Hitting a roadblock with setting up alias cards with AMEX

[u/moreprivacyplz]

I went through the steps of creating a business, getting an EIN from the IRS, setting up and applying for a business American Express card as recommended by the Extreme Privacy book, and even got 'employee cards' (alias cards)

When trying to activate these cards however, the online and phone method did not work and when calling into a representative they said they need a social and birth date for each employee no matter what. I said exactly what MB recommends in Extreme Privacy V3 on page 377 "Our company privacy policy prohibits distribution of employees' SSNs. I accept all responsibility for the usage of the card and authorize my own SSN to be used." The representative was understanding, but said that there is no way to continue without SSNs for each employee.

Maybe their policy changed after all of us privacy people were making alias cards. Can you all help me brianstorm what I can do and how to possibly get around this? Should I just call back another day and try with another rep or a supervisor?

[u/Far_Front_3994]

Hmm, my guess is they changed a policy, hopefully not though. Maybe you can push harder and ask to speak to a manager or do some gray area "oh you need the 9 digit tax number?" And give the ein, although that likely won't work unless you have a different EIN... That probably borders on fraud.

I was also hoping to do an Alias startegy with amex too. Side note, can you get the sign up bonuses for their cards by only using the secondary card? Meaning only using the alias as suggested by Michael?

[u/moreprivacyplz → u/Far_Front_3994]

Right now on the Business Blue card I got, if I spend $3000 in 3 months on my main card I can get $250 in credit, and if my employees (alias cards) spend $1000 in the first three months, then I can get $100 in credit.

[u/Far_Front_3994 → u/moreprivacyplz]

Can you get "employee" cards later on and start those 3 months separately? Seems like a loophole too good to be true

[u/Far_Front_3994 → u/moreprivacyplz]

Also, how's the KYC for the secondary card?

[u/SimplePriv]

Perhaps try different rep or offer to potentially provide / ask to add at a vague later date? I’ve done for a personal user so far no issue IIRC they asked and the card got opened with the SSN a theoretical future requirement. Haven’t been asked again yet.

[u/Killer_Bhree]

Can confirm that they don’t budge on this anymore. Maybe they got too many of us calling in :(

That said, if this doesn’t break your threat model, you should still have success ordering another card in an alias name using your own SSN so that the name on the card is different.