Help. Need to know how to communicate my desire with the card company.

[stony77]

When I was a teenager, my dad let me use one of his credit cards.  I always assumed that I was some sort of "authorized user" but it turns out that I am a "joint" holder. 

It's a BOA card I think but when I called them to ask for information on it, they couldn't pull it up under my name.  They were finally able to pull it up under my dad's name.  The credit dept. rep said he'd mail me something that me and my dad need to sign to get me off the card.  I called again for another question and this time a lady told me that it's odd that I'm a joint holder because she couldn't pull the account up in my name. 

I'd like to get this cleared off my credit report as, I don't think I even used this card since 1991, if at all --- I didn't even sign anything and would like to avoid my bringing it up to my father. 

Anyone have any insights?  who should I go to?  I've alreayd called equifax and they said they'd do an "investigation".  i don't know how to deal with the bank's credit card department.

[Anonymous]

Just curious, how do you know you are a joint holder if they can't pull that information up on their computers?

[haulingthescoreup]

Agree with krystofur (hi, krystofur! good to see you again!) --if they can't pull it up under your SSN, I doubt very seriously that this is truly a joint account. The method that the rep described is exactly the process that BofA uses to remove an AU. The actual account holder has to tell them to do this.

Many other banks allow the AU's themselves to make the request.

If all else fails, you can dispute the account with each CRA (credit bureau) as "not mine." I would try to do it the regular way first, though, as you don't want to be regarded by the CRA's as a frequent disputer.

[stony77]

thanks so much!  I always thought I was an AU but BofA is reporting to CRAs as "joint" (to Equifax).  So yesterday I decided to pull my TU report.  It turns out they have taken this off their report a while back and they have theirs as "authorized user".  thank you for the insight!