AAoA vs utilization rate impacts for my potential AU

[Anonymous]

Hello, all. I'd like to get some insight based on people's observations of their own credit experiences.

I'm considering adding my mom as an AU to two of my cards to help her credit. She has a low income and using her main card for emergencies has led to a higher utilizaiton rate than ever before. Although she's amazingly responsible with what little she has and never makes a late payment, the utilization won't be going down any time soon. She's really bummed about it because her score used to be extremely high due to high AAoA, perfect payment history, and previously low utilization. Now it's just below 700. While that's not horrible, and she doesn't plan on applying for anything, I know it would help her peace of mind to get her score up. I can help her utilization rate out a lot, but I would bring down her AAoA. I'm not sure if the impact on the AAoA will negate the benefits of the utilization rate.

I don't have specifics in front of me, but I do know her AAoA is over 20 years and I'm ballparking UR at about 70%, with one card right at 90%. She has several store cards (all but 2 unused, <25% UR on those two) and two main CCs.

I have a Chase Slate with $9500 available credit, about 10 years old. I have an Amex BCP with ~$27,000 available credit, opeend last November. Both have perfect payment history. Adding her to both will more than double her available credit, bringing her to (I believe) <35 percent utilization. However, her AAoA will take a hit.

Will the UR improvement be worth the AAoA reduction? Will the overall UR improvement be negated or severely diminshed with respect to her score due to one card being maxed out?

If I add her, she'll get the Chase Slate as a backup in case of emergencies (waaaay lower interest rate). I don't think she'd ever use it, she's never accessed a bank account I have money in that she's welcome to if she needs it, but I'd like her to have it since she's made so many sacrifices for me and I trust her unconditionally. No issues there. Unfortunately, I'm not yet in a position to help her pay down her high balance card. It doesn't seem worth it to just add her to the Chase without giving her UR the boost of the huge amount of Amex available credit, even though the Chase is a lot older and will impact AAoA less.

I don't want to pull the trigger and then find out that it hurt her score. What do you think? I don't think I'm missing any other options, but I'm open to ideas and long-term considerations. Thanks for your help!

[Anonymous]

You could if you like add your mom to the cards and see what happens.  You can always remove her as an AU if you don't like the result.

My own feeling is that the deeper issue isn't being addressed, which is why why she wants to have a better score when she is sure that she won't be applying for anything.  That's the only value of a credit score. 

My own feeling is that her situation is analogous to running a temperature or being overweight.  The thermometer or scale is correctly describing reality.  The solution is not to artificially jigger it (put the thermometer in cold water first) so that it gives you a number that feels more "normal."  The solution is to solve the underlying condition that is causing the thermometer or scale to give you the reading you don't like.

That's just my take.  But as I say, you could certainly try your idea out. 

[DollyLama]

Has she tried any soft pulls for credit line increases? 

Although I would have to agree with CGID, if she is high Utilization and it won't be going down soon, seems she is just getting by with the bare minimum payment required. I can see a card for emergencies, and it happens to us all. But I would sock drawer the store cards for awhile. Is there a purpose other than feeling better about her scores, a long term goal ie, car loan in the future that she now needs a higher score for a lender to see?