how long until I have a score

[Anonymous]

I received a social security number about 3 months ago and became an authorized user on a few of my wife's credit cards. I haven't checked to see if I have a score yet. I hear it takes about 6 months to build any type of credit. Is this true? Do you think I have a credit score yet? Also, should I get my own secured credit card also or will being an authorized user be enough?

Thanks 

[RobertEG]

FICO will not produce any credit score until you have an account appearing on your CR that shows at least 6 months of credit history upon which to evaluate your score.  Addition of the AU should give you this, but how long it takes for them to post to your credit file may take a few months.  Hang on for a bit.

Do not even consider applying for any new credit until you receive your first FICO score.

[Anonymous]

Have you been successful at building credit and when did your FICO score appear?

My husband applied for a secured card in July of this year. I didn't want to post on the OTHER thread because that brought up a lengthy debate.  Similar circumstances.. long wait for the priviledge to get on with life after he moved to be with me.

Just within the last week I found out the Authorized User strategy. Chase said he could be AU, but to be joint we would have to send in an application and they would pull his (and my?) credit.  The CS on the phone said that it would look good if we spend a few months before a responsible account holder/AU pair.

Wells Fargo sent me a form to add him, but as a joint, not a AU. I've misplaced it, and I need to find out if they are pulling scores before I sign it and send it back.

We hope to buy a car this winter, but as everyone can see below I don't have the score I want and have high util of 3 of my 7 cards.

[RobertEG]

NuvaMcC, I am not quite sure of your goals, or of the advantage to having him added, either as an AU or joint account holder.

Does he currently have a credit score?

A lot depends on the current status of your card when assessing the advantages to him of becoming an AU on that card.  What is the payment history on the card?  What is its current % utilization?  Is this being done only to establish initial credit history, or to achieve a FICO score boost for him on his currrent score?

It might be a bit risky to go the route of changing to joint ownership.  Most CCCs will consider this as a new account, and pull both of your credit reports and scores.

What is his current score?  Will your current score qualify you?

[Anonymous]

Sorry I wasn't very clear. It's all a bit confusing sometimes.

He has no credit score. I want us to be able to buy a house in the next couple of years. He started a$300 Wells Fargo secured card in July and we applied at the furniture store and now have a $2000 maxed out GEMoney card with 0% interest for 6 months. We are paying this off quickly.

I called and added him to my Chase Freedom $800 card, but they did not ask for his social - just his name. I also called and added him to my $2700 WF card. Both these are paid off.  Today I went online and added him to a $0 balance Home Depot card. This was the only one that wanted his social.

Is there anything else I can do to help build his credit? Will this and possibly buying a car early next year be enough to get us ready to buy a home?

[Anonymous]

Also, how long before I can check the credit score online?

[RobertEG]

If you want an honest reply, there is no way I could guess at how a creditor will look at this.

Creditors, unless you are dealing with low-end or low CL lendors. dont rely just on a three digit FICO score.

They do a manual review of the applicant(S) credit report.

Pumping up the FICO score of hubby based on credit history that is not even his, probably wont impress them upon manual review of his credit report.

Adding an AU is well recognized as a FICO tactic, but crediors may,and most  likely will, see it as not any proof of his payment history.