Chase Amazon AU... or "another liable user"?

[mikka1]

A couple of days ago I decided that it might be a good time to get into Chase, so I applied for Chase Amazon Visa (yes, might be not the best option, but I want to hold Freedom for later). Surprisingly for me, I was instantly approved and I'm waiting for my card to come.

Today I called CS in order to ask how I can add my wife as an AU for this card (that has not arrived yet). The CSR told me to spell her name and then asked me a question that got me confused as I've never heard anything like this before: "Do you want to make her just an authorized user or would you like to make her liable for the account too?".  I asked if it would impact her credit and the answer was 'no' in both cases. The only practical difference is that in case of 'just AU' the card in her name will arrive by mail ... and that's it. In case of 'liable user' (as CSR explained) there will be some paperwork that we would have to sign and send back to Chase. 

For the time being, I asked CSR to make her an AU, but I still wonder what that stuff with 'liable user' was about. She's an AU on all (or almost all) my cards and I never had any questions like this before. 

Any ideas what it means practically?

Thanks! 

[modernsurrender]

From my understanding when I activated my Chase Southwest card, an AU may or may not have the trade line show up on their credit reports but by becoming a "liable user" it is guaranteed to show up on their accounts.

As an AU the Chase rep that I spoke with said it can be hit or miss when it comes to credit reporting.  Sometimes it shows, sometimes it doesn't, but it always will for a liable party.  We opted to take our chances (different last names, but share an address so figured the odds would be decent that it would report for DF) but had them send the paperwork for us to keep on hand if we decide to fill it out later since there's no obligation to return it ever/within any time frame.

[Anonymous]

Sounds to me like they were asking if you wanted a "joint" account where both parties are liable for the account.  Maybe there is another category of AU that I am unaware of but, when you said "liable for the account" that made me think they were asking if you wanted a joint account.

[webhopper]

Agree sounds like they are asking if you want it to be a joint account. My husband is an au on my chase amazon account and it reports on his credit no issues.

[mikka1]

Well, then I'm totally confused. As I mentioned before, the main reason for my confusion is that my wife is an AU on almost ALL my cards (BofA, Cap1, Discover, some of GE) and I never got a question similar to the one from Chase. And if I understand it right, at least some of the accounts my wife is AU on are reporting on her credit. 

Maybe it's just a 'wording game', but at this point I am totally lost about what CSR really wanted from me. I thought that "joint account" could be only a checking/saving, but not a CC, and in case of CC the only possible option is what I usually referred to as "AU".

Moreover, I thought that my wife is anyway liable for all possible debts that might happen on my CC (in case if I fall ill for a long time, for example) regardless of if she's an AU or not, but purely because she's my legal spouse (though I'm not that familiar with the US family law, but this is exactly the case in Russia where you _have_ to get any 'serious' loan with your spouse with no exceptions if you are married, because spouse is legally liable for such a loan anyway...) 

[jordanmedical]

There is required scripting but yes, they were asking if you wanted to add them as an AU or a liable joint user. CC Companies don't automatically assume what may be the spousal laws/stipulations in your state.

[Anonymous]

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@mikka1 wrote:

I thought that "joint account" could be only a checking/saving, but not a CC.

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No, credit cards also offer joint accounts.