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Do Amex offer option for addition credit card for non-working partner?

6 replies

DeepTalkInTheShallowEnd · 07/09/2022 12:40

We have an Amazon Platinum Credit card - my wife is the primary holder - I am the additional card holder - I handle all the finances, paying bills, ordering things, etc. We both retired last Nov - she draws her pension but decided to continue working 2 days a week as she wants to, she has the option, she is needed, extra cash, flexible working - she can get extra work any time she wants it. With her pension and part-time work we are actually better off than when she worked full time.

I also folded my self-employed business - due to COVID - I have substantial savings - well - everything has always been in a joint account. We agreed to put off drawing any of my possible pensions (I deferred them last year and will do so again this year, possibly for at least the next 5 years) or cashing in pension policies as we don't actually need the money and they are - possibly - still an investment that might grow (of course the fund values are up and down and all over the place of late).

I was looking at the options on getting another CC seeing as NewDay are withdrawing their services from Amazon - Amazon will probably offer us their new Pulse card but I was looking on the MSE site:

www.moneysavingexpert.com/credit-cards/best-credit-card-rewards/

I was wondering if Amex would allow my wife to have an additional card for me to use seeing as I manage all the spending (she's hopeless with the internet and computers - that's all it's down to). It doesn't come up on the eligibility questionnaire so I'm not sure if we should bother applying for it.

We have no mortgage or debts - our monthly CC spend is about £1250pcm - we use the CC for virtually everything and pay it off in full every month so the Amex Platinum Cashback card looked like the best one for us to apply for as annual spending on the card would be over £10kpa.

Anyone know for certain or have a better suggestion? We both need a card.

TIA

OP posts:
ApolloandDaphne · 07/09/2022 12:43

I don't work and I have an Amex card linked to my DHs account. I am not sure they ever asked about my income, I just got it.

DeepTalkInTheShallowEnd · 07/09/2022 13:57

@ApolloandDaphne - thanks - that's what I hoped - I just couldn't see it spelled out anywhere - in actual fact - being a secondary card holder when I sort all the bills and finances out - was a pain with Amazon - and will no doubt be the same with amex - especially when there are problems with the account or with transactions not going through (usually problems with sellers websites in my experience) - I end up having to get my partner to speak to the card company before they will let me explain what the problem is.

amex is reportedly not accepted at as many places as Mastercard and Visa - has it ever caused you much of a problem?

OP posts:
ApolloandDaphne · 07/09/2022 13:58

It isn't accepted everywhere. We also have a VISA Barclaycard.

satelliteheart · 07/09/2022 14:03

The secondary card holder has no contract with the credit card company, all of the debt is still in the name of the primary card holder, so they don't credit check secondary card holders and it doesn't matter if they have an income or not. It's not the same as a joint bank account where all parties are jointly and severally liable. Amex isn't accepted everywhere so you will need either a back up credit card or a debit card with you in case it's not accepted

lickenchugget · 07/09/2022 14:04

I am a secondary cardholder with Amex, they don’t ask anything about my income as it’s just another card which racks up against DH’s account.

bellsbuss · 07/09/2022 14:49

I don't work and I have one linked to my husbands account

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