As an authorized user on credit cards does this affect my credit score at all?

Question

My husband has added me as an authorized user on many of his credit cards, but he is not as responsible as I am with paying them on time. I don't want this to hurt my credit and I see some of his accounts are listed on MY credit score. Now I feel responsible to pay them off.

Answer 1

Being an authorized user (AU) can help your credit as long as the accounts have been and continue to be kept in good standing, no late pays, no over utilization, no defaults, etc. If the accounts are not kept in good standing then it can hurt your credit. Being only an AU on the accounts, if they start heading south then you can always have yourself removed from the accounts and once removed then the accounts will drop off of your credit reports.

Answer 2

If you are just an authorized user, it should not affect you at all.



If the account was registered jointly in your name then it will show up on your credit report as if it were your own account and any late payments will be a hit to you.



IF your husband just called them and they sent you a second card or gave permission for you to use his card you are only be an authorized user.



IF you had to sign a cardholder agreement the account was put in your name also which means its on your credit report.

Answer 3

Authorized user accounts will appear on your credit report and count in your FICO score (only for spouses and kids). You get the benefit of the account history -- good or bad.



If he carries large balances on these cards or pays late, perhaps you should have him remove you as an authorized user. Or maybe you should just take over all the household finances and make sure they are all paid on time.

Answer 4

Most credit card issuers will report under any names who are authorized to use the card. You can pull your credit report https://www.annualcreditreport.com/cra/index.jsp and see if they're showing up on yours. Or, call the companies and ask if they report under your name.



If they do, then your credit will be affected. If he's not good about paying on time or keeping his utilization at, or below, 30%, you might have him take you back off - especially if you have your own cards anyway.





Ooops! Just realized that you said you can see them on your report. Yes, of course, they'll affect you if they're on there. You can pay them off. But, if you don't want to take over the responsibility for him, it might be better to get your name taken off as an authorized user.

Answer 5

Authorized users are not affected by the primary owner's actions on the account and cannot be held responsible for the debt. The account should not show up on your credit profile. But you must understand that you may NOT be an authorized user but a co-owner of the account. Major difference. As a co-owner, you are equally responsible for 100% of the debt and it does show on your credit profile. So, if hubby says you are an authorized user, the CC issuer may have you listed as a co-owner. And since you see these accounts on your credit profile, I'm 99.99999999% sure you are a co-owner, not an authorized user.



Many CC issuers don't like to put authorized users on personal accounts. They rather have them listed as co-owners. That way, if the primary owner defaults, dies, declares bankruptcy or otherwise cannot pay the debt, the co-owner becomes a secondary source of fund to pay the debt.



I'm an authorized user on my church's credit card account. That account does not appear on my credit profile.