Amex Supplementary Account - balance

sm82

My wife and I recently opened a BA Amex card to take advantage of the points offer. She was the primary applicant (I'd opened a Lloyds Duo card offer a year or so back, so wouldn't be eligible for the introductory offer), with me having the supplementary card.

As we use this as effectively a "joint" credit card, it would be useful for both of us to be able to see the balance on the card, and credit remaining on the card. Knowing the statement date would be useful as well!

However on contact with Amex, I was told that a) as a supplementary card user I can't know my statement date (only the primary account does!), b) I can't see the overall card balance (only the primary can see it - I can only see my transactions) and c) I can't make payments against the card.

Now it doesn't bother me about making payments - be nice for the wife to be in charge of that for a change!, but the other information would be useful (the balance I thought would be at least the minimum I would need) - is there no way to get this information on the app (yes I know I can just talk to the wife:rotfl:)? It does give the option to activate/manage cards on the app - is it possible to add the wifes card so we can both see the balance?

[Deleted User]

Not many lenders allow supplementary card holders access to the account to see the balances etc.

The point of the supplementary card holder is just that - they are someone else that uses the card, nothing more.

sm82

Our other credit card (lloyds) - we have two cards for this (I'm the primary that time). We can both see the spending/balances via the app. I was expecting the Amex to be the same..

[Deleted User]

sm82 wrote: »

I was expecting the Amex to be the same..

What made you come to that conclusion?

They are an entirely different banking group offering different products to Lloyds?

sm82

true.. i knew that as a supplementary that I would not be able to do payments/change limits etc - that's fine. At least I thought I would be able to see the balance however!

[Deleted User]

Update - it seems Amex are wrong.

The Supplementary Cardholder can create their own Amex account and add their card to that login:

Unless that applies to the US issued cards only - try and create your own Amex account and add your supp. card and see if it works...

sausage_time

Why not just ask your wife to share her login details? Then can see both cards, statement details, and total balance on the web or in the app.

The_Urbanite

sm82 wrote: »

My wife and I recently opened a BA Amex card to take advantage of the points offer. She was the primary applicant (I'd opened a Lloyds Duo card offer a year or so back, so wouldn't be eligible for the introductory offer), with me having the supplementary card.

The Lloyds Avios Rewards/Duo products are wholly independent of the BA Amex product and completely insignificant where it comes to Amex signup bonuses! It's only some cards directly offered by Amex which have an impact. Missed opportunity there.

stevenhp1987

sm82 wrote: »

My wife and I recently opened a BA Amex card to take advantage of the points offer. She was the primary applicant (I'd opened a Lloyds Duo card offer a year or so back, so wouldn't be eligible for the introductory offer), with me having the supplementary card.

Amex is not the same bank as Lloyds. Having the Lloyds Amex card does not prohibit you from having any Amex introductory offers.

When you want some extra points, she can refer you for a card. She gets referral points and you get welcome points!

crumpetman

Why not login with your wife's account details? You're basically using it like joint account credit card anyway.

I do this with Amex when the wife and I take turns being primary card holder.

sm82

That’s what we decided to do in the end. Problem solved. Thank you for all the replies. Interesting that the Lloyds one doesn’t count towards the Amex offers- will remember that!