Secured Card vs Authorized User

[myfreshstart27]

Hello everyone! So today I come to you asking for advice regarding being an authorized user vs. having a secured card.

Backstory: I don't have any revolving credit lines. I have old baddies that are either being disputed for inaccuracy or that I am planning to write GW letters to after the disputes are taken care of... with that being said.

I was planning on opening a secured card while I take care of cleaning up the baddies on my CR since I don't have ANY credit reporting at all. (no cc's, no loans, nothing). However my fiance just recently got a walmart discover card and he offered to add me as an AU on his account.

My original plan was to open the secured card, use it well for 3-4 months and either get a second secured card or see i I could be approved for an unsecured card.

Now, I'm wondering if it would be better for me to be added as an AU to this card, put the money from the secured card towards removing the baddies that need to be paid and then 3-4 months down the road try for an unsecured card?

I understand what could go wrong with being an AU on a cc--- but he's sock drawering this card anyway. Which situation do you think could benefit me more?

[guiness56]

I would be added as an AU as a temporary means to get things paid off as you suggested.

Do you have a FICO score?

[myfreshstart27]

Have not purchased a FICO score yet.  I am enrolled on Credit Karma and that TU FAKO is 589 I plan on enrolling in myFICO's credit score watch later on this month.

[myjourney]

AU will get you the benefit of the history on that card were as the secured card starts building history from the day your approved 

So if you are added as AU to a card with history from say 2000 you benefit from the all that history

[myfreshstart27]

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@myjourney wrote:

AU will get you the benefit of the history on that card were as the secured card starts building history from the day your approved 

So if you are added as AU to a card with history from say 2000 you benefit from the all that history

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Oh yes, I understand the benefits of being added as an authorized user. It's a new card though (3 months old)  which is where my dilemma mainly comes in to play.

[mongstradamus]

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@myfreshstart27 wrote:

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@myjourney wrote:

AU will get you the benefit of the history on that card were as the secured card starts building history from the day your approved 

So if you are added as AU to a card with history from say 2000 you benefit from the all that history

---

Oh yes, I understand the benefits of being added as an authorized user. It's a new card though (3 months old)  which is where my dilemma mainly comes in to play.

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Me personally would go secured route with short credit history. From my personal experience seems like some fico scores don't count au as much as other. YMMV

[ezdriver]

I'd pass on the authorized user thing and go with secured cc.

[guiness56]

If you have no CC getting added as an AU could help you obtain one on your own.  Even though it is only 3 months old it is better than no revolving at all.

And while it is true that some AU accounts are factored differently,  it is at least a foot in the door.

It will also give you the means to pay off some debt.

[myfreshstart27]

Everyone has made some great points. Thanks everyone!