topic Re: Costco Amex membership requirement in Credit Cards

Costco Amex membership requirement

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 12:02:54 GMT

So my aunt is a Costco member, and I'm not. I was told that she can add two people in the same household to her membership, as long as they live in the same household (I do, since I'm a college student). If I was added to her Costco membership, would that make me eligible for an American Express True Earnings card? And, if I was eligible, what would happen when I moved out in two years? Would my card be cancelled? Or would I just have to pay the annual fee that you normally would for a Costco membership?

Re: Costco Amex membership requirement

2NE1 — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 13:10:59 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
So my aunt is a Costco member, and I'm not. I was told that she can add two people in the same household to her membership, as long as they live in the same household (I do, since I'm a college student). If I was added to her Costco membership, would that make me eligible for an American Express True Earnings card? YES. And, if I was eligible, what would happen when I moved out in two years? Would my card be cancelled? NO, but you would have to pay the annual fee as a new member I believe. Hence a new member# which will have to be added to your TrueEarnings card. Or would I just have to pay the annual fee that you normally would for a Costco membership? YES.

But honestly, you can move your of your aunt's place and keep the same number and all (if she doesn't mind paying the annual fee with you added to her membership). Does she have the gold star or the executive?

Re: Costco Amex membership requirement

pizzadude — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 13:24:13 GMT

I believe that you can be elligible to get the card if you're added on to her membership and I think that you could also let your membership lapse without incurring any additional fees.

I don't have this card but I think this is how it works.

Re: Costco Amex membership requirement

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 15:05:03 GMT

Costco Amex is eligible for Costco members. It's okay if you aren't primary member. However dropping Costco membership = no costco Amex when membershiprenewal date comes up if I remember correctly. Also, as college student, Costco Amex might be shooting high, but that is guess without knowing anything else about your credit.

Re: Costco Amex membership requirement

pizzadude — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 15:27:18 GMT

I did some additional searching and I agree with Crashem, I believe that AMEX probably won't let you keep your card unless you renew your Costco membership.....

Re: Costco Amex membership requirement

Creditaddict — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 15:48:19 GMT

The Blue Cash Preferred is actually a much better reward card then Costco Amex! (I made this mistake in telling my partner which Amex to get!)

Re: Costco Amex membership requirement

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 17:20:52 GMT

As long as your drivers licenses say the same addresses when you do the initial additional member that's all they care about, come renewal time if you don't want to change your costco extra member they don't care about anything but you paying for the renewal. Personally I'd go for one of the flavors of Blue Amex, the sign up bonus is better and you'll probably earn more cash back(do some basic math and figure out). The way i read the info on the amex website is that if you don't have a costco membership either amex cancels your card or charges you an annual fee equal to the cost of a gold star membership.

Re: Costco Amex membership requirement

jsickz32 — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 17:30:04 GMT

I have never been to a cotsco but will join just to get this card.....

Re: Costco Amex membership requirement

Creditaddict — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 18:20:51 GMT

Wait... I think this went off course....

If you have a valid membership card it matters nothing about being same address, being family, nothing... You have a Costco Membership and you apply...

Now with that said when my partner was instantly approved in store the only issue we have now had 2 is that his card went to primary "Costco" Member address even though his address was used on app. and then again at reward check time it went to primary... Both issues were fixed with Overnight shipping by Amex to send new card and to issue rewards check again.

Membership will continue to bill to primary unless they cancel.

Re: Costco Amex membership requirement

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 04:47:54 GMT

@Creditaddict wrote:
Wait... I think this went off course....
If you have a valid membership card it matters nothing about being same address, being family, nothing... You have a Costco Membership and you apply...
Now with that said when my partner was instantly approved in store the only issue we have now had 2 is that his card went to primary "Costco" Member address even though his address was used on app. and then again at reward check time it went to primary... Both issues were fixed with Overnight shipping by Amex to send new card and to issue rewards check again.
Membership will continue to bill to primary unless they cancel.

