Hello Everyone, First, I live in CA and was married in 03/04. Second, I have many credit cards that have been charged off as recently as 11/00 and a credit score in the mid 500's. My wife is very concerned that since she listed me as an authorized user on a new credit card that our credit scores will now be married and all of my bad credit will affect her credit score. Any info on this situation would be appreciated. Additionally, she heard from her sister that we should have filed our marriage license confidentially which would have prevented any worries about our credit scores being married. Thanks in advance for any help.
Credit scores don't get "married." It doesn't matter how you file your license. In fact, I didn't know there was more than one way. If she makes you an authorized user on her cards, the credit history FOR THOSE CARDS will be reflected on your report. That can be good for you, as it will give you some good lines. The only way your credit should reflect on her report is if you 1) make her an authorized user on your cards or 2) you apply for joint credit. If you make her an AU, only those accounts will show on her report. If you apply for joint credit, only those accounts will show on her report. If something else ever pops up, she should immediately dispute it as "not mine." Credit reports are for each individual, not for families.
Thanks for the post!!! That's what I thought for the most part. As for her liability, now that we're married is she liable for my debt? Can they garnish her wages, or take some other measure against her? SOL is 4 years in CA and the DOA for the most recent charge off is 11/00. So, I'm 90% sure that she and I are in the clear with respect to lawsuits over my debt. Again, any help is very appreciated.
She can't be responsible for anything that she did not sign for, nor is she responsible for anything that occurred before you were married!
I don't have any clever advice here, but had to share a memory from my past. When I had a 478 TU, my Mother told me to warn all girls I dated about them merging my credit file with theirs. Being from a different generation, my folks - in their late 50's, they aren't familiar with credit reports. They assumed that when the mortgage lender pulled 'their credit' it was under one file. Don't worry! You are gonna be fine. Too bad Jennifer Garner blew me off when she found out about my FICO, Maybe I'll send her my updated report.
