Question about adding AU?

[andre181]

Hey gang, I had a couple questions and I knew you guys would be my best resource.

DM filed BK7 some years ago, and this year all her accounts that were IIB should be falling off. She has reestablished her credit pretty well in the mean time, her TU FICO is 678 atm.  She has two Capital One CC's, both around 50% util. She has given me her two credit cards so that she cannot use them so she can get them paid down, and I have put them in my safe deposit box.

I want to add her as a AU to one or two of my cards for a couple of reasons:

• To lower her util
• So she has a credit card to use for her, in case of emergencies. I know my mom and if its my account, she wouldn't use it unless absolutely nessacary.
• I often will ask her to go to the store and buy me something, and I pay her back for it. This way I don't have to pay her back, I can just pay the CC.

I am going to be going on a business trip soon for a month, and I want to make sure that if anything happens, she has a credit card to use.

I'm thinking I will add her to my Citi Forward as its my highest CL and lowest APR. Will Citi report on her CR?

I thought I read that either Chase or Citi only reports on the AU's CR if they live at the same address. We don't.

Or which of my other cards would you recommend I add her? 

Thanks guys!

[Anonymous]

Try your Capital One or Chase card. They report to all 3 bureaus for authorized users. I've never heard of the same address conflict.

[Uborrow-Upay]

andre181, I'm not trying to be cold here, just trying to be as realistic as your Mom appears to be.

If she has substantially rebuilt her credit, why on God's Earth would she need you to hold credit cards she obtained on her own, unless she felt that she may have a problem in handling them?

Do not add her as an AU.  If she needs something, make that choice for yourself only when it needs to be made.  Carte blanche is not a good idea here, IMO.

No offense intended, and I hope none taken.

[tntexans72]

Once you add her as an AU, it will report to the 3 CBs as an AU. However, be prepared that if she over spends, your score could take a hit if the UTIL gets high. It's your mom and you know her better than anyone of the ppl here in this forum.

Personally, I wouldn't add her. She has 2 CC, just have her pay those down and manage her own CL and improve her score using that route. That way, you won't have any unforseen problems down the road. Over time, her score will improve as there is no quick easy fix.

[Walt_K]

You don't seem to be concerned about her using the card for non-emergencies, so this suggestion may not be relevant.  But I believe you can set a limit for AUs with Amex.  You could add her as an AU to your Blue instead and have control of how much she can spend.  That won't help with utilization as much, but if she isn't planning to apply for new credit anytime soon, her utilization isn't really a big deal.  It will improve as she pays down her other cards.

[OnTheRebound]

Just to answer your question...

My wife is an AU on my Citi Plat. Select MC. They report her to all 3 bureaus. We have the same address. Don't know if that makes a difference.

[andre181]

Thanks guys!

I decided to add her to my Citi Forward and Amex Blue