to do with the new laws and her limited income. She put down $3500/yr. That may go up if she gets a work/study job at school. I thought if I added her to a couple cards it would give her a credit history and she could try again in 6 months. It's a pretty darn nice starter card. https://www.bankofamerica.com/credit-cards/products/student-cash-back-credit-card.go

 

 

 

So, does that mean that adding my kids onto two Cap1 cards (actually a Cap1 and HSBC) won't accomplish a thing?

Only way to know for sure is to do it.

 

If you have pristine credit, there's no harm in adding kids.