Being added to a trusted person’s credit card can give your credit file a head start. It works best when their account is in good shape.
Quick summary
- An authorized user can use someone else’s credit card but isn’t legally responsible for the debt.
- If the issuer reports authorized users, the card’s history may appear on your credit report.
- A card with on-time payments and low balances can help; late payments or high balances can hurt.
- You can usually be removed at any time if the account starts causing problems.
An authorized user is someone added to another person’s credit card account. It’s a common way for parents to help children, or for partners to share a card, and it can help someone with thin credit.
How it works
The primary cardholder asks the issuer to add you. You may receive your own card, but the primary cardholder owns the account and is responsible for paying the bill. Many issuers then report the account on your credit report as well.
How it can help
If the account has a long history of on-time payments and low balances, it can:
- give you a credit history if you have none
- add age and positive payment history to your file
- lower your overall credit utilization if the card has a high limit and low balance
Scoring models include authorized user accounts, although they have safeguards against people paying strangers to be added.
The risks
| For the authorized user | For the primary cardholder |
|---|---|
| Their late payments can appear on your report | Your spending adds to their bill |
| A high balance can raise your utilization | Disagreements over spending can strain relationships |
| You have no control over the account | They’re responsible for the full debt |
Quick tip
Before being added, ask the primary cardholder how the account is managed, and confirm with the issuer that it reports authorized users to all three credit bureaus.
Checking that it works
After a billing cycle or two, check your free credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com. The account should appear with an authorized user designation. If it doesn’t, the issuer may not report authorized users, and you’ll need another way to build credit from scratch.
Worth knowing
If the account develops problems, ask the primary cardholder or the issuer to remove you. The account will usually drop off your report.
Making it part of a plan
Authorized user status is a helpful start, but lenders also like to see accounts in your own name. Combine it with a secured card or a credit-builder loan so you build your own record of on-time payments.
Reader questions
Do I need to use the card?
No. The account can appear on your report whether or not you use it, as long as the issuer reports authorized users.
Does the primary cardholder’s score change?
Adding an authorized user doesn’t affect the primary cardholder’s score directly, but any spending by the authorized user adds to their balance.
Is there a minimum age?
It depends on the card issuer. Some have no minimum age and others set one, so check before asking.
This article is general information, not financial or legal advice. Scoring models, lender policies and laws change, and state rules vary. Check official sources such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission, and consider a nonprofit credit counselor for help with your own situation.