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The Cardless credit card portfolio is nothing short of interesting. In its current form, Cardless offers a trio of airline credit cards alongside a Simon American Express product. In the past, Cardless featured credit cards for sports teams, and soon, it will roll out four new cards spread across Avianca and Qatar Airways.
However, according to the issuer's website, there's a potential restriction you'll want to be aware of before applying for your first or future Cardless credit cards. Simply put, you may not be able to get another one. Emphasis on “may.”
Potential Cardless Credit Card Application Restrictions
Compared to American Express, Chase, and the other big names in the card-issuing ecosystem, Cardless is a relative newcomer. Thus, there's a lot we don't know about Cardless. We do know that it plans to launch two Qatar Airways credit cards this month and a duo of Avianca LifeMiles cards at some point this year.
But when it comes to the particulars, such as application rules and restrictions, that's where things get a little blurry. For instance, Cardless' FAQ page states the following:
“Can I select a different Cardless product? No. It is not currently possible to move between Cardless products, nor are you able to close your account and open a new one.”
This can be interpreted in several different ways, the most glaring being the following: Wait, does Cardless have a one-card-per-lifetime restriction?
Read differently, the Q&A speaks directly to product-changing, such as downgrading from the LATAM Airlines World Elite Mastercard to the LATAM Airlines Mastercard. Alternatively, it could refer to reopening an account after canceling a card.
The bottom line is that it's unclear whether you can have more than one Cardless credit card — either at once or in a lifetime.
When asked for a comment, Cardless wouldn't provide anything more than to say it “endeavor[s] to approve customers that show repeated engagement with their brand partners.”
Be Strategic With Your Cardless Applications
The lack of clarity on application rules and restrictions suggests that, at a bare minimum, you should be strategic in applying for Cardless credit cards. If there truly is a one-card-per-lifetime restriction, ensure you're content with possibly forgoing future opportunities.
And if you've had a Cardless product in the past, such as a sports team credit card, you could strike out when trying to open a new account like the TAP Miles&Go American Express® Credit Card. Keyword: Could.
Additionally, if you currently have a Cardless card or plan to apply for one in the near future, a best practice is to keep your account active instead of collecting a signup bonus and putting the card in the sock drawer. If Cardless considers engagement with its partners, your chances of successfully opening a second account could improve if you don't let your card collect dust. Keyword: Could. And how much spending is required for “repeated engagement?” That's unknown.
Related: How To Plan a Long-Term Credit Card Strategy
Final Thoughts
There's a lot going on at Cardless, and some of it is pretty exciting. But before you apply for a card, note that there's a lot of unknown information when it comes to how many Cardless credit cards you can have at once — or in a lifetime. Thus, you'll want to be strategic before applying, and ensure you keep your Cardless cards active no matter what.
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