How long after being added as an authorized user affect credit?
Rachel Davis
Updated on February 18, 2026
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.
Is an authorized user on a credit card responsible for payments?
An authorized user has no liability whatsoever. Authorized users can make charges, but they aren’t responsible for bill payments. The primary cardholder has complete liability and is responsible for making payments, redeeming rewards, requesting credit limit increases, etc.
Do credit cards report late payments right away?
Generally speaking, the reporting date is at least 30 days after the payment due date, meaning it’s possible to make up late payments before they wind up on credit reports. Some lenders and creditors don’t report late payments until they are 60 days past due.
Do authorized users get credit history?
Being added as an authorized user on another person’s card may help you establish a credit history or build your credit. Yet cardholders and authorized users’ on-time, late or missed payments will be added to both parties’ credit reports, so it’s important that cardholders and authorized users see eye to eye.
What are three benefits of being an authorized user on a credit card?
Being an authorized user on a credit card has its advantages:
- This can help build credit. For someone with little or no credit, being added as an authorized user can help them build a good credit score.
- It gives a person access to a credit card.
- You can learn how to manage money.
What happens if I pay my credit card late?
If it was difficult to pay $28 one month, for example, it’s even harder to catch up on the payment plus a late fee of up to $28. If your payment is just a few days late, it won’t affect your credit report. “If it’s less than 30 days, you’re fine,” says Chane Steiner, CEO of Crediful.
What happens when you add a child to a credit card?
However, credit bureaus can still match up the user’s date of birth and address with a credit file. When you add your child (or anyone) as an authorized user, most major issuers will report the credit card account to the three main credit bureaus — then the account, and its history, will usually reflect on the user’s credit file.
When do you have to report late payment to credit bureaus?
Issuers typically won’t report the late payment to the credit bureaus until it’s 30 days past due. If you can make your payment before the 30-day mark, you may not have to worry about the late payment being added to your reports.
What does it mean to be authorized user on parents credit card?
The practice is also referred to as piggybacking. So, if your parents add you as an authorized user on one of their longstanding cards, the account’s history is added to your credit reports, which will likely increase your credit score thanks to the positive repayment history associated with the account.