What happens when you add an authorized user
When you add an authorized user to your credit card, you give another person permission to use your card to make purchases. That person receives their own card with their name on it, linked to your account. They can spend up to your credit limit, and all their charges appear on your bill — you remain responsible for paying the full balance.
The card issuer reports the account activity to the credit bureaus in both your name and the authorized user's name. This means the account shows up on both credit reports, and both of your credit scores can be affected by how the account is managed. If the account stays in good standing with on-time payments and low balances, both credit scores may improve. If payments are late or the balance is high, both scores can drop.
Key Takeaways
- Adding an authorized user takes a phone call or online request to your card issuer and usually happens within one to five business days.
- The authorized user's credit report will show the account, so their credit score can improve if the account has a good payment history and low balance.
- You remain the primary cardholder and are legally responsible for all charges, even if the authorized user makes them.
- You can remove an authorized user at any time by contacting your card issuer, and the account will stop appearing on their credit report within one to two billing cycles.
- Some card issuers allow you to set spending limits for an authorized user, while others do not offer this feature.
How to add an authorized user to your account
Contact your card issuer directly — by phone, online portal, or mobile app — and ask to add an authorized user. You will need to provide the person's full name, date of birth, and sometimes their Social Security number or last four digits of their Social Security number. The issuer will verify this information and create a new card.
Most issuers process the request within one to five business days. The new card is mailed to the address on file for your account, unless you specify a different mailing address. Some issuers offer rush delivery for an additional fee, typically $10 to $25, if you need the card sooner.
Once the card arrives, the authorized user can set up it by calling the number on the back of the card or using the issuer's app. They can then use it when ready for purchases. The account activity begins showing on both credit reports within one to two billing cycles.
When adding an authorized user helps their credit score
An authorized user's credit score can improve if the primary cardholder maintains a low balance and makes on-time payments. The account history — including the age of the account, payment record, and credit utilization ratio — becomes part of the authorized user's credit profile. If the account has been open for several years and has a clean payment history, adding someone as an authorized user can boost their score by 10 to 100 points, depending on their existing credit history.
This benefit is most noticeable for people with limited credit history or recent negative marks. Someone with no credit cards of their own can build credit faster by being added to an established account. Someone recovering from missed payments on other accounts may see improvement more quickly if they are added to an account with perfect payment history.
However, the benefit only works if the primary cardholder keeps the account in good standing. If payments are late or the balance is consistently high relative to the credit limit, the authorized user's score will suffer along with the primary cardholder's score.
Risks and responsibilities you should know
You are legally responsible for all charges made by the authorized user, even if you did not make them yourself. If the authorized user runs up a large balance or makes fraudulent charges, you are still obligated to pay. The card issuer will pursue you for payment, not the authorized user.
If the authorized user misses payments or the account goes to collections, both credit scores are damaged. You cannot remove yourself from responsibility by removing the authorized user from the card — the account remains on your credit report. The only way to fully close the account is to pay off the balance and request that the issuer close it.
Some card issuers allow you to set a spending limit for an authorized user, which can reduce the risk of unexpectedly large charges. Check with your issuer to see if this feature is available on your card. If it is not, you may want to monitor the account regularly or ask the authorized user to notify you before making large purchases.
Removing an authorized user
You can remove an authorized user at any time by contacting your card issuer by phone, online, or through the mobile app. The issuer will deactivate the card when ready, and the authorized user will no longer be able to use it. The account will stop appearing on the authorized user's credit report within one to two billing cycles, though it may remain visible in their credit history for up to seven years.
Removing an authorized user does not affect the primary cardholder's account or credit score. The account continues to exist under your name, and you remain responsible for any balance on it. If the authorized user had access to online account management, that access is also removed when they are removed as an authorized user.
Alternatives to adding an authorized user
If you want to give someone spending power without adding them to your account, you can request a separate credit card in their name. This keeps the accounts completely separate and makes each person responsible for their own balance. However, this does not help someone build credit on an established account.
Another option is to add them as an authorized user on a different card that you use less frequently, or to set a lower credit limit on that card before adding them. Some issuers allow you to request a lower limit specifically for an authorized user's card, which caps their spending.
If your goal is to help someone build credit, adding them as an authorized user on your oldest card with the lowest balance and best payment history will have the strongest effect on their credit score.
How credit bureaus report authorized user accounts
The three major credit bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — all report authorized user accounts on the authorized user's credit report. The account appears with the same information as it does on the primary cardholder's report: the account age, credit limit, current balance, and payment history.
Some credit scoring models, including older versions of FICO, weighted authorized user accounts less heavily than accounts the person opened themselves. Newer scoring models, including FICO 9 and later, treat authorized user accounts the same as any other account. VantageScore also treats them equally. This means the account can have a meaningful impact on credit scores under current scoring methods.
If you remove an authorized user, the account stops being reported to the bureaus under their name, but the history of the account may remain visible in their credit file for up to seven years. This does not harm their score — it straightforward shows that the account existed and is no longer active.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an authorized user make charges without my permission?
Yes. Once they receive the card, they can use it for any purchase up to your credit limit. You remain responsible for paying all charges. If you are concerned about unauthorized spending, set a spending limit with your issuer if that feature is available, or monitor the account regularly and remove them if they exceed what you agreed to.
Does adding an authorized user hurt my credit score?
No. Adding an authorized user does not trigger a hard inquiry or lower your score. However, if the authorized user makes large purchases that increase your credit utilization ratio, your score may drop slightly. The effect is usually temporary and recovers once the balance is paid down.
What happens to the authorized user's credit if I miss a payment?
Late payments on the account will appear on both the primary cardholder's and authorized user's credit reports. Both credit scores will be negatively affected. The authorized user has no control over whether payments are made on time, so they bear the risk of the primary cardholder's payment behavior.
Can an authorized user see my full account details?
That depends on your card issuer. Some issuers give authorized users access to the full account online, including the primary cardholder's personal information and full transaction history. Others restrict authorized user access to their own transactions only. Check your issuer's policies or call to ask what information an authorized user can see.
Will removing an authorized user hurt their credit score?
Removing an authorized user does not directly hurt their score. However, if the account was helping their score because of its age or good payment history, removing it means they lose that benefit going forward. The account will stop appearing on their credit report within one to two billing cycles.