What an authorized user is and how it works
An authorized user is someone who has permission to use a credit card account that belongs to someone else — usually a family member or trusted person. The primary cardholder (the person whose name and Social Security number opened the account) remains responsible for all charges and payments. You can use the card to make purchases, but you do not owe the debt.
When you become an authorized user, the card issuer typically sends you a physical card with your name on it, or you may receive a digital card number you can use when ready. The primary cardholder controls the account: they set spending limits, receive the bills, make the payments, and can remove you at any time. You have no legal obligation to pay what you charge.
Being added as an authorized user is different from being a joint account holder or a co-signer. A joint account holder shares legal responsibility for the debt. A co-signer guarantees a loan but does not use it. An authorized user uses the card but owes nothing.
Key Takeaways
- The primary cardholder remains fully responsible for all charges and payments, regardless of who uses the card.
- Your credit report will show the authorized user account, and the payment history can help or hurt your credit score depending on whether the primary cardholder pays on time.
- You can be removed as an authorized user at any time with no notice, which will remove the account from your credit report within one to two billing cycles.
- Some card issuers report authorized user accounts to credit bureaus and some do not, so the credit impact varies by card and issuer.
- Being added as an authorized user costs you nothing and requires no credit check, but it only helps your credit if the primary cardholder pays the bill consistently.
How authorized user accounts show up on your credit report
When you become an authorized user on a credit card, that account may appear on your credit report. Not all card issuers report authorized user accounts to the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion), so check with the card issuer before you rely on this for credit-building purposes.
If the account does report, your credit report will show the account balance, credit limit, and payment history — the same information that appears for the primary cardholder. If the primary cardholder pays on time every month, this history helps your credit score. If they miss payments or carry a high balance, it hurts your score, even though you are not responsible for paying.
The account will remain on your credit report as long as you are an authorized user. Once the primary cardholder removes you, the account typically disappears from your credit report within one to two billing cycles. Some bureaus may keep a record that you were once an authorized user, but it will no longer factor into your score.
When being an authorized user helps your credit score
An authorized user account can raise your credit score if three conditions are met: the card issuer reports to the credit bureaus, the primary cardholder has a good payment history, and the account has a low balance relative to the credit limit.
Payment history is the largest factor in your credit score (about 35 percent). If the primary cardholder pays the bill in full or on time every month, that positive history gets added to your credit report. Over time, this can raise your score, especially if you have no credit history or a short one.
Credit utilization — the percentage of your credit limit that you are using — is the second-largest factor (about 30 percent). If the primary cardholder keeps the balance low, this helps your score. For example, if the card has a $5,000 limit and a $500 balance, the utilization is 10 percent, which is good. If the balance is $4,500, the utilization is 90 percent, which hurts your score even if the bill is paid on time.
When being an authorized user hurts your credit score
An authorized user account can lower your credit score if the primary cardholder misses payments, carries a high balance, or has other problems with the account. You have no control over these decisions, but your credit report will reflect them.
Late payments are the most damaging. A single 30-day late payment can lower your score by 100 points or more, depending on your current score and credit history. The damage is worse if the payment is 60 or 90 days late. These late payments stay on your credit report for seven years.
High balances also hurt your score. If the primary cardholder maxes out the card or carries a balance close to the limit, your credit utilization rises, which lowers your score. This damage is temporary — your score will recover once the balance drops — but it can be significant while the balance is high.
How to become an authorized user
To become an authorized user, ask the primary cardholder to contact their card issuer and request to add you. Most issuers allow this through their website, mobile app, or by phone. The process is usually quick — sometimes when ready, sometimes within a few business days.
You will need to provide your name and date of birth. Some issuers ask for your Social Security number; others do not. No credit check is required. The card issuer will not contact you to verify that you want to be added — they contact only the primary cardholder.
Once you are added, the card issuer will mail a physical card to you or provide a digital card number. The primary cardholder can set spending limits or other restrictions through their account settings. Ask the primary cardholder what the limit is and whether they want you to use the card for specific purchases only.
How to remove yourself as an authorized user
If you want to stop being an authorized user, contact the card issuer directly and ask to be removed. You do not need permission from the primary cardholder. Provide your name, the primary cardholder's name, and the account number. The issuer will remove you when ready or within a few business days.
Once you are removed, the account will fall off your credit report within one to two billing cycles. Any positive payment history you gained will remain on your credit report, but the account itself will no longer affect your score going forward.
If the primary cardholder removes you without your knowledge, you may not notice right away. Check your credit report periodically to see what accounts are listed. You can get a free credit report from each of the three bureaus once per year at annualcreditreport.com.
Authorized user accounts versus building credit on your own
Being an authorized user is one way to build credit, but it is not the only way and it has limits. The main advantage is that it requires no credit check and no debt of your own — you benefit from someone else's good credit history. The main disadvantage is that you have no control over the account and no may provide it will help your score.
Other ways to build credit include opening a secured credit card (which requires a cash deposit), becoming a co-signer on someone else's loan, or taking out a credit-builder loan from a credit union. Each of these gives you more control over the account and your credit-building progress.
If you are trying to recover from past credit problems, being an authorized user on a well-managed account can help, but it works slowly. It typically takes several months of positive payment history to see a meaningful improvement in your score. If you need to build credit faster, a secured card or credit-builder loan may be a better option.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I be removed as an authorized user without being told?
Yes. The primary cardholder can remove you at any time without notifying you. The card issuer will not contact you. Check your credit report periodically to see if the account is still listed. You can also call the card issuer directly and ask whether you are still an authorized user on the account.
Does being an authorized user hurt the primary cardholder's credit?
No. Adding an authorized user does not affect the primary cardholder's credit score. Their credit report will show the same account information whether you are an authorized user or not. However, if you use the card and the primary cardholder does not pay the bill, that late payment will hurt both of your scores.
What happens if the primary cardholder stops paying and the account goes to collections?
The account will appear as a collection account on both your credit report and the primary cardholder's. You are not legally responsible for the debt, but the negative mark will lower your credit score. If a debt collector contacts you, you can tell them you are an authorized user and not responsible for the debt. Ask them to remove the account from your credit report.
Can I use an authorized user account to get a loan?
Lenders will see the authorized user account on your credit report and may count it toward your credit history and score. However, some lenders are skeptical of authorized user accounts because you have no payment history of your own. If you are explore for a mortgage or large loan, the lender may ask whether you are the primary cardholder or an authorized user. Having your own credit accounts (a card in your name, a loan you took out) strengthens your process.
What if I want to become an authorized user but the primary cardholder is worried about me running up charges?
Most card issuers allow the primary cardholder to set a spending limit for each authorized user. Ask the primary cardholder to set a limit that matches what you plan to spend. Some cards also allow the primary cardholder to restrict the types of purchases you can make (for example, online only, or specific merchants). Discuss these options before the card is activated.