Does it hurt the credit report to remove an AU?

[nursepower]

Our credit reports show more debt than they should because it counts it twice. If We are not AU's on each others accounts does it hurt the score to remove each other?

[Anonymous]

It depends on how it would effect the utilization. It is hard to say without knowing balances and limits. Another way to look at is when you pay the debt down, it will have the same doubling effect, except in a positive way

[nursepower]

true.

[newhis]

We only have a few cards that we are AU of each other. I always try to make those report at $0. Just got a Venture and added my DW to it. I hope the big limit helps her to get other cards over 10k too.

We have over 1 year credit history, maybe when we are at 2 years, will remove some AUs from each other.

[takeshi74]

First off, accounts where one is an AU are not always considered.  In such situations there is no impact but those accounts were not being considered in the first place.

In cases where they are considered it all depends on the condition of the TL.  Consider the standard factors:

http://www.myfico.com/crediteducation/whatsinyourscore.aspx

Positive payment history, low uilization, longer age, etc are benecial.  Negative payment history, high utilization, low account age, etc are detrimental.  The impact of removing an AU account all depends on one's credit and how the various factors all add up.  Is the TL lowering utilization?  Is it increasing AAoA?  You can't assume that the impact is the same in all situations.

---

@nursepower wrote:

Our credit reports show more debt than they should because it counts it twice.

---

Right but the available credit counts twice as well.  Look at revolving utilization -- not just balances.  Do the math to determine impact to utilization and AAoA.