What it means to be an authorized user
An authorized user is someone the primary cardholder adds to their account who can use the card to make purchases, but does not own the account or bear legal responsibility for the debt. The primary cardholder remains liable for all charges, interest, and fees. You receive your own physical card with your name on it, and you can spend up to the card's credit limit, but the bill goes to the primary cardholder's address.
Being added as an authorized user is different from being a joint account holder. A joint account holder shares legal responsibility for the debt and can make changes to the account. An authorized user cannot change the credit limit, close the account, or access the billing statement unless the primary cardholder gives them permission to do so.
The primary cardholder can remove you as an authorized user at any time without your consent. They can also set spending limits on your card or restrict which merchants you can use it at, depending on what the card issuer allows.
Key Takeaways
- You can ask the primary cardholder to add you, or they can contact their card issuer directly by phone, online, or in writing to request it.
- The card issuer will typically issue a new card in your name within 7 to 10 business days, though some issuers can add you instantly online.
- Your authorized user status and payment history on that account may appear on your credit report, which can help or hurt your credit score depending on how the account is managed.
- The primary cardholder remains fully responsible for all charges and payments; you have no legal obligation to pay the bill.
- The primary cardholder can remove you from the account at any time, and the card will stop working immediately.
How to ask the primary cardholder to add you
Start by asking the primary cardholder directly. Be clear about why you want to be added — whether you need access to the card for everyday purchases, to build credit history, or for a specific purpose like travel. The primary cardholder needs to understand that they will be responsible for every charge you make.
If the primary cardholder agrees, they can contact their card issuer to request your addition. They will need your full legal name, date of birth, and Social Security number. Some issuers ask for your address as well. The primary cardholder can usually make this request by calling the number on the back of their card, logging into their online account, or visiting a branch if it is a bank-issued card.
You do not need to be present or sign anything for this to happen. The primary cardholder makes the request entirely on their own. Once approved, the issuer will mail a card in your name to the address on file for the account.
What happens after you are added
The card issuer will verify your identity and run a soft credit check in most cases. A soft check does not lower your credit score. Within 7 to 10 business days, a new card with your name should arrive in the mail. Some issuers, like American Express and Discover, can add you instantly through their online portal, and you may be able to use the account immediately through a digital wallet while you wait for the physical card.
Once the card arrives, activate it by calling the number on the back or using the issuer's app or website. The primary cardholder should also confirm that your card is working and that you understand any spending limits or restrictