Apple Card Apple Card & kids, and credit reporting

[mlody]

Are kids who are added as participants (authorized users) to Apple Card and in the 13-18 age bracket automatically reported to the major credit bureaus? All I can find is that if an applicant turns 18 they can opt to be reported or not, but what happens for kids in the 13-18 age bracket? Are they automatically being reported too? Does anyone know? None of the Apple's support articles touch on that subject for some reasons as far as I can tell.

How Apple Card and Apple Card Family is credit reported - Apple Support

Learn how Apple Card reports your credit based on your particular role on the account.

support.apple.com

Build credit history for Apple Card Family participants - Apple Support

If you're 18 years or older, you can opt in to build your credit history while you're part of a shared Apple Card account.

support.apple.com

Set up Apple Card Family and add a co-owner and participants - Apple Support

Learn how to share Apple Card with trusted members of your Family Sharing group. You can even co-own the account with one other person.

support.apple.com

 

[bruinsrme]

Are kids who are added as participants (authorized users) to Apple Card and in the 13-18 age bracket automatically reported to the major credit bureaus? All I can find is that if an applicant turns 18 they can opt to be reported or not, but what happens for kids in the 13-18 age bracket? Are they automatically being reported too? Does anyone know? None of the Apple's support articles touch on that subject for some reasons as far as I can tell.

How Apple Card and Apple Card Family is credit reported - Apple Support

Learn how Apple Card reports your credit based on your particular role on the account.

support.apple.com

Build credit history for Apple Card Family participants - Apple Support

If you're 18 years or older, you can opt in to build your credit history while you're part of a shared Apple Card account.

support.apple.com

Set up Apple Card Family and add a co-owner and participants - Apple Support

Learn how to share Apple Card with trusted members of your Family Sharing group. You can even co-own the account with one other person.

support.apple.com

If anything, the Apple Card has very good customer service via chat and/or phone.
My recommendation is to take a few minutes and discuss it with G/S.

 

[Sheepish-Lord]

Pretty sure in your second article it says the when the participant gets/accepts the invitation they can choose to opt in or out and if they choose not to then they can change it later. Additionally, this article from Chase Bank gives more info on the subject in general:
https://www.chase.com/personal/credit-cards/education/build-credit/how-to-establish-credit-history-for-your-child#:~:text=Typically, only people over the,profile in the minor's name.

 

[fatTribble]

Do you have to provide a social security number for kids? Just curious. I’d think if no number is provided then no credit history.

 

[cthompson94]

I am pretty sure unless you put the SSN of the child on the card then it will not be reported to the credit agencies. A good way to think of it is like a cooperate card (at least most as I have heard of some funky corp cards) where the business is the credit holder and you are the authorized user and what you do with the card is between you and the business. The child account would be authorized to use the card since you granted permission to allow purchases or whatever and you are responsible.

 

[mlody]

I reached out to Apple and GS support and they both confirmed that kids between 13-18 are not reported to credit buerous and there is no way to change it. I find this a huge omission as in my opinion building credit history for kids would be the only reasonable use case for adding them in the first place; otherwise, they can use Apple Cash. Oh well, time to look for a new credit card

 

[canyonblue737]

Let me bring back this old thread from the dead to give some more info... my daughter has been on my Apple Card as a participant since just before she turned 16. As you can see she has not built any credit during this time as Apple does not report minors to the credit bureau. Well she just turned 18 and so we followed the instructions at https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212271 to have her opt into credit reporting now that she is an adult. Unfortunately when going to the Credit Card Info tab there is no option to "Build Credit History" as suggested there should be. I suspect this is because I never was required to provide her SSN when we signed her up as a minor. A brief chat via the Wallet app to the Apple Card folks didn't help at first as after they "researched" the issue they stated there was no way for a participant to build credit but when I showed the link at https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212271 they said "oops I guess you can" but I didn't have time to run to ground why the option isn't showing in my daughters wallet app in the Apple Card info tab. I'll try again soon and see if the SSN is the issue but its a bit of a pain getting this setup when going from a minor to an adult when the kid turns 18.

 

[ovbacon]

I reached out to Apple and GS support and they both confirmed that kids between 13-18 are not reported to credit buerous and there is no way to change it. I find this a huge omission as in my opinion building credit history for kids would be the only reasonable use case for adding them in the first place; otherwise, they can use Apple Cash. Oh well, time to look for a new credit card

They cannot build credit history as they are not allowed to work or take out loans etc etc... You the adult are taking full responsibility for their actions.

 

[canyonblue737]

They cannot build credit history as they are not allowed to work or take out loans etc etc... You the adult are taking full responsibility for their actions.

thanks for the reply but you misunderstand how the system works. as a participant with ZERO responsibility to pay the bill on a credit card you CAN AND WILL BUILD CREDIT when the information on that card is reported to the bureaus. It doesn't build nearly as fast or as high as if they had their OWN credit card and work history but EVEN AS A MINOR they can build credit history on the backs of their parent's cards etc. (don't put them on if your own credit is poor, it will hurt them too). this offers a powerful tool for parents to help get their kids off on the right foot in high school or for certain once adults in lets say college. Apple has chosen NOT to offer this for minors but DOES offer it for anyone 18 and older who is an Apple Card *participant.* other banks and credit cards DO offer this reporting for minors. For more information on minors building credit without working or being responsible for a credit card see this: https://www.chase.com/personal/cred...ow-to-establish-credit-history-for-your-child

for apple card's implementation of this see this: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212271

 

[ovbacon]

No need to shout...

Yes I actually really do understand and Generally, the minimum age at which a child can start building credit is age 18. However, age restrictions can differ by state, product and financial institution. For example, states have different regulations surrounding whether a child under 18 can co-sign on a student loan. These individualized policies will affect how early teenagers can establish their own credit.

But you have already found your answer so there is really no reason to fill your response with all caps and asterisks.

 

[canyonblue737]

No need to shout...

Yes I actually really do understand and Generally, the minimum age at which a child can start building credit is age 18. However, age restrictions can differ by state, product and financial institution. For example, states have different regulations surrounding whether a child under 18 can co-sign on a student loan. These individualized policies will affect how early teenagers can establish their own credit.

But you have already found your answer so there is really no reason to fill your response with all caps and asterisks.

I sincerely apologize you took my emphasis on a few phrases badly. It wasn’t meant that way. I still seek any input on why a minor participant who has just turned 18 doesn’t have the “Build Credit History” option selectable in their Apple Card wallet app, card info screen. If anyone has had this niche situation and knows the answer I’d appreciate it.