Additional Card Holder Access

Museslegend

Hi there
Just wanted to know if I'm right in my conclusions regarding a card with an additional card holder. 
My wife and I have recently set up a new credit card - in-fact correction, I have and I added her as an additional card holder.
I assumed that when we both received our cards (from Virgin Money) we would both be able to install the App and then view our account. Unfortunately she is unable to access the account on the app - essentially the additional card holder does not seem to get permission to view the account.
The problem I've got is that Virgin are saying that there's no such thing as a 'joint account' credit card, so essentially there is no way of making it so we both have the ability to see the account.

How does everyone else deal with this issue? My wife understandably wants to be able to see the outgoings on the card and its totally bemusing to me to think that there is no way of getting a credit card that 2 people can 'see'? The internet seems to be suggesting that a lot of providers don't offer 'joint' cards anymore, so is there a way around this issue or is it just 'normal'.

KR

Chris

SuperAllyB

Can you not set up the app on her phone using your details?  Or can the app only be "active" on one device at a time?

[Deleted User]

Museslegend said:

The internet seems to be suggesting that a lot of providers don't offer 'joint' cards anymore

They never did. 

Logging in as you would seem to be the best way forward - even if a little against the t&cs.

NoodleDoodleMan

As above, there is no "our" account.

It's a relatively common fallacy that there are joint credit card accounts.

Ebe_Scrooge

Yep, there's no such thing - and never has been - as a joint credit card account, just an additional cardholder.  Would it be possible to go old-school and opt for paper statements?  That's probably the simplest way of both being able to see the transactions on the account - unless you particularly need it to be real-time.

Museslegend

Thanks for the responses. Unfortunately the 'app' is too smart - it can only be set up on one device at a time, so it doesn't work trying to use my details on her device.
The paper statements are the only way we can go - they've also said she can ring at anytime and get a balance or transaction run through etc! It just seems really stupid that she can't be allowed access to view the account in real time.

We are intending on using the CC for day to day spend so it can be  a bit difficult if you can see your bank accounts and they appear very healthy but you have no idea whats gone through the CC.

[Deleted User]

Do they not have online banking as well that you could track?
Have you not rung them up and asked how other people deal with this?

I guess they assume if you are giving the additional card holder access to the card then you will control the spending and trust them not to overspend

born_again

Deleted_User said:

Do they not have online banking as well that you could track?
Have you not rung them up and asked how other people deal with this?

I guess they assume if you are giving the additional card holder access to the card then you will control the spending and trust them not to overspend

The issue is it is NOT her account. So no bank should be showing any customer accounts held by another party. Other than joint accounts.

Museslegend

You're absolutely spot on, we have several joint accounts and she is able to access all of them on her online banking platform. I understand that its not her credit card account, however I can't believe its not possible to authorize someone to be able to view the account - it seems like a fairly usual thing to want to do. I know that with power of attorney you can authorize someone to be able to access your accounts, it just seems like a ridiculous thing to have to do.

Sandtree

Deleted_User said:

Museslegend said:

The internet seems to be suggesting that a lot of providers don't offer 'joint' cards anymore

They never did. 

Logging in as you would seem to be the best way forward - even if a little against the t&cs.

AmEx do allow secondary cardholders to have their own log ins and they can see their own expenditure (but not the expenditure of other cardholders on the account).  They can also save promos to their cards, use travel services and all the other things that come with having an AmEx

Museslegend said:

You're absolutely spot on, we have several joint accounts and she is able to access all of them on her online banking platform. I understand that its not her credit card account, however I can't believe its not possible to authorize someone to be able to view the account - it seems like a fairly usual thing to want to do. I know that with power of attorney you can authorize someone to be able to access your accounts, it just seems like a ridiculous thing to have to do.

I fully agree and seems a real gap that only AmEx have addressed in any sort of way. I earn well and my wife doesn't have a steady income and so all bar one of our cards are in my name but in practice she uses them. Thankfully in the UK AmEx is increasingly accepted so most of her spend can go via that.

MEM62

Museslegend said:

Unfortunately the 'app' is too smart - it can only be set up on one device at a time, so it doesn't work trying to use my details on her device.

I have it on more than one device.  It is on my iPhone and my iPad. 

The alterative is to logon to the website and check that way.