The Authorized User Strategy

An authorized user is added to someone else's card account. Many issuers report the full account history to the authorized user's file, which can add age and payment history to a thin report - without the user ever spending a dollar.

Why it matters

It is the fastest legitimate way to thicken a thin file, and the most misunderstood: done with a trusted person it is standard practice; bought from strangers it is a scheme lenders actively filter out.

Key facts

• Not every issuer reports authorized users - confirm with the issuer before assuming the history will appear.
• VantageScore and newer FICO versions weigh authorized-user accounts, though FICO has long had logic to discount abuse.
• The authorized user is not liable for the debt, and can be removed at any time; the tradeline usually then leaves their file.
• The primary holder's mistakes land on the authorized user's report too - high utilization or late payments cut both ways.

In practice

1. O
2. n
3. l
4. y
6. j
7. o
8. i
9. n
11. a
12. n
14. a
15. c
16. c
17. o
18. u
19. n
20. t
22. t
23. h
24. a
25. t
27. i
28. s
30. o
31. l
32. d
33. ,
35. l
36. o
37. w
38. -
39. u
40. t
41. i
42. l
43. i
44. z
45. a
46. t
47. i
48. o
49. n
50. ,
52. a
53. n
54. d
56. a
57. l
58. w
59. a
60. y
61. s
63. p
64. a
65. i
66. d
68. o
69. n
71. t
72. i
73. m
74. e
76. -
78. a
79. n
80. d
82. a
83. g
84. r
85. e
86. e
88. i
89. n
91. w
92. r
93. i
94. t
95. i
96. n
97. g
99. w
100. i
101. t
102. h
104. t
105. h
106. e
108. p
109. r
110. i
111. m
112. a
113. r
114. y
116. h
117. o
118. l
119. d
120. e
121. r
123. o
124. n
126. e
127. x
128. p
129. e
130. c
131. t
132. a
133. t
134. i
135. o
136. n
137. s
139. b
140. e
141. f
142. o
143. r
144. e
146. e
147. i
148. t
149. h
150. e
151. r
153. o
154. f
156. y
157. o
158. u
160. a
161. c
162. t
163. s
164. .