topic Re: Using AU card in Credit Cards

Using AU card

Anonymous — Wed, 30 May 2012 00:41:19 GMT

To help my boyfriend of almost 4 years out credit-wise, I added him as an AU to three of my CCs. Two have higher limits (AMEX BlueSky & Citi Diamond), and one has a lower limit (4.5 year old CapOne that hasn't had a CLI...ever...and is stuck at $500.)

I gave him the CapOne AU card, but not the other two. I figured the $500 card would be a good place to start, and that he couldn't go TOO crazy with it. All the cards have perfect history. The AMEX & Citi cards are 1.5 years old. Question: Is there any way for him to use the other accounts if he doesn't have the cards?

Thanks in advance!

Re: Using AU card

LS2982 — Wed, 30 May 2012 00:43:34 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
To help my boyfriend of almost 4 years out credit-wise, I added him as an AU to three of my CCs. Two have higher limits (AMEX BlueSky & Citi Diamond), and one has a lower limit (4.5 year old CapOne that hasn't had a CLI...ever...and is stuck at $500.)

I gave him the CapOne AU card, but not the other two. I figured the $500 card would be a good place to start, and that he couldn't go TOO crazy with it. All the cards have perfect history. The AMEX & Citi cards are 1.5 years old. Question: Is there any way for him to use the other accounts if he doesn't have the cards?

Thanks in advance!

If he gets the account info he can use it online and you would still be responsible for charges due to AU status.

Re: Using AU card

Anonymous — Wed, 30 May 2012 00:47:48 GMT

Thanks for the quick reply. But wouldn't he still need the CVV code off the card?

Re: Using AU card

LS2982 — Wed, 30 May 2012 00:54:20 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Thanks for the quick reply. But wouldn't he still need the CVV code off the card?

This is true. If I may ask do you not trust him with the prime AU cards? With AMEX you can set a CL for him and monitor the charges.

Re: Using AU card

Strepthroat — Wed, 30 May 2012 01:25:16 GMT

Honeybunnygal, you can add him woithout giving him the card and account access. I added my sister to 3 cards over a year ago to help with her credit. One card she has in her possession, the other two, she doesn't have cards and is not allowed to call into customer service for inquiries....must have password to proceed with the account rep. Hope this helps.

Re: Using AU card

Repo-ed — Wed, 30 May 2012 01:31:33 GMT

Just monitor the useage and be prepared to PIF

Re: Using AU card

Anonymous — Wed, 30 May 2012 02:06:05 GMT

Thanks for all the advice so far!

LS2982 - I don't think he would do anything malicious. I am just concerned regarding his credit understanding.

Re: Using AU card

Anonymous — Wed, 30 May 2012 02:11:04 GMT

I think I have read here that you can contact AMEX and they will put a limit on how much an AU can charge. I would hope that Citi has the same policy in place. Just a little bit of protection for yourself. As you said, you are not worried about him being malicious, but since his own credit is not in the best of shape you do need to worry just the same.

Re: Using AU card

Anonymous — Wed, 30 May 2012 19:28:17 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I think I have read here that you can contact AMEX and they will put a limit on how much an AU can charge. I would hope that Citi has the same policy in place. Just a little bit of protection for yourself. As you said, you are not worried about him being malicious, but since his own credit is not in the best of shape you do need to worry just the same.

I was able to cap the limit on the AMEX at $200 for his AU card. I will check to see if this can be done with Citi as well. Thanks!

Re: Using AU card

Anonymous — Wed, 30 May 2012 22:16:05 GMT

I just got off the phone with Citibank. Unfortunately, they don't allow you to cap the limit on AU cards.

Re: Using AU card

Anonymous — Wed, 30 May 2012 22:26:41 GMT

HBG,

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but all an AU has to do is call and report the cards lost and have replacements sent overnight.

I realize your heart was in the right place but if he still has credit understanding issues, becoming an AU likely made it easier to dig a deeper hole. Dig through the threads here and you'll see many cases where people used AU status to improve their score, app for a bunch of cards, pay something late, or overspend, and be back to square 1.

I could see adding someone actively fixing their credit as AU. I can also see adding someone to help their utilization. Making it easier for someone to hide out and ignore their problem just wouldn't make sense, to me.

Re: Using AU card

Anonymous — Wed, 30 May 2012 22:31:08 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I just got off the phone with Citibank. Unfortunately, they don't allow you to cap the limit on AU cards.

At least it's not USAA! They allow AUs to add other AUs and the primary is still responsible for the balance. You're also responsible for retrieving the card and any charges made on it.... even after calling to remove the AU.

Re: Using AU card

Anonymous — Wed, 30 May 2012 22:57:35 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
HBG,

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but all an AU has to do is call and report the cards lost and have replacements sent overnight.

You

You made me call Citibank again. Yes, an AU can report the card lost/stolen. However, by doing that, cards would then be issued for BOTH of us (since the account numbers on the CCs are the same.) However, these cards would be mailed to the primary account holder's address (my house.) This address cannot be changed without my authorization. If any info is changed, I would be notified.

Furthermore, according to the CSR, if my mailing address was somehow changed & the card was then reported lost/stolen, it would trigger a fraud alert on the account. Their fraud team would then contact me for verification.

Re: Using AU card

Anonymous — Wed, 30 May 2012 23:13:31 GMT

@ HBG,

Obviously, I hope things work out fine. Please don't take the observations as anyone telling you what to do. It's just a lesson many of us have learned the hard way.

FWIW, none of us would have listened.