If I am an authorized user on a family members credit card to raise my FICO score will the blemishes on my credit report also affect my family member? What are the reasons another party would not want to do this for a someone? I would not want the card and wouldn't even want to know the CC#. And HELLO! I'm new here today. :-D AJ ========================================== From the FAQ and HOPE AU stands for Authorized User and can be used to "attach" part of someone else's credit history on your report by adding you to their credit card(s). Originally posted by Hope I am an AU on several of my fiance accounts. He also has "perfect" credit. They showed up on each CRA with the very next month's posting as "authorized user" and showed his completed history as my own. It immediately raised my scores. All your Dad has to do is call each card company and tell them to add you as an AU (not "joint user" or they will pull your credit). They may or may not ask for your SSN. It takes only a minute or two for each card. Many of them can even be done online if he has already set up access to his accounts that way. Major credits cards (AMEX, VISA, MC, Discover) will say "AU", while often retail cards will says "Joint". Hope
your credit as an AU won't affect the primary card holder's. someone may not want to add an AU to their acct if they're worried the person would rack up a whole bunch of charges and not pay it. you're right, it's best not to use the card at all and even bester (if that's a word) to not even SEE the card!
