Hi guys,
I have a question about adding an authorized user. My brother is 20 and he has no credit cards, so no credit history and no score. He just got denied applying for his first student credit card citing lack of history. I was wondering 1) if I add him to one of my cards how much would it help him? And 2) If I add him will it just transfer over that one credit card's history or will it copy over my credit score and my entire history? (logic would dictate he would only see that one credit card he has been added on, but just wanted to double check there isn't some crazy hidden thing somewhere) I have a Barclays card with a 1.5k limit and 0 balance that I would like to add him on. I do carry high balances on my other cards so I wanna make sure none of my bad performance carries over and affects his credit.
I do understand the risks of having an authorized user and for now let's assume he does well. 
I'm just trying to get him a boost for a few months until he is approved for his own cards. Once he gets there, then I'll take the authorized card back.
Thank you all!
@Anonymous wrote:Hi guys,
I have a question about adding an authorized user. My brother is 20 and he has no credit cards, so no credit history and no score. He just got denied applying for his first student credit card citing lack of history. I was wondering 1) if I add him to one of my cards how much would it help him? And 2) If I add him will it just transfer over that one credit card's history or will it copy over my credit score and my entire history? (logic would dictate he would only see that one credit card he has been added on, but just wanted to double check there isn't some crazy hidden thing somewhere) I have a Barclays card with a 1.5k limit and 0 balance that I would like to add him on. I do carry high balances on my other cards so I wanna make sure none of my bad performance carries over and affects his credit.
I do understand the risks of having an authorized user and for now let's assume he does well.
Thank you all!
Hi and welcome to myFICO
First, Aahz response is correct.
Second, what student card did your brother apply for and were there any other reasons cited beside lack of history?
Third, does he have a checking account at a CU? If no, this may be a good starting place so he can get a secured CC.
Finally, did he check Discover's prequal page?
@Anonymous wrote:Hi guys,
I have a question about adding an authorized user. My brother is 20 and he has no credit cards, so no credit history and no score. He just got denied applying for his first student credit card citing lack of history. I was wondering 1) if I add him to one of my cards how much would it help him? And 2) If I add him will it just transfer over that one credit card's history or will it copy over my credit score and my entire history? (logic would dictate he would only see that one credit card he has been added on, but just wanted to double check there isn't some crazy hidden thing somewhere) I have a Barclays card with a 1.5k limit and 0 balance that I would like to add him on. I do carry high balances on my other cards so I wanna make sure none of my bad performance carries over and affects his credit.
I do understand the risks of having an authorized user and for now let's assume he does well.
Thank you all!
What could also help is the moment you get your brothers card, swipe his card for gas and let a small balance report that statement. They have algorithms in place to detect possible AU accounts and abuse, some people abuse it like credit repairing companies and such. That should possibly help mitigate that possibility.
Also, just before he apps for anything, if you report a small balance on the AU card and let that balance report it'll give him a score boost. Then once he doesn't need it anymore, that score boost, you could pay it down to 0 again and leave it be if that's what you want.
Thank you! I will definitely do that. Might as well use it on a purchase I need to make anyway.
Definitely. Will do!