@Anonymous wrote:
My question is about her credit. From what I hear, adding an authorized user is beneficial for the authorized person, but what if her credit score is a lot higher than mine. What would happen to her score if I were to add her to my account? I have more history on my reports, more accounts and past delinquencies. Would this affect her negatively in anyway?
I don't have any experience with this, but looking at it strictly from a logical standpoint, it seems like it *would* affect her negatively. I mean, why should only the *good* parts of your credit get reflected on an AU's reports? To me, that doesn't make sense. My guess is that it works both ways, good or bad, the AU will be affected.
@staticvoidmain is correct, and I can confirm this from personal experience with my DH and I having variously added eachother as AU on multiple Amex chargers and revolvers.
@SoCalGardener wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
My question is about her credit. From what I hear, adding an authorized user is beneficial for the authorized person, but what if her credit score is a lot higher than mine. What would happen to her score if I were to add her to my account? I have more history on my reports, more accounts and past delinquencies. Would this affect her negatively in anyway?
I don't have any experience with this, but looking at it strictly from a logical standpoint, it seems like it *would* affect her negatively. I mean, why should only the *good* parts of your credit get reflected on an AU's reports? To me, that doesn't make sense. My guess is that it works both ways, good or bad, the AU will be affected.
Only for the account in question, though. Other accounts/negatives on the primary cardholder's credit wouldn't be included and wouldn't affect the AU in any way.
And for Amex at least, it would appear as a new account, so any negatives prior to being added wouldn't show up if I understand Amex's AU process correctly.
@OmarGB9 wrote:
@SoCalGardener wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
My question is about her credit. From what I hear, adding an authorized user is beneficial for the authorized person, but what if her credit score is a lot higher than mine. What would happen to her score if I were to add her to my account? I have more history on my reports, more accounts and past delinquencies. Would this affect her negatively in anyway?
I don't have any experience with this, but looking at it strictly from a logical standpoint, it seems like it *would* affect her negatively. I mean, why should only the *good* parts of your credit get reflected on an AU's reports? To me, that doesn't make sense. My guess is that it works both ways, good or bad, the AU will be affected.
Only for the account in question, though. Other accounts/negatives on the primary cardholder's credit wouldn't be included and wouldn't affect the AU in any way.
And for Amex at least, it would appear as a new account, so any negatives prior to being added wouldn't show up if I understand Amex's AU process correctly.
Right. Amex reports AU as if it is a new account/closed account at time of AU authorization/termination.
@jasonbourne84 wrote:
@OmarGB9 wrote:
@SoCalGardener wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
My question is about her credit. From what I hear, adding an authorized user is beneficial for the authorized person, but what if her credit score is a lot higher than mine. What would happen to her score if I were to add her to my account? I have more history on my reports, more accounts and past delinquencies. Would this affect her negatively in anyway?
I don't have any experience with this, but looking at it strictly from a logical standpoint, it seems like it *would* affect her negatively. I mean, why should only the *good* parts of your credit get reflected on an AU's reports? To me, that doesn't make sense. My guess is that it works both ways, good or bad, the AU will be affected.
Only for the account in question, though. Other accounts/negatives on the primary cardholder's credit wouldn't be included and wouldn't affect the AU in any way.
And for Amex at least, it would appear as a new account, so any negatives prior to being added wouldn't show up if I understand Amex's AU process correctly.
Right. Amex reports AU as if it is a new account/closed account at time of AU authorization/termination.
Thanks for confirming. 
@OmarGB9 wrote:
@SoCalGardener wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
My question is about her credit. From what I hear, adding an authorized user is beneficial for the authorized person, but what if her credit score is a lot higher than mine. What would happen to her score if I were to add her to my account? I have more history on my reports, more accounts and past delinquencies. Would this affect her negatively in anyway?
I don't have any experience with this, but looking at it strictly from a logical standpoint, it seems like it *would* affect her negatively. I mean, why should only the *good* parts of your credit get reflected on an AU's reports? To me, that doesn't make sense. My guess is that it works both ways, good or bad, the AU will be affected.
Only for the account in question, though. Other accounts/negatives on the primary cardholder's credit wouldn't be included and wouldn't affect the AU in any way.
And for Amex at least, it would appear as a new account, so any negatives prior to being added wouldn't show up if I understand Amex's AU process correctly.
Yep, I was thinking of the person's *entire* credit picture, not just the card/account in question. Thanks for the clarification!