How can I add a Wells Fargo credit card authorized user?

To add a Wells Fargo Active Cash authorized user, log in to your online account and click the “Account Services” tab, or call customer service at 1 (800) 642-4720. You will need to provide the person's full name, address, date of birth and Social Security number to add them as an authorized user.

A primary cardholder can make anyone a Wells Fargo Active Cash authorized user, as there are no minimum age requirements.

How to Add a Wells Fargo Active Cash Authorized User Online

1. Log in to your Wells Fargo Active Cash card account.
2. Click the “Account Services” tab.
3. Click “Add Authorized Users to Your Account” under the “Credit Card Service Center” menu.
4. Enter the user’s full name, address, date of birth and Social Security number.
5. Click “Continue.”

When you add a Wells Fargo Active Cash authorized user, they will receive their own credit card, sent to your mailing address, within 5-7 days of being added to the account. The authorized user’s credit card will be linked to your account and will have full access to the account’s credit limit. Wells Fargo authorized users are able to make purchases and balance transfers, take out cash advances, and earn rewards. However, they cannot request credit limit increases, add other authorized users, or close the account.

In addition, any purchases an authorized user makes on the account will appear on your statement, and as the primary cardholder, you are responsible for all purchases on the account. Wells Fargo reports account information to all three of the major credit bureaus, which affects not only the user’s credit history, but also the primary cardholder’s. Authorized users may be removed from an account at the user’s or primary cardholder’s request at any time, and for any reason.

Yes, Wells Fargo reports authorized users to credit bureaus. Wells Fargo will report authorized users to all three of the major credit bureaus – TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian – soon after they’re added to a primary cardholder’s account. Once it begins reporting an authorized user to the credit bureaus, Wells Fargo will provide all account activity, both positive and negative, to the credit bureaus once a month.... read full answer

It’s important to remember that the primary cardholder is responsible for all purchases on the account. Also, both the authorized user and the primary cardholder can request to have the user removed from the account at any time. Authorized users cannot dispute negative information related to the account unless they’ve been removed, either on their own or at the primary cardholder’s request.

Wells Fargo joint credit card applications are no longer being accepted, as of May 2019, and they have not been available for a while. Wells Fargo recommends adding an authorized user to an account rather than applying jointly. The biggest differences between being an authorized user and a joint account owner are that authorized users can’t make changes to the account and aren’t responsible for making payments.... read full answer

All major credit card issuers allow authorized users on their credit cards. Unfortunately, nearly all of them have discontinued joint credit card accounts. As of today, only U.S. Bank allows joint ownership of a credit card, though you will have to apply at a branch.

That being said, there are a few other big differences between authorized users and joint credit card users that are worth pointing out.

With a joint credit card, both parties have the authority to manage the account. This includes, but is not limited to, requesting credit limit increases, adding or removing authorized users, and even closing the account. Both parties share liability for charges.

The rules change for an authorized user. The user can only make purchases, and doesn’t have the ability to make changes to the account. But only the primary cardholder is on the hook for all charges on the account. Account activity will appear on both users’ credit reports. That allows authorized users to build credit. Unlike a joint accountholder, an authorized user can also dispute any negative information entered on their credit report as a result of the primary cardholder’s card activity, such as a late payment.