Join credit account v/s Authorized user, which will improve the score more?

[harveyc7890]

I have the option of applying for a join credit card or having my spouse add me as AU. Which one of these 2 will increase the score more or do they have the same effect?

[JoeRockhead]

The Joint account will carry more weight (treated the same as if you are the individual responsible party on the account just like a co signer on a loan) when it comes to all FICO scoring models than an AU account, as they are not factored in all FICO scoring models.

[GZG]

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@harveyc7890 wrote:

I have the option of applying for a join credit card or having my spouse add me as AU. Which one of these 2 will increase the score more or do they have the same effect?

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just understand that having a joint account means you're both fully responsible for all debt on the card, as opposed to an AU where you wouldn't be personally responsible, marrage aspect of it aside

it will look better for your profile if you are a joint account holder as opposed to just an AU. AU's can be widely discounted in any credit situations such as by creditors or older FICO scores as stated above ^

there's also the all-zero balance AU penalty, if you're an AU and that's your only card for which you are an AU on, you can lose points if that card has a $0 balance 

[SouthJamaica]

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@harveyc7890 wrote:

I have the option of applying for a join credit card or having my spouse add me as AU. Which one of these 2 will increase the score more or do they have the same effect?

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I don't see why either would increase your score at all.

[Im-back]

Joint cards are very rare. I have a joint Wells Fargo card opened in the '90s. They carry the same weight as if you were the only one on the account. 

[harveyc7890]

Why is that? I thought AU cards helped improve score? Is that not the case?

[harveyc7890]

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@SouthJamaica wrote:

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@harveyc7890 wrote:

I have the option of applying for a join credit card or having my spouse add me as AU. Which one of these 2 will increase the score more or do they have the same effect?

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I don't see why either would increase your score at all.

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Why is that? I thought AU cards improve scores no?

[SouthJamaica]

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@harveyc7890 wrote:

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@SouthJamaica wrote:

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@harveyc7890 wrote:

I have the option of applying for a join credit card or having my spouse add me as AU. Which one of these 2 will increase the score more or do they have the same effect?

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I don't see why either would increase your score at all.

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Why is that? I thought AU cards improve scores no?

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If you have no other credit accounts it might. 

We would need to know your credit profile, and the details of the AU account, in order to guess whether adding the account would help, hurt, or not affect, your scores.