topic Re: Authorized user question in Understanding FICO® Scoring

Authorized user question

becardi112 — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 15:28:06 GMT

I have an interesting question. I was thinking of adding my father as an authorized user on my Citi prestige card. In most cases the authorized user has a worse credit score then the primary cardholder. But my father's credit score is near perfect and I am wondering if by adding him as an authorized user his credit score can go down. I keep my utilization extremely low and never carry a balance, and I have also never made a late payment. This would only be so he could take advantage of some of the perks of the card without the 450 annual fee. So in general if the card is used correctly can it have a negative impact. Any info would be helpful thank you.

Re: Authorized user question

Appleman — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 17:28:16 GMT

With the conditions you mention (low utilization, never late) it should not affect your Dad's credit. If he had a 'thin' or new file maybe but that does not sound like the case.

Is there no fee for an AU on that card? (I am not familiar with the card)

Re: Authorized user question

myjourney — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 00:56:38 GMT

@becardi112 wrote:
I have an interesting question. I was thinking of adding my father as an authorized user on my Citi prestige card. In most cases the authorized user has a worse credit score then the primary cardholder. But my father's credit score is near perfect and I am wondering if by adding him as an authorized user his credit score can go down. I keep my utilization extremely low and never carry a balance, and I have also never made a late payment. This would only be so he could take advantage of some of the perks of the card without the 450 annual fee. So in general if the card is used correctly can it have a negative impact. Any info would be helpful thank you.

If he has a long credit history the only effect would be to his AAoA from the new account

Thus lowering it could cause scores to fluctuate but with a thick file it will recover the slight hit if any hit at all rather quickly

So go ahead and add dad so he can enjoy the perks of the Prestige .....it's a heck of a card

Re: Authorized user question

myjourney — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 00:58:56 GMT

Forgot to add

Welcome to the forum

Re: Authorized user question

CH-7-Mission-Accomplished — Wed, 24 Feb 2016 02:05:20 GMT

@becardi112 wrote:
I have an interesting question. I was thinking of adding my father as an authorized user on my Citi prestige card. In most cases the authorized user has a worse credit score then the primary cardholder. But my father's credit score is near perfect and I am wondering if by adding him as an authorized user his credit score can go down. I keep my utilization extremely low and never carry a balance, and I have also never made a late payment. This would only be so he could take advantage of some of the perks of the card without the 450 annual fee. So in general if the card is used correctly can it have a negative impact. Any info would be helpful thank you.

How old is your prestige card? If it's new, it could lower his average age of accounts if he only has a few credit cards. That is the only down side I can see if you payoff the card each month and have no lates.

Re: Authorized user question

bch238 — Sat, 27 Feb 2016 14:51:49 GMT

Curious, why are you thinking about adding your dad as an AU on your Citi Prestige?