Mistake on an AU account - help!

[tonsers]

Not sure if this is the right forum for this, mods please move me if it's wrong!

My brother just had a lender pull his credit report and found out that he is an AU on my mom's BofA AmEx. I called BofA and they say that they don't know how it happened, but they do not have him listed as an AU. My brother and my dad have the same name (except Jr and Sr), the AU status does not require a SS#. So BofA claims that they did not provide the info, but the CRAs have this info on their reports.

As this is not on my mom's CR, can she dispute this? Obviously the easiest thing would be for my brother to dispute as "not my account" - but my mom is a little worried as my brother has less-than-honest in his dealings - sometimes at the expense of others. She'd like to get this corrected ASAP, but isn't confident that he will take care of it.

Any advice?

[Creditaddict]

It's not hurting your mom, so why would she worry about it.

and if the account is being paid and not maxed out, it's helping your brother.

Otherwise your brother would have to dispute as not his account if he doesn't want it on his credit, but not really anything your mom can do unless she wants to remove her husband as auth. which sounds like why your brother got added to begin with.  But he can't access the account or make changes anyway

[Anonymous]

tonsers, have your mother CALL the ccc immediately, and demand that he be removed as an AU as quickly as the ccc can.

This is the fastest, surest way for an AU to be removed from an account. Having the primary account holder call and ask for the removal. They will ask some verification questions, and it should happen the same day....today if possible.

OK, SCRATCH ALL OF THE ABOVE! You've already gone through those steps.

Have your mom pull all 3 cr's, and have your mom dispute with all of them saying that she never authorized him to be an AU. This needs to be done today, if she's very concerned.

That's how I would handle it. I'm sure others will chime in shortly offering their opinion/input.

[Creditaddict]

who's credit reports you asking them to pull... Mom pulling her reports is not going to help her with her son being auth on account.  I stick by saying if the bank says he is not on there and he doesn't care about it, why worry about it. it's not effecting anyone but the son.

[Anonymous]

Your mom pulling her own credit reports will allow her to do online disputes to the CRA's. Disputing the fact she never made your brother an AU.

Hmmmm....I may be missing the point completely. If I am my apologies. But I thought you said on your brother's CR, he's showing as an AU on your mom's BoA card.

Sorry for the confusion.

[Creditaddict]

the moms credit reports won't show that there is even an auth user on the account. and if she disputes the account on her report as being incorrect (which it's not) she runs the risk of it being deleted right off her report all together.

Only the brother can pull his credit reports and if he doesn't like the account on them, report it as not his account and it will be deleted.

But poster stated the bank does not have brother listed on account, so it's not hurting anyone really.

[Anonymous]

I am obviously totally misunderstanding the situation, and clouding the issues.

Please disregard all my comments, and accept my apologies.

[GST2008]

If your brother was not issued a card from BoA, then it doesn't matter if he is an AU or not. The credit history is just reporting on his CR. AUs can't just call and request cards and don't have full access to the account. If he doesn't have an actual card or the account number, there isn't much he can do with the information. The only way I see it as being a problem is if he calls and fakes her info. and has the card sent to himself. Without the card or access to it, what does it matter?

[Anonymous]

Seeing as your brother says that he is an AU and the account is in good standing   it is not hurting him!

If you mom doesn't want him on her account.....tell her to call BOA    If the account is in her name only....only she can get info......If he is an AU and she doesn't want him to be   they will remove his name...................IF he never was an AU they will tell her.

[tonsers]

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@GST2008 wrote:
If your brother was not issued a card from BoA, then it doesn't matter if he is an AU or not. The credit history is just reporting on his CR. AUs can't just call and request cards and don't have full access to the account. If he doesn't have an actual card or the account number, there isn't much he can do with the information. The only way I see it as being a problem is if he calls and fakes her info. and has the card sent to himself. Without the card or access to it, what does it matter?

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Thanks everyone for the responses. To summarize, my mom got nowhere with BofA, they said that my brother was not an AU. The CRAs have him as an AU - obviously a mix up with the names. BUT my mom can not dispute because her AUs are not on her CR.

The bold part above is what I'm most concerned about. I'm not proud to say that my brother has done some shady things (illegal) in the past when he's been in a financial bind. Right now he's extremely over extended and I'm sure he's tempted to scam this in some way. He does not have a card, but he is pretty crafty.

Any ideas on how this can be sorted other than canceling her card?

Thanks everyone for the advise!