Can I, and Should I, Remove an Authorized User Account From My Report?

[Anonymous]

Hello!

I've got a question about an Authorized User Account that's showing up on my credit report.  I'm not sure if it's my wife's card (I just got married November 21, 2009), or if it's someone else in my family.  The issue I have is that the revolving balance on this card is about 50% of my entire debt!

So, is there a way to get this off of my credit report?  Is that even possible if it's my wife's?  I think this would definitely race my score since it would reduce my outstanding balances by half.  I'm trying to get to the magic 740+ number, but right now I'm between 700-720. 

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

- Jason

[Anonymous]

You need to do some digging.  Contact the creditor that appears on your credit report and find out who the authorized users of this card are.

[Anonymous]

Sounds logical.  Probably should have done that to begin with.

It's a Capital One card and I'm not sure how they are with customer service.  I have a card with them that I never use and has a $0 balance.  I'm going to give them a call today and hopefully figure this out. 

Thanks for the advice!

[Lel]

How does this AU account affect your age of accounts and your overall utilization?  How much of the card's CL is being used?  I'm asking because this account may not necessarily be hurting your score, and may actually be helping.  For example, if the card is 20 years old, has a CL of $20,000 and has a balance of $1000, it would have low utilization (5%) and add a lot of years to your average account age.

Having said all that, it's still vitally important to figure out who owns the account.  If you can't figure out whose it is, then it would be prudent to have yourself removed as an AU.

[Anonymous]

I really don't think the account is helping me.  Here is the info for the account:

Age - 6 years

Balance to Limit Ratio - 97%

Thanks for the help!

[Lel]

In that case, it should go.  Technically, you should be able to get yourself removed, but since you probably don't have the full account number or the owner's name, then it might be hard for the CSR to find the account.  Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Figured it out!  Capital One removed me as an Authorized User on the account, so hopefully it will show up on my credit reports.  They said it was effective immediately, but I'm sure it won't show up immediately on my report.  Hopefully this will kick my score up a few notches.

Thanks for everyone's help and advice!

[Anonymous]

You can nudge it along, if you really wanna, by disputing it with the CRA as not mine.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Figured it out!  Capital One removed me as an Authorized User on the account, so hopefully it will show up on my credit reports.  They said it was effective immediately, but I'm sure it won't show up immediately on my report.  Hopefully this will kick my score up a few notches.

Thanks for everyone's help and advice!

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What's effective immediately?  That you can no longer use the card or that you're no longer liable for any charges?  I'm thinking that you were not merely an authorized user (but instead a party to a joint account) since activity was reported on your credit files housed by the credit bureaus.  How is it that your social security number ever came to be used, and now that you're not an authorized user, how does this get you off the hook for being liable for charges, and what makes you think it won't continue to be reported to the credit bureaus?

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

What's effective immediately?  That you can no longer use the card or that you're no longer liable for any charges?  I'm thinking that you were not merely an authorized user (but instead a party to a joint account) since activity was reported on your credit files housed by the credit bureaus.  How is it that your social security number ever came to be used, and now that you're not an authorized user, how does this get you off the hook for being liable for charges, and what makes you think it won't continue to be reported to the credit bureaus?

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Fast2,

An Au is not responsible for the account. An AU is just that, a person who is authorized to use another persons account. You have the use of the account by permission. You may, at any, time have your self removed as an AU and it will no longer be included in reporting.

CB