In most cases, you'll need to provide the authorized user's date of birth and Social Security number (SSN) for the credit bureaus to update their file. American Express, Bank of America and Discover, for example, require this information in order to add an authorized user.
Some credit card companies let you add an authorized user without providing that individual's Social Security Number (SSN). You only need their name, birthday and address in some cases. But requirements vary by credit card company, and not all of them will allow you to add an authorized user with no SSN.
In order to add an authorized user, you'll need to provide that person's name, date of birth, and social security number, as well as an address for them to receive a card.
When you add an authorized user to your credit card account, information from the account — like the credit limit, payment history and card balance — can show up on that person's credit reports. That means their credit can improve as a result of being added to a credit account you keep in good standing.
Authorized user accounts must show up on your credit report to affect your credit score. If they do, you might see your score change as soon as the lender starts reporting that information to the credit bureaus, which can take as little as 30 days.
According to a 2018 study done by Credit Sesame, people who had a fair credit score saw their credit score improve nearly 11% just three months after becoming an authorized user on someone's credit card.
If you're the primary account holder, removing an authorized user won't affect your credit score. The account will continue to be reported on your credit report as normal.
After you add an authorized user to an account, the new account should appear on his or her credit report by the end of the next billing cycle. So it could show up in just a few days or take about a month, depending on when in the card's billing cycle the authorized user is added.
Does being added as an authorized cause a hard inquiry on your credit report? No, being added as an authorized user will not allow the lender to do a hard inquiry on your credit report. This is because the account holder is responsible for the debt that an authorized user generates.
American Express authorized users can be denied if they are younger than 13 years old or if they have a bad history with Amex, such as past defaults or lawsuits with the company. Some online forums also report that if a primary cardholder's account is not in good standing, Amex authorized users cannot be added.
An Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN) is issued to an individual for tax purposes. These numbers, if used, would be recognized as an invalid Social Security number on your credit report. If you do not have an SSN, you can submit your request for a free credit report in writing.
What Does Adding an Authorized User to a Credit Card Do? When a primary cardholder adds an authorized user to a card, that account will appear on the user's credit report and can help that person build or restore credit if the account is managed well.
An SSN is required to add an Account Manager (a type of authorized user with increased account access, including the ability to set up their login details to manage the account). Discover – SSN, Name, Birthday and Address. Citibank – Name, Birthday, and Address.
An authorized user is someone who is permitted to use another person's credit card. Once the original cardholder signs off on the authorization, the authorized user gets a card in their name that is linked to the original cardholder's account.
Yes, adding children as authorized users can help their credit scores. It's up to the primary cardholder to maintain a healthy credit score so the authorized users can reap the benefits.
To add an authorized user, contact your credit card issuer by phone or by logging on to your online account. The card issuer will need the authorized user's personal information, including their name, address, date of birth, and social security number, to process the request.
When you remove an authorized user, it may cause their credit score to temporarily drop, because removing the user will close one of their lines of credit. This primarily affects the length of their credit history, which impacts 15 percent of their overall score.
It may not be free to become an authorized user on someone else's credit card account. ... However, there are annual fee credit cards that don't charge additional fees for authorized users. This is a win-win: Authorized users can build credit and the primary account holder can save money and earn more rewards.
The authorized user needs to stop using the credit cards the moment the primary cardholder dies. Even if you plan on paying the money back, you should not use the card. "If someone continues to use the account after the account holder's death they can be sued and held personally liable," Creeden says.
You may also see THD/CBNA on your credit reports if you've been added as an authorized user on any of The Home Depot's credit cards. As an authorized user, the account activity is reflected in your credit reports as well.
Becoming an authorized user on someone else's credit card account is a strategy for improving credit quickly. It works best if the primary user's card has a long record of on-time payments and a high credit limit and the authorized user doesn't have recent blemishes on their credit report.
Adding your spouse as an authorized user to your credit card won't hurt your credit score, but it could help your spouse's. ... The card issuer will scrutinize your wife's credit report (and perhaps yours), and you may be offered a higher interest rate or a lower credit limit depending on your combined histories.
Surprisingly, the AMEX rep said yes, they could expedite authorized user / employee cards. I then asked if it was possible to add myself as an authorized user, and surprisingly, the AMEX rep said yes.
Yes, authorized users do get their own credit card. Sometimes it will have the same credit card number and expiration date as the primary account holder's, while other times each authorized user will have a different number.
Usually the account owner chooses a spouse, relative, business partner, or close friend as an authorized signer. To add an authorized signer to an account, both you and the individual will usually need to go the bank to fill out an application and provide proper identification.