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Fiance' - Authorized User on account OR separate cards?

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nickcredit
Established Member

Fiance' - Authorized User on account OR separate cards?

I'm making some changes, by that moving over to Amex. Charge and credit card. I am engaged. We plan to combine forces for Amex rewards (travel, etc.) and stop using our various cards. Consolidation if you will. To "combine forces" do we have to be on the same account? Can we be on separate accounts and pipe the rewards together?

 

Separate Account Pros:

1) Her business charges separate from mine easier to keep track

2) Her personal charges separate from mine

3) COMBINED higher available credit

 

Authorized User Pros:

1) If using points collectively isn't allowed (Never been married, never had amex so I am ignorant)

 

Message 1 of 13
12 REPLIES 12
nickcredit
Established Member

Re: Fiance' - Authorized User on account OR separate cards?

And or what is "joint holders?"

Message 2 of 13
john398
Senior Contributor

Re: Fiance' - Authorized User on account OR separate cards?

I added mine as an AU so I could get more cash back on  my Freedom card, not sure how it works with Amex but there was no credit check with Chase

 

Message 3 of 13
tcbofade
Super Contributor

Re: Fiance' - Authorized User on account OR separate cards?

Just my personal opinion, but if you're not married, I'd avoid joint credit like the plague.

 

When/if you're legally wed, have a happy.  Smiley Happy

02/01/24 Fico 8: EX 757, EQ 803, TU 783.
Fico 9: EX 760 12/16/23, EQ 790 02/04/24, TU No idea.

Zero percent financing is where the devil lives...
Message 4 of 13
drkaje
Senior Contributor

Re: Fiance' - Authorized User on account OR separate cards?


@tcbofade wrote:

Just my personal opinion, but if you're not married, I'd avoid joint credit like the plague.

 

When/if you're legally wed, have a happy.  Smiley Happy


Many would say getting married doesn't change that. Smiley Happy


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Message 5 of 13
nomoore
Contributor

Re: Fiance' - Authorized User on account OR separate cards?


@drkaje wrote:

@tcbofade wrote:

Just my personal opinion, but if you're not married, I'd avoid joint credit like the plague.

 

When/if you're legally wed, have a happy.  Smiley Happy


Many would say getting married doesn't change that. Smiley Happy


I'm one of those. Hope for the best plan for the worst you know. Even if marriage was irreversible, keeping as much stuff separate as possible helps you if you get in a bad financial situation and need to tank someones credit.

Open Credit Cards:   Target Visa/5900CL    |    AMEX BCP/6000CL
Latest Credit Scores:   780 TU (2011-08-01)
Credit Score History:   708 EQ (2011-07-01)    |    682 TU (2011-06-30)    |    693 EQ (2010-05-21)
Message 6 of 13
nickcredit
Established Member

Re: Fiance' - Authorized User on account OR separate cards?

This isn't a personal relationship dilemma. It is a question about how rewards points work...
Message 7 of 13
drkaje
Senior Contributor

Re: Fiance' - Authorized User on account OR separate cards?

I'm pretty certain Amex may be one of the companies that allows combining points from multiple cards.


Starting Score: 675
Current Score: EX 753 FICO, EQ 737FICO, TU 738
Goal Score: 776 FICO


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Message 8 of 13
Anonymous
Not applicable

Re: Fiance' - Authorized User on account OR separate cards?


@tcbofade wrote:

Just my personal opinion, but if you're not married, I'd avoid joint credit like the plague.

 

When/if you're legally wed, have a happy.  Smiley Happy



I have to +1 this. I have my wife added on as an AU on one of my cards, but she doesn't use it. We might be married, but if anything, that's given me more of a reason to know she's not as reponsible financially as I am. There's a reason why I'm in charge of paying the bills on time. There's my finances, her finances, and 'our' finances. Not even taking into account any divorce/breaking up situation, it's a good idea not to mix your finances TOO much unless you're positive your S.O. is as responsible as you are. In my case, I know she's not.

 

As far as the original question goes, why not just call up Amex and ask if you can your fiancee can pool points on different accounts? No matter what we tell you here, it's ultimately Amex that makes the call on that.

Message 9 of 13
Wolf3
Senior Contributor

Re: Fiance' - Authorized User on account OR separate cards?


@nickcredit wrote:

I'm making some changes, by that moving over to Amex. Charge and credit card. I am engaged. We plan to combine forces for Amex rewards (travel, etc.) and stop using our various cards. Consolidation if you will. To "combine forces" do we have to be on the same account? Can we be on separate accounts and pipe the rewards together?

 

Separate Account Pros:

1) Her business charges separate from mine easier to keep track

2) Her personal charges separate from mine

3) COMBINED higher available credit

 

Authorized User Pros:

1) If using points collectively isn't allowed (Never been married, never had amex so I am ignorant)

 


IMO, 3 bad ideas.

 

1. Mixing business and personal charges
2. Not having a CC that only you control

3. Only having CC from 1 bank (most especially American Express)

 

 

Message 10 of 13
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