I added authorize user to my Amex and they did a hard pull.

[greg_the_egg]

Same thing happened to me today. Added authorized user. Have fraud alert on credit file. AMEX hard pulled report to get my phone number. I called AMEX to get them to remove the inquiry or at least have it reported properly as a soft inquiry. They claimed their hands were tied and nothing could be done about the hard pull; only Experian can fix it. I kept asking what the permissible purpose was and the representative either could not or would not give a reason other than for the "authorized user and the fraud alert."

I ended up calling Experian and the person I spoke with there insisted that only American Express could fix it. After hounding the Experian rep about the permissible purpose of this recent inquiry, he finally offered half a solution. Because Amex pulled my credit for my application less than 30 days ago in April and all of AMEX's identifying information matched this recent pull, the guy said he could remove the older inquiry and not the recent one. I wasn't entirely happy with this, but since I really have no plans to apply for anything, I'll take it. If another department from American Express had pulled my credit, he wouldn't have been allowed to make any changes except for cases of fraud. Said recent inquiry had to remain because it was was most recent. Sounds dumb to me, but the guy was giving me the take-it-or-leave-it so I took it.

[RobertEG]

I would offer one possibility for which they might assert a legitmate credit inquiry, although it is a bit of a stretch....

If you provide a card to the authorized user, and thus ability of the added consumer to charge on your account, that could be considered as being a legitimate business need to review your existing credit, and not a simple, standard internal account review.

It would be a consumer initiated business transaction that has an associated legitimate business need to pull your credit report, and thus a separate and proper permissible purpose under FCRA 604.

[Anonymous]

Same thing happened to me today. I requested to add my sister as an AU and then I got a “14 day in the mail” message. Didn’t think too much of it. I did some quick research and many claimed they called to push the ‘application’. I didn’t call because it was ‘after hours’. I woke up with a “changes were made on your credit report” I logged in to see. A HP from AMEX. Bummed.

[bourgogne]

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@Anonymous wrote:
Same thing happened to me today. I requested to add my sister as an AU and then I got a “14 day in the mail” message. Didn’t think too much of it. I did some quick research and many claimed they called to push the ‘application’. I didn’t call because it was ‘after hours’. I woke up with a “changes were made on your credit report” I logged in to see. A HP from AMEX. Bummed.

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more curious than anything as its in the can...you did the app online or voice?  how is her credit?  you gave her ssn?

[Anonymous]

I also have a fraud alert. I called and tried to remove the I quiry. I didn’t I put her social yet.

[bourgogne]

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@Anonymous wrote:
I also have a fraud alert. I called and tried to remove the I quiry. I didn’t I put her social yet.

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don't get the alerts when freezing is n/c.  you own the hp.  what is her ex?  seldom hear about an hp from ax, I have done a zillion au's and nada but there is no crystal ball

[Anonymous]

I checked my Experian report yesterday and was shocked to see a hard inquiry from around the time I added an authorized user 2 months ago. I've had a fraud alert for years. The other card companies called to verify that I requested to add an AU but only AMEX did a hard pull.
I double checked to make sure there wasn't fine print authorizing the inquiry on the page where I added the AU.
I'll call AMEX today to see what they can do to fix it. I don't like to see my score dip even a few points unnecessarily.