Does bad credit affect authorized user?
Matthew Harrington
Updated on February 20, 2026
Authorized user accounts must show up on your credit report to affect your credit score. Once the authorized user account is part of your credit history, it can benefit your credit score as long as both you and the credit account holder use the account responsibly.
Will adding my husband as an authorized user help his credit?
When someone you trust adds you as an authorized user to their credit card, a new account will appear on your credit report. Additionally, all the characteristics of the original account will have an impact on your credit scores.
How long does it take for authorized user to show on credit report?
Another piggybacking advantage is the speed with which an authorized user account is added to your credit report after the request is made to the card company — typically within 30 days.
Will my credit score drop if I am removed as an authorized user?
You’re generally able to remove yourself as an authorized user by calling the credit card issuer and requesting the change. The account will no longer appear on your credit report, and its activity will not be factored into your credit scores.
What happens to your credit when you are an authorized user?
Significant aging isn’t usually something we aspire to, but your credit profile should. By adding you as an authorized user, you will add length to your card history in your credit report, and that will boost your credit score.
Why do people want to be authorized users?
The second reason people become authorized users is to build credit. In the example where parents add their young adult child as an authorized user on their credit card, this account will show up on the child’s credit report.
Can a child be an authorized user on a credit card?
In the example where parents add their young adult child as an authorized user on their credit card, this account will show up on the child’s credit report. For someone just starting out with no credit history, being added as an authorized user can give them an exceptional advantage.
How does a credit card increase your credit score?
By adding you as an authorized user, you will add length to your card history in your credit report, and that will boost your credit score. Assuming your two existing cards make up your entire credit picture, you will see a significant aging of your credit history the moment that account is added to your credit report.