Here’s a topic that seems cause confusion among many. If you’re an authorized user on someone else’s credit card, are you eligible for the bonus on that card if you apply outright?
Continue reading: Are Authorized Users Eligible For Credit Card Bonuses?
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
If I am currently an authorized user on a card, and I am planning to apply for it myself to be a primary cardmember, would I be able to "upgrade" my existing Authorized User card to be a Primary Cardholder to get the bonus but still be able to maintain the age of the account (being when I was first added as an authorized user)? I am asking because I am currently an AU on the Amex Gold, which was also my first ever card under my own name. As a result, the age of the account is quite old and helps increase my average age of accounts for my credit score significantly. The primary card member on my authorized user card is planning to cancel the card in the next few months. I wanted to upgrade mine to be a full primary card member and get the bonus. Is it possible to do this and also maintain my account age?
@ JB -- Unfortunately there's not any way to do that. You can't upgrade directly from an authorized user to a primary cardmember. If you want to preserve the credit history, the best option would be to see if there's some downgrade option for the primary cardmember as well for a no annual fee product, and then you can (separately) apply outright for the card you want.
If I am currently an authorized user on a card, and I am planning to apply for it myself to be a primary cardmember, would I be able to "upgrade" my existing Authorized User card to be a Primary Cardholder to get the bonus but still be able to maintain the age of the account (being when I was first added as an authorized user)? I am asking because I am currently an AU on the Amex Gold, which was also my first ever card under my own name. As a result, the age of the account is quite old and helps increase my average age of accounts for my credit score significantly. The primary card member on my authorized user card is planning to cancel the card in the next few months. I wanted to upgrade mine to be a full primary card member and get the bonus. Is it possible to do this and also maintain my account age?
@ JB -- Unfortunately there's not any way to do that. You can't upgrade directly from an authorized user to a primary cardmember. If you want to preserve the credit history, the best option would be to see if there's some downgrade option for the primary cardmember as well for a no annual fee product, and then you can (separately) apply outright for the card you want.