NEED SOME HELP UDERSTANDING BEING A AU

[Joecooltech]

Okay, i currently have 2 cc of my own and i am  AU on 5 cards that are being reported all with zero utl. I am trying to rebuilded my credit but i am not sure if the 5 cards that i am a AU are helping my credit score. Does it or doesn't it i have gotten so many mixed messages on this just wanted some people to chime in.

[LIGHTNIN]

The way I understand it is .....

 As long as there are no lates or high balances reported,being an AU will help your CS.

[kpresod]

+1

[Anonymous]

First of all, I had similar questions in another forum (General Credit) here: http://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/General-Credit-Topics/Authorized-User-Questions/td-p/1226875

Secondly, being an AU to an account can help or hurt, depending on some variables:

1) The entire history of that account will report to your credit, specifically lates and on-time payments. (Lates older than ~7.5 years should not report though)

2) The age of the account will report to your credit, which may increase or decrease your AAoA

3) The credit limit and balance will report to your credit

Any of those three variables can help or hurt your specific credit profile. Generally, old cards with perfect payment history, high CL, and zero balance can only help.