I am very interested in this topic as well. My aunt and my mother have a Costco membership together with my aunt´s address. I am not in the costco membership and live elsewhere. Can I get added if I bring some magazines to my name with my aunt´s address?? I want to apply for the Costco card but I don´t know my options. From what you say, I´d only need to be in the membership.

Re: Costco Amex membership requirement

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 05:30:02 GMT

"You must be a current Costco member to take advantage of this offer. If you are not a Costco member or your membership has expired, you can apply for or renew membership at any Costco Warehouse or online at costco.com." From the AMEX Terms and Conditions

So unless your mother or aunt want to get the card and put you as an AU you are out of luck w/o getting a costco membership. I don't have a costco amex, so I don't know how stickler they are about membership, but the AMEX terms and conditions are pretty clear that you must be a costco member to get the card. They even state that they can base your credit limit partially off of your annual costco spending.

Re: Costco Amex membership requirement

Creditaddict — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 13:51:16 GMT

This is getting crazy! LOL

Poster with aunt and membership, she can go online I believe or while in store and have you authorized to go to your local Costco and pull up the authorization for you to be added and take your picture and get a membership.

Now you have a valid membership, Apply for the Costco Amex!

I have never heard of someone going in to do this and getting told no! The whole point is that they want an active membership that they are actually getting paid for. I know if you DO NOT have a Membership even as AU you will not get a card (My partner tried to add me to his Amex, not to his Costco)

I say the less questions you ask to Costco, to Amex, the more chance you have of getting wrong information or told you can't... Why would Costco or Amex care where you live compared to primary on membership... You get to add someone for free and then other add ons pay so they are still getting the money for membership and Amex gets to add another spender to the ranks... it's win win for all!

Re: Costco Amex membership requirement

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 14:26:18 GMT

@Creditaddict wrote:
This is getting crazy! LOL
Poster with aunt and membership, she can go online I believe or while in store and have you authorized to go to your local Costco and pull up the authorization for you to be added and take your picture and get a membership.
Now you have a valid membership, Apply for the Costco Amex!

I have never heard of someone going in to do this and getting told no! The whole point is that they want an active membership that they are actually getting paid for. I know if you DO NOT have a Membership even as AU you will not get a card (My partner tried to add me to his Amex, not to his Costco)

I say the less questions you ask to Costco, to Amex, the more chance you have of getting wrong information or told you can't... Why would Costco or Amex care where you live compared to primary on membership... You get to add someone for free and then other add ons pay so they are still getting the money for membership and Amex gets to add another spender to the ranks... it's win win for all!

Good point. I like the way you put it.

When I get some time I'll drag my aunt down to Costco, get added as a member, and then when I apply for my BCP next January, I might as well apply for a TE as well.

Thanks for the advice guys.

Re: Costco Amex membership requirement

Creditaddict — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 14:52:27 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Creditaddict wrote:
This is getting crazy! LOL
Poster with aunt and membership, she can go online I believe or while in store and have you authorized to go to your local Costco and pull up the authorization for you to be added and take your picture and get a membership.
Now you have a valid membership, Apply for the Costco Amex!

I have never heard of someone going in to do this and getting told no! The whole point is that they want an active membership that they are actually getting paid for. I know if you DO NOT have a Membership even as AU you will not get a card (My partner tried to add me to his Amex, not to his Costco)

I say the less questions you ask to Costco, to Amex, the more chance you have of getting wrong information or told you can't... Why would Costco or Amex care where you live compared to primary on membership... You get to add someone for free and then other add ons pay so they are still getting the money for membership and Amex gets to add another spender to the ranks... it's win win for all!
Good point. I like the way you put it.

When I get some time I'll drag my aunt down to Costco, get added as a member, and then when I apply for my BCP next January, I might as well apply for a TE as well.

Thanks for the advice guys.

Apply IN STORE when it comes to Costco... it's instant, if you do it online at home it can take 2+ Weeks because they first send to Costco to verify active membership then back to Amex to approve and set CL.

