Adverse Effects - Being Added As AMEX Authorized User?

[shane82388]

I've had a couple AMEX cards dating back to 2011, and my wife has had an AMEX since 2013...I'm wondering if we added myself as an Authorized User on her AMEX card, would that effect my credit in a good way or bad way, in this particular situation?

I've got a decently long average length of credit history at this point (10 years or so) but the "S" hit the fan for me financially in 2016 and really wrecked my credit. I've been slowly building it back up since then but its definitely slow going with lates and CA's needing to age, etc...

We had the idea that maybe adding me as an Authorized User on my wife's AMEX, (perfect history since 2013, large $15k limit and zero balance) would potentially help boost my score?

I'm just curious if there is any downside to this considering my AMEX age is older than hers and what not...I'd not even use the AU card or carry it with me ever, so literally nothing would change balance-wise, this is solely to just try to boost my credit "on paper" or however you want to call it.

Any input on if we should go ahead and do this?

Thanks

[shane82388]

And to be more clear, I currently have a Blue Cash Preferred and a SimplyCASH Business card with AMEX (had a Green card originally but I closed it after getting Blue Cash Pref). My wife has a Blue Cash Preferred.

[FinStar]

Just keep in mind that if you were to be added as an AU on her AmEx, it will report on your CRAs as a new account. It will not backdate the history, unfortunately.

[shane82388]

Oh...hmm...that seems to really take a lot of the benefit out of it then, eh? I guess the 15k of open limit would help though...

Is this practice of not backdating the history something newer for AMEX? I could of sworn they did backdate, at least in the past? 

[Brian_Earl_Spilner]

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@shane82388 wrote:

Oh...hmm...that seems to really take a lot of the benefit out of it then, eh? I guess the 15k of open limit would help though...

Is this practice of not backdating the history something newer for AMEX? I could of sworn they did backdate, at least in the past? 

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They stopped a couple of years ago. It would help on the surface, but some lenders filter out AU cards making them worthless.

[FinStar]

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@shane82388 wrote:

Oh...hmm...that seems to really take a lot of the benefit out of it then, eh? I guess the 15k of open limit would help though...

Is this practice of not backdating the history something newer for AMEX? I could of sworn they did backdate, at least in the past? 

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As mentioned upthread, the backdating (reporting) piece ended around March 2015.  The MSD practice is still unchanged, but it's purely cosmetic. 

[Anonymous]

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@Brian_Earl_Spilner wrote:

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They stopped a couple of years ago. It would help on the surface, but some lenders filter out AU cards making them worthless.

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For what it's worth I can confirm Capital One uses them. 

My partner is an AU on eight of my cards and that is literally the only indication he exists to the CRAs. Lives in Canada, no US SSN or
ITIN, drivers license, phone, job or bank account. And he gets two or three pre-approved snail mail offers from Capital One a month.

Of course his credit score is probably over 750 by now. No lates, low utilization, 8 or 9 cards, good spend - and not a single hard pull ever.