What an authorized user is and how it works
An authorized user is someone the cardholder adds to their account who can use the card to make purchases, but is not legally responsible for paying the bill. The primary cardholder — the person who opened the account — remains the only one obligated to pay what's owed. The card issuer sends statements and payment notices to the primary cardholder only.
When you become an authorized user, the card issuer typically issues you a physical card with your name on it, or you may receive a digital card number you can use for online purchases. You can make charges up to the card's credit limit, just as the primary cardholder can. Those charges count toward the same shared limit and appear on the same monthly statement.
Being added as an authorized user is different from being a joint account holder. A joint account holder shares legal responsibility for the debt. An authorized user does not. This distinction matters if the account falls behind on payments or goes to collections — only the primary cardholder's credit is affected, not the authorized user's, with one important exception explained below.
Key Takeaways
- An authorized user can make purchases using the card but has no legal obligation to pay the bill — only the primary cardholder does.
- The card issuer reports the account's payment history to the authorized user's credit report, which can help or hurt their credit score depending on whether payments are made on time.
- You can be removed as an authorized user at any time by the primary cardholder, and the card issuer will stop reporting the account to your credit file.
- Some card issuers require the authorized user to be a family member or household resident; others have no relationship requirement.
- If the primary cardholder misses payments or defaults, only their credit is damaged — the authorized user's credit is not affected unless they later become responsible for the debt.
How authorized user status affects your credit report
Most card issuers report authorized user accounts to the credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion). This means the account's payment history, credit limit, and balance appear on your credit report, even though you don't owe the money. If the primary cardholder pays on time every month, this helps your credit score. If they miss payments or carry a high balance, it can lower your score.
The credit impact is real and when ready. A single late payment on the primary cardholder's part will show up on your credit report and may drop your score by 30 to 100 points, depending on your current score and the severity of the late payment. Conversely, a long history of on-time payments and low balances can boost your score over time.
This is why some people ask trusted family members to add them as authorized users on accounts with strong payment histories — it's a way to build credit without taking on legal debt. However, you have no control over how the primary cardholder manages the account, so this strategy carries risk if they later miss payments.
When the primary cardholder stops paying
If the primary cardholder stops making payments, the account goes into default. The card issuer will report this to the credit bureaus, and it will appear on your credit report as an authorized user. Your credit score will be damaged even though you are not legally responsible for the debt.
You cannot be sued for the debt as an authorized user, and debt collectors cannot pursue you for payment. However, if you later inherit the cardholder's estate or become responsible for their debts in some other legal way, you could become liable. In most cases, though, the debt stays with the primary cardholder alone.
If you discover the account is in default, you can ask the primary cardholder to bring it current, or you can request to be removed as an authorized user. Once removed, the card issuer stops reporting the account to your credit file, and future late payments no longer affect your score. However, the account's history up to the removal date remains on your report.
How to become an authorized user
The primary cardholder contacts their card issuer and requests to add you as an authorized user. This is usually done by phone, online through the card issuer's website or app, or in person at a bank branch if it's a bank-issued card. The process takes a few minutes.
The card issuer will ask for your full name, date of birth, and sometimes your Social Security number. They may verify your identity before issuing a card. Some issuers require you to be a family member or household resident; others do not. A few issuers charge a fee to add an authorized user, though most do not.
Once approved, the card issuer mails a physical card to the address on file, or provides a digital card number when ready if you're using the issuer's app. You can begin making purchases right away. The primary cardholder receives the monthly statement showing all charges made by both of you.
How to remove yourself as an authorized user
If you want to stop being an authorized user, you have two options. You can ask the primary cardholder to remove you, or you can contact the card issuer directly and request removal yourself. Most issuers allow either party to initiate the removal.
When you are removed, the card issuer stops reporting the account to your credit file going forward. However, the account's history — including all on-time payments and late payments — remains on your credit report for seven years from the date of the late payment, or indefinitely for paid-as-agreed accounts. Removal does not erase the account from your history; it only stops new activity from being reported.
If you are removed, you can no longer use the card. The card issuer may ask you to return the physical card or deactivate the digital card number. The primary cardholder's credit limit and account remain unchanged.
Risks of being an authorized user
The main risk is that you have no control over how the account is managed. If the primary cardholder overspends, misses payments, or defaults, your credit score suffers even though you did not make those decisions. You cannot see the monthly statement unless the primary cardholder shares it with you, so you may not know there's a problem until it shows up on your credit report.
Another risk is that the primary cardholder can remove you at any time without notice. If you were counting on the account to build your credit history, sudden removal can disrupt your plans. Additionally, if you have made large purchases on the card, you are still not responsible for paying them — the primary cardholder is — but you may face awkward conversations if they expect you to reimburse them.
Finally, some creditors and lenders view authorized user accounts less favorably than accounts you opened yourself. When you explore for your own credit card or loan, lenders may weight the authorized user account less heavily in their decision, since it demonstrates less financial responsibility on your part.
Authorized user accounts versus opening your own card
Being an authorized user is a low-risk way to start building credit if you have no credit history. It requires no process, no credit check, and no obligation to pay. However, it offers less control and less credit-building power than opening your own card.
When you open your own card, you are the primary cardholder. You control spending, you receive the statement, you make the payments, and you build a stronger credit history. Lenders view accounts you opened yourself as evidence of creditworthiness. The trade-off is that you are legally responsible for the debt, and a missed payment damages your credit.
If you have no credit history, starting as an authorized user on a trusted family member's account for six months to a year can help you build a credit score. Once you have a score of 600 or higher, you may be able to open your own card. If you already have a credit history, opening your own card is usually the better choice because it gives you full control and builds stronger credit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the card if I'm an authorized user?
Yes. You receive a card with your name on it (or a digital card number) and can make purchases up to the credit limit. The charges appear on the primary cardholder's statement, and they are responsible for paying the bill.
Will being an authorized user hurt my credit if the account has a high balance?
Yes. Credit scoring models penalize high balances relative to the credit limit, even if you didn't create the balance. If the primary cardholder carries a balance above 30% of the limit, it can lower your credit score.
What happens to my credit if I'm removed as an authorized user?
The account stops being reported to your credit file going forward, but the payment history remains on your report for seven years. Your credit score may improve slightly if the account had a high balance or late payments, since those negative factors are no longer being updated.
Can I be sued if the primary cardholder doesn't pay?
No. As an authorized user, you have no legal obligation to pay the debt. Creditors and debt collectors cannot pursue you for payment. Only the primary cardholder is liable.
Can I become an authorized user if I have bad credit?
Yes. Card issuers do not run a credit check on authorized users, so your credit score does not matter. The primary cardholder's credit is what matters for account approval.