Authorized user question

[Noctilum]

I would like to get the 5,000 bonus points for adding an authorized user to my Chase Sapphire Preferred.  I don't have a significant other so I was looking at adding my brother or his fiance and just not giving them access to the account/card.  The bonus for them would be he has crap credit and she has zero credit so I am sure it will help with theirs.  I am trying to think of any downsides of doing this so please let me know. 

I would assume since they need to make a purchase with the card for me to get the points, that I can pay the card off myself and that any points made by that purchase would still go towards my point pool.  Corect?

[Anonymous]

Hello,

This is actually a great question. 

If you hold the card then there is no downside whatsoever. Downside only can come when you allow risk. Risk of course would be allowing the authorized user to physically hold the card. 

Unfortunately I believe the Chase Sapphire card has to be used for you to receive the bonus offer. I would add them & use the cards for my expenses just to get the bonus offer. It's a win win! Your brother and his fiance gets a boost in credit by becoming authorized users and you receive your bonus once cards are used.

Remember the only risk is if you physically hand over the cards. 

I absolutely love my family but when I add them as authorised users I never physically hand them the cards. I only add them until they receive a card they can build credit worthiness with. Credit training wheels haha . Plus it's no reason to physically hand them the cards, they're becoming a authorised user for a credit boost to get their own cards. I didn't add them to use my credit limit.

GoodLuck,  

[Anonymous]

I added my brother, got gas swiping his card. win. Bonus ur points.

[DomLS3]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Remember the only risk is if you physically hand over the cards. 

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If they are an authorized user on your account, does that give them the power to be able to call in and request a replacement card be sent to them without the account holders knowledge?

[takeshi74]

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@Corvidae wrote:

I would assume since they need to make a purchase with the card for me to get the points, that I can pay the card off myself and that any points made by that purchase would still go towards my point pool.  Corect?

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Don't assume.  Read the terms:

https://creditcards.chase.com/credit-cards/sapphire-preferred-card.aspx?B7C3=FH24R8&CELL=6248

5,000 Bonus Points after your first purchase and the adding of an authorized user to your account in the first 3 months from account opening This product is not available to either (i) current cardmembers of this credit card, or (ii) previous cardmembers of this credit card who received a new cardmember bonus for this credit card within the last 24 months. To qualify for and receive your bonus, your First Purchase and addition of an authorized user to your account must both occur during the first 3 months from account opening. ("First Purchase" does not include balance transfers, cash advances, cash-like charges such as travelers checks, foreign currency, and money orders, any checks that access your account, overdraft advances, interest, unauthorized or fraudulent charges, or fees of any kind, including an annual fee, if applicable.) After qualifying, please allow 6 to 8 weeks for bonus points to post to your account. To be eligible for this bonus offer, account must be open and not in default at the time of fulfillment.

Note that it says "your first purchase", not "their first purchase" or "authorized user's first purchase".

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@Corvidae wrote:

The bonus for them would be he has crap credit and she has zero credit so I am sure it will help with theirs.

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Only when considered.  TL's where one is an AU are not always considered.  A brand new TL won't help with AAoA.  Whether or not other factors help depend on revolving utilization, pamyent history, etc.  It's not a given that being an AU will always help.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:
I added my brother, got gas swiping his card. win. Bonus ur points.

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+1 ....did this for my sister without her knowing about it. She has very bad credit and it's a win/win for both of us. I'll tell her during xmas dinner  

[Luscher]

Just add John Smith to your card......

[Anonymous]

i added my wife as an AU. She never made a purchase and I still got the bonus