Disadvantages of being an authorized user
Limited access: Authorized users can be removed at any time, and they cannot use all of the benefits of the card. For instance, they cannot earn their own credit card rewards points and typically are not authorized to redeem them.
Your score may drop a bit when you are removed as an authorized user, but you can improve it over time by using your own credit accounts responsibly.
They might be too young to reap the benefits
For one, your kid may not qualify for authorized user status. While some card issuers don't have age restrictions, others require a minimum age of 13 or older. Even if you can add your child, the issuer may not report their account details to the credit bureaus.
With responsible card use and on time payments, your positive credit score may be able to help your Authorized User to build their credit. For more tips, our CreditWise app can help them access and understand their credit score—whether they're a cardholder or not.
Becoming an authorized user on someone else's credit card account can be a great way to establish or improve your credit history, provided the primary owner of the account has good credit management habits and solid credit scores.
Remove an authorized user from your account
On the manage users page, select the user you'd like to delete and confirm it with one click.
Authorized users can be added to an account at various ages, depending on the credit card company. The minimum age for authorized users ranges from 13 to 18, and some issuers don't specify any age requirement.
They are “authorized” to make purchases with your credit card. However, they have no legal responsibility toward the debt. Authorized users also gain access to most of the credit card's benefits, such as airport lounge access, rental car protection, purchase protection and other perks.
While an authorized user can spend money through a credit card account, only the primary account holder is responsible for payments. Therefore, if your authorized user is overspending, removing their access to the card is the fastest way to avoid the consequences of their reckless spending.
There are some differences around how the various data elements on a credit report factor into the score calculations. Although credit scoring models vary, generally, credit scores from 660 to 724 are considered good; 725 to 759 are considered very good; and 760 and up are considered excellent.
If the card has a long record of on-time payments and low credit utilization, that positive history will be removed from the authorized user's credit report. And if the account has been open for a long time, it could also decrease the average length of their credit history.
An authorized user is someone who has permission to use another person's credit card. Authorized users can make purchases on the account and aren't responsible for making payments. But they can't do things like request credit limit increases or add other authorized users.
An important point to note is that the primary account holder's credit scores will not be affected by adding you as an authorized user, even if your credit history is limited or needs work.
For starters, keep in mind that being an authorized user might not impact your credit score at all. In order for a credit account to impact your credit score, it must be reported to the credit bureaus.
“However, if you have a credit account that's two years old and an authorized user account that's eight years old, removing the authorized user account could hurt your credit score.”
An authorized user is someone who's been added to a credit card account by the card's owner, also known as the primary cardholder. The authorized user can make purchases with the credit card as if it were their own. However, the responsibility to pay any charges remains with the primary cardholder.
It's possible to build credit as an authorized user on someone's credit card account. But you'll need to make sure the primary account holder pays the bill on time each month. Late or missed payments could hurt your credit.
Adding authorized users on your account can make it easier to cash in on points or other rewards, but it can also mean taking a bigger financial risk. At the end of the day, regardless of who makes the purchases, you and you alone will be responsible for paying the bill as the primary cardholder.
The primary cardholder has to add an authorized user. This can be done by calling the credit card issuer or logging onto the online account. Many issuers will issue a second card for the authorized user, but it will generally be mailed to the primary cardholder, who can choose to give it to the authorized user or not.
The process of removing an authorized user is simple and can be done by calling the credit card issuer or sending a letter. There are risks involved in being an authorized user, such as negative financial behavior of the primary cardholder impacting your credit score.
If you discover the primary cardholder isn't making on-time bill payments, you may decide that cutting ties is the best way to go. Call the issuer and ask to have your name removed as an authorized user. It should take only a few days, and the issuer will cease making reports under your name to credit bureaus.
Venture X cardholders' authorized users and account managers also receive unlimited complimentary access for themselves and 2 guests to Capital One Lounges and complimentary access for themselves and 1 guest to Capital One Landing locations.