What an Authorized User on an Amex Gold Card Is
An authorized user is someone you give permission to use your American Express Gold Card account. They get their own card linked to your account, can make purchases with it, and you pay the bill. The authorized user does not own the account — you do, and you are responsible for all charges they make.
Amex Gold lets you add authorized users at no extra cost. The card issuer reports the account activity to credit bureaus under both your name and the authorized user's name, which means adding someone can affect both credit reports.
Key Takeaways
- You can add an authorized user to your Amex Gold account for free, and they receive their own physical card.
- The authorized user's credit report will show the account and its payment history, which can help or hurt their credit score depending on how the account is managed.
- You remain fully liable for all charges made by the authorized user, even if you did not authorize a specific purchase.
- You can remove an authorized user at any time by calling American Express or using your online account.
- Adding a family member or employee as an authorized user is common, but the relationship does not change your legal responsibility for the debt.
How to Add an Authorized User to Your Amex Gold Account
You can add an authorized user through your American Express online account or by calling the customer service number on the back of your card. Online is usually faster: log in, go to your account settings, and look for the option to manage authorized users or add a cardholder. You will need the person's full name, date of birth, and address.
American Express will mail a physical card to the authorized user's address within 7 to 10 business days. Until the card arrives, the authorized user cannot make purchases. If you need the card faster, some American Express locations can issue a temporary card number when ready, though this is not available at all branches.
The authorized user does not need to have a credit history or even a Social Security number in some cases — American Express does not run a credit check on them. This makes it possible to add a spouse, adult child, or employee even if their credit is poor or nonexistent.
How an Authorized User Affects Credit Reports
American Express reports authorized user accounts to the three major credit bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. This means the account will show up on the authorized user's credit report, and the payment history — on-time payments, late payments, high balances — will be recorded under their name.
If your Amex Gold account has a strong payment history and low balance, adding someone as an authorized user can help their credit score. If the account has missed payments or high balances, it can hurt their score. The authorized user has no control over how the account is managed, so they are taking on credit risk they cannot directly control.
You can ask American Express to remove the authorized user from the credit bureaus' records, though this is not automatic when you remove them from the account. Call customer service and request that the account be removed from their credit report. This can take 30 to 60 days to process.
Your Legal Responsibility for an Authorized User's Charges
You are liable for every charge an authorized user makes, even if you did not know about it or did not approve it. American Express will not reverse charges straightforward because you say you did not authorize them — the company considers the authorized user's use of the card as your permission. If you want to dispute a charge, you will need to show fraud or a billing error, not just that you did not approve it.
This is different from a credit card dispute where you are not the cardholder. Because you issued the card yourself, American Express treats the charges as coming from you. If an authorized user runs up a large balance and you cannot pay it, the debt is yours, and it will affect your credit report and your ability to borrow.
When to Remove an Authorized User
You can remove an authorized user at any time by logging into your American Express account online or calling customer service. The card will stop working when ready, though the account history will remain on both your credit report and theirs unless you request removal from the credit bureaus.
Common reasons to remove an authorized user include a change in your relationship (divorce, separation), a change in employment, or concern about spending. If you are worried an authorized user is spending too much, you can also call American Express to set a spending limit on their card, though this feature is not available on all card types.
If the authorized user's card is lost or stolen, call American Express right away. The company will cancel that card and can issue a new one to you or reissue one to the authorized user if you want to keep them on the account.
Authorized Users vs. Joint Account Holders
An authorized user is not the same as a joint account holder. A joint account holder owns the account with you and has equal legal responsibility for the debt. An authorized user has no ownership stake and cannot make account changes like requesting a credit limit increase or closing the account.
If you want someone to have full control over the account, you would need to convert them to a joint account holder, which requires American Express to close the current account and open a new one in both names. This is rarely done and requires both people to go through a credit check. For most situations, authorized user status is what people actually want.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an authorized user see my full account details and billing history?
Not automatically. The authorized user can see charges they made and the current balance, but they cannot access your full account history, payment records, or other details unless you give them your login credentials. If you want them to manage the account, you can add them as an account manager through your online settings, which gives them limited access.
Does adding an authorized user lower my credit score?
It may lower your score slightly in the short term because American Express reports a new account to the credit bureaus. Over time, if the account has a good payment history and low balance, it can help both your score and the authorized user's score. The impact depends on your overall credit profile.
What happens if an authorized user makes a purchase and I refuse to pay?
American Express will pursue you for payment, not the authorized user, because you are the account owner. The debt will appear on your credit report. You cannot dispute the charge as unauthorized because you issued the card yourself. Your only recourse is to pursue the authorized user for reimbursement separately.
Can I add a minor as an authorized user?
American Express typically requires authorized users to be at least 18 years old. Some card issuers allow younger teenagers with parental consent, but Amex's standard policy is 18 and up. You can contact customer service to ask about exceptions for your specific situation.
If I remove an authorized user, does the account disappear from their credit report?
Not when ready. The account will remain on their credit report for several years as part of their credit history. You can request that American Express remove it from their credit report, which takes 30 to 60 days. The account will eventually age off on its own after seven years.