topic Re: How many AU cards help/hurt? in Understanding FICO® Scoring

How many AU cards help/hurt?

ChemE_Bear — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 01:54:48 GMT

I have a thin file (2 credit cards, no open installment accounts - 2 closed/deferred student loans will become open soon) that I have applied for in the past 6 months so I'm not looking to apply for a new card until my scores recover a little in 6 months-1 year. I am an AU on one of my husband's cards (Chase Sapphire). Would it help my score to have him add me as an AU on his Paypal credit card, Amazon card, or his new Chase Freedom Unlimited until I apply for more cards in the future?

Re: How many AU cards help/hurt?

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 04:01:25 GMT

It depends, we need more information. if the card is older than your average age, then it will help that.

Re: How many AU cards help/hurt?

ChemE_Bear — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 04:28:37 GMT

I think actually all of those accounts are younger than my AAoA of 4 years (the Chase Freedom definitely is as he just opened it). I guess it would also depend on how those impacted my overall utilization?

Re: How many AU cards help/hurt?

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 04:57:19 GMT

That’s correct just like his freedom lowered your average age

You are under penalty until you have at least three cards though, So his freedom may be satisfying that. Not enough information.

Re: How many AU cards help/hurt?

ChemE_Bear — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 05:02:38 GMT

Yeah, just to clarify - I already am an AU on our Chase Sapphire that is 4 years old but not a brand new Freedom so I technically have three open revolving accounts if AU accounts count towards that.

Re: How many AU cards help/hurt?

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Jul 2020 05:36:04 GMT

That’s the problem, starting with version 8, they added an anti-abuse algorithm that causes some of them not to count. In order to tell for sure whether it’s counting, you have to test it.

Have you read the scoring primer linked at the top of my signature?