Can you have too Many accounts as AU?

Joecooltech · ‎12-13-2012

I was added to 3 of my wifes cards which has made a major change in my credit score. She has perfect payment history with low utl. My question is there a limt to how many cards that someone a person should be listed as a AU. Meaning would if help someone was listed on say 30 accounts as a AU or would it hurt. Assume that all 30 accounts have low ult. and strong payment history.

jsickz32 · ‎12-13-2012

It better if she added you only to the ones with the longest history, biggest credit limit and perfect payment history. No need to be added to 30 unless theres a specific reason you want this.

Amex BCE (2500) / Amex SPG (4000) / Amex GoldPR / Merrill+ Visa siggy (5000) / BofA Amex (6000) / Bofa cash rewards (5000) / BofA Privileges Cash Rewards (5000) / Citi Forward (4400) / Citi DP (2000) / Chase Freedom (4000) / Chase CSP (5000) / Chase Hyatt (5000) / Discover IT (1700) / FNBO AMEX (3600) / NFCU cashRewards Visa signature (15000) / NFCU Flagship Visa signature (12500) / NFCU Navcheck (5000) / Nordstrom (500) / MetroCU Visa Elite (5000) / Walmart (4500) / Kays Jewerels (6600) / Kohls (300) / Macys Platinum (2500) / DCU platinum Visa (17500) / Citizens bank cash back (1100) / Bill Me Later (1631) / PayPal Smart connect (2200) / BestBuy store card (2000)

Revelate · ‎12-13-2012

I think it would depend on the individual lender doing the underwriting.

30 positive, well-aged accounts is nothing but goodness from a FICO perspective (though probably insignificantly better than 6-7 of similar quality tradelines); however, AU's are a bit of a wash anyway as many lenders will simply discount them in an attempt to figure out what your personal risk factor is. There were a lot of AU abuses in the past, it's probably calmed down some; however, lenders have long memories and will probably continue to do this past our lifetimes I'd guess. I think if you were an AU on 30 accounts, it's a reasonable thing for an underwriting department to ask about... and personally, I'd rather have no questions asked of me by an underwriter on an application.