Re: Costco Amex membership requirement

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 15:29:09 GMT

@Creditaddict wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@Creditaddict wrote:
This is getting crazy! LOL
Poster with aunt and membership, she can go online I believe or while in store and have you authorized to go to your local Costco and pull up the authorization for you to be added and take your picture and get a membership.
Now you have a valid membership, Apply for the Costco Amex!

I have never heard of someone going in to do this and getting told no! The whole point is that they want an active membership that they are actually getting paid for. I know if you DO NOT have a Membership even as AU you will not get a card (My partner tried to add me to his Amex, not to his Costco)

I say the less questions you ask to Costco, to Amex, the more chance you have of getting wrong information or told you can't... Why would Costco or Amex care where you live compared to primary on membership... You get to add someone for free and then other add ons pay so they are still getting the money for membership and Amex gets to add another spender to the ranks... it's win win for all!
Good point. I like the way you put it.

When I get some time I'll drag my aunt down to Costco, get added as a member, and then when I apply for my BCP next January, I might as well apply for a TE as well.

Thanks for the advice guys.
Apply IN STORE when it comes to Costco... it's instant, if you do it online at home it can take 2+ Weeks because they first send to Costco to verify active membership then back to Amex to approve and set CL.

Great advice, didn't know that. I think applying in store would eliminate any issue of me being ineligible because I'm not the primary Costco member too, or at least I hope. But if I apply in store I won't get the benefit of only getting a SP if denied, since I'm already an Amex cardholder, right?

Re: Costco Amex membership requirement

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 06:17:12 GMT

I will go to my local costco that is around the corner with my mom to renew the membership and add me as AU.

Thanks for the beautifull advice guys

Re: Costco Amex membership requirement

creditnocash — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 06:29:03 GMT

how much more is the membership if you add an au? im not planning on getting an amex anytime soon but im surprised i didnt think of this.

i always have to ask my grandmother to go so i can buy stuff....

Re: Costco Amex membership requirement

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 06:36:58 GMT

@OlegWasHere wrote:
how much more is the membership if you add an au? im not planning on getting an amex anytime soon but im surprised i didnt think of this.

i always have to ask my grandmother to go so i can buy stuff....

http://shop.costco.com/membership/join-costco

It´s the business membership

Re: Costco Amex membership requirement

creditnocash — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 06:44:55 GMT

I see. Well Comcast thinks i own my own business. But I looked at the fine print and it says it gives you one additional card for Gold star at no additional cost.

Re: Costco Amex membership requirement

Creditaddict — Fri, 03 Aug 2012 14:14:50 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@Creditaddict wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
@Creditaddict wrote:
This is getting crazy! LOL
Poster with aunt and membership, she can go online I believe or while in store and have you authorized to go to your local Costco and pull up the authorization for you to be added and take your picture and get a membership.
Now you have a valid membership, Apply for the Costco Amex!

I have never heard of someone going in to do this and getting told no! The whole point is that they want an active membership that they are actually getting paid for. I know if you DO NOT have a Membership even as AU you will not get a card (My partner tried to add me to his Amex, not to his Costco)

I say the less questions you ask to Costco, to Amex, the more chance you have of getting wrong information or told you can't... Why would Costco or Amex care where you live compared to primary on membership... You get to add someone for free and then other add ons pay so they are still getting the money for membership and Amex gets to add another spender to the ranks... it's win win for all!
Good point. I like the way you put it.

When I get some time I'll drag my aunt down to Costco, get added as a member, and then when I apply for my BCP next January, I might as well apply for a TE as well.

Thanks for the advice guys.
Apply IN STORE when it comes to Costco... it's instant, if you do it online at home it can take 2+ Weeks because they first send to Costco to verify active membership then back to Amex to approve and set CL.
Great advice, didn't know that. I think applying in store would eliminate any issue of me being ineligible because I'm not the primary Costco member too, or at least I hope. But if I apply in store I won't get the benefit of only getting a SP if denied, since I'm already an Amex cardholder, right?

Shouldn't be any different on the INQ being SP if denied I don't believe.