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American Express is sending out targeted email offers to earn 5,000 Membership Rewards points for each authorized user added to your account (after they spend $500 in the first 3 months) for up to four authorized users. That’s a nice and easy 20K if you are targeted and have people to add.
The Deal
- Get 5,000 Membership Rewards points for adding an authorized user after they spend $500 in the first 3 months (up to 20K points for four AUs) with a targeted offer from American Express
- Check your email or online account for this offer
Key Details
- Offer ends November 30, 2019
- Check the email details for any fee for additional cardmembers. For example, the Gold Card
Quick Thoughts
The biggest drawback in my opinion is that the authorized user (AU) account will (at least initially) count against someone’s 5/24 status — that is to say that the AU account will be included in Chase’s calculation of new accounts in the past 24 months. There are many reports of Chase reconsideration agents being willing to exclude AU accounts from the 5/24 count where the AU is not financially responsible for the account. However, if the AU account puts you over 5/24, it will necessitate that manual review.
That said, if your potential AUs are nowhere near being under 5/24 and/or don’t anticipate being under 5/24 any time soon, this can potentially be some nice and easy points. In the email, Amex even highlights that you can add your teenagers (they must be at least 13 years old), which could be a good way to help them build history (and 5/24 won’t be a concern for a teen).
It’s also worth noting that many people had trouble with these bonuses failing to post last year. While this type of bonus should post automatically, it did require a lot of follow-up for some. Also keep in mind that gift card purchases are not advisable for meeting minimum spending requirements / spending bonuses, and that would include these AU bonuses.
Still, this is pretty low-hanging fruit. Five thousand bonus points for spending $500 is a pretty good deal if you can add the AUs.
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Are these ever offered on biz cards? I’ve done the personal ones in the past but have yet to see any on my BBP. I’ve been holding off adding my wife hoping for it.
Can I add myself as an AU?
You can, but they have been clawing back points on people who do that for a while now — so don’t do it if you want the 5K points.
Hi Nick as you have said many have problems getting the bonus I’d like to share my five cents.
Got the same offer on my gold card in April but due in July, added 4 additional cards, completed the spending requirement. Only 10000 points posted and for the past 3 months I’ve opened 3 cases over the phone with amex agents regarding to the missing 10000 points. Honestly at this point I’m frustrated and don’t expect to receive the 10000 points which I feel I have every right to claim.
Then I got the offer in the article this morning, again. Not sure if I should give it another try as per the term, this offer is not “once a lifetime or a year.” Maybe i can get at least 10000 points if not 20000?
related question…does being an authorized user for an AmEx card -Aspire or Gold, e.g. – prevent you from later on getting a sign up bonus as the main applicant on that same card ? Or does AmEx consider that you’ve had the card before?
No, it definitely doesn’t prevent you from getting the bonus on the card as a primary cardholder.
Most other card issuers backdate the AU’s account opening date to match the account. Really wish Amex would do the same.
Related question: Have you ever seen a 24+-month backdated account affect 5/24? I’d like to add my wife to some seldom-used, old accounts to improve her score, but don’t want to limit her new card choices.
I believe it does affect 5/24 because I believe it gets added as though it’s a new account for that person since Amex no longer does backdating on the reporting of the account.
I understand that Amex doesn’t backdate at all; I was wondering if ones that do backdate and are over 24 months old still count against you if you were recently added.
Yeah, I get what you’re saying. Like I said, I think it gets added as a new account for the AU. I don’t think the original account open date matters — the date that the AU account gets reported (i.e. the date you add her as an AU) is the date what would show up on her report (i.e. today if you added her today, counting against 5/24). Like I said, you can usually get a recon rep to exclude that type of thing — if the AU accounts put her over 5/24 she just won’t get automatic approval.