BofA closed account without notice after adding authorized users

[superchurn]

TLDR: Bank of America does not like it when your CC has too many authorized users and WILL close your account WITHOUT NOTICE!

A DP for anyone considering to do this... similar to https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Bank-of-America-closed-my-credit-card-accounts-after-a...

Just a DP for anyone out there... I added a couple of friends and family as authorized users to help them build credit since they're new to America. I had a total of 6 authorized users on the account. BofA closed my account after adding the 7th authorized user. Unlike the other post, I wasn't trying to take advantage of deals like add an authorized user, get $20. Credit report is flawless, no marks. Always PIF, never kept a balance.  Doesn't help I just chruned a BofA checking account before this. It was my 2nd oldest account on my file at 2 years and 3 months. I use it enough to keep it active but barely due to churning other cards.

File: 8 cards, newest account 3 months, longest account 3 years. Utilization always under 10% total. FICO 749. Inquiries: 3 per bureau.

Called in, and rep did not mention anything to me and said BofA does not reopen closed accounts. Rep just mentioned that a letter was sent out and did not talk about any other details. I will submit a complaint to CFPB, but as notied in the other forum, there is no legal recourse or legal ground to persue action otherwise. Might visit a branch to see if that is any use.

[JoeRockhead]

---

@superchurn wrote:

TLDR: Bank of America does not like it when your CC has too many authorized users and WILL close your account WITHOUT NOTICE!

A DP for anyone considering to do this... similar to https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Bank-of-America-closed-my-credit-card-accounts-after-a...

Just a DP for anyone out there... I added a couple of friends and family as authorized users to help them build credit since they're new to America. I had a total of 6 authorized users on the account. BofA closed my account after adding the 7th authorized user. Unlike the other post, I wasn't trying to take advantage of deals like add an authorized user, get $20. Credit report is flawless, no marks. Always PIF, never kept a balance.  Doesn't help I just chruned a BofA checking account before this. It was my 2nd oldest account on my file at 2 years and 3 months. I use it enough to keep it active but barely due to churning other cards.

File: 8 cards, newest account 3 months, longest account 3 years. Utilization always under 10% total. FICO 749. Inquiries: 3 per bureau.

Called in, and rep did not mention anything to me and said BofA does not reopen closed accounts. Rep just mentioned that a letter was sent out and did not talk about any other details. I will submit a complaint to CFPB, but as notied in the other forum, there is no legal recourse or legal ground to persue action otherwise. Might visit a branch to see if that is any use.

---

I'm surprised you haven't had an issue prior to now with 6 AUs. Adding that 7th AU likely triggered a review of your account and file, and if they suspected you of churning cards (which you admit to) that most likely caused the closure. At the end of the day, it's their money and they can close any account, anytime they feel like it. They won't reopen a closed account. You'll have to apply again, but if they have flagged you for churning, you'll likely be black listed. Best of luck. 

[imaximous]

Oh no. Sorry to hear!
I’m wondering if I should remove a few AUs from my account. I’ve had 7 AUs on my PR card for a few years.
Maybe I haven’t had an issue because all of us but 1 have the same last name. My DW didn’t change her last name to mine, so she’s the only outcast 😬

[NYC_Fella]

I can't imagine how it could ever be a good idea to have a bunch of AUs on a card. Maybe I need to get out more.

[superchurn]

---

@JoeRockhead wrote:

---

@superchurn wrote:

TLDR: Bank of America does not like it when your CC has too many authorized users and WILL close your account WITHOUT NOTICE!

A DP for anyone considering to do this... similar to https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Credit-Cards/Bank-of-America-closed-my-credit-card-accounts-after-a...

Just a DP for anyone out there... I added a couple of friends and family as authorized users to help them build credit since they're new to America. I had a total of 6 authorized users on the account. BofA closed my account after adding the 7th authorized user. Unlike the other post, I wasn't trying to take advantage of deals like add an authorized user, get $20. Credit report is flawless, no marks. Always PIF, never kept a balance.  Doesn't help I just chruned a BofA checking account before this. It was my 2nd oldest account on my file at 2 years and 3 months. I use it enough to keep it active but barely due to churning other cards.

File: 8 cards, newest account 3 months, longest account 3 years. Utilization always under 10% total. FICO 749. Inquiries: 3 per bureau.

Called in, and rep did not mention anything to me and said BofA does not reopen closed accounts. Rep just mentioned that a letter was sent out and did not talk about any other details. I will submit a complaint to CFPB, but as notied in the other forum, there is no legal recourse or legal ground to persue action otherwise. Might visit a branch to see if that is any use.

---

I'm surprised you haven't had an issue prior to now with 6 AUs. Adding that 7th AU likely triggered a review of your account and file, and if they suspected you of churning cards (which you admit to) that most likely caused the closure. At the end of the day, it's their money and they can close any account, anytime they feel like it. They won't reopen a closed account. You'll have to apply again, but if they have flagged you for churning, you'll likely be black listed. Best of luck. 

---

they wouldn't know I'm churning cards, as I haven't cancelled any cards yet. But I did churn their checking account, but not a credit card. This is the only card I ever had with them.

[coldfusion]

---

@imaximous wrote:
Oh no. Sorry to hear!
I’m wondering if I should remove a few AUs from my account. I’ve had 7 AUs on my PR card for a few years.
Maybe I haven’t had an issue because all of us but 1 have the same last name. My DW didn’t change her last name to mine, so she’s the only outcast 😬

---

You and DW almost certainly live at the same address so at least on the surface it would be reasonable to assume the 2 of you are part of the same household.   Same with having AU with the same last name even with different addresses,  a simple example would be a college-age daughter or son being an AU on your card so they have something on hand in case of emergencies.

Having multiple friends listed as AU with different last names and different addresses was likely seen as an indicator of there being a high proability that AU access was being sold.   Issuers don't fool around when they suspect that's happening, that's a big enough red flag for them to start off by closing the account and that isn't just a BoA thing.

[Kforce]

^^^ This

[Bmom]

Might someone explain what churning cards means? Why would this be a thing? And maybe why on earth one would want or allow that many people to access your credit?? You're responsible for every dime an AU spends. That is scary. 

[superchurn]

---

@Bmom wrote:

Might someone explain what churning cards means? Why would this be a thing? And maybe why on earth one would want or allow that many people to access your credit?? You're responsible for every dime an AU spends. That is scary. 

---

You add them as AU, their reports get updated with your credit, but you don't actually give them the card. Just cut it up. 

you help them, without risking them using your card and running off

this is not related to churning.

[Anonymous]

---

@superchurn wrote:

---

@Bmom wrote:

Might someone explain what churning cards means? Why would this be a thing? And maybe why on earth one would want or allow that many people to access your credit?? You're responsible for every dime an AU spends. That is scary. 

---

You add them as AU, their reports get updated with your credit, but you don't actually give them the card. Just cut it up. 

you help them, without risking them using your card and running off

this is not related to churning.

---

I think this may be less common now as AU accounts with different addresses are viewed much more suspiciously by some issuers and may not help them get a card or a loan etc.  But probably still works for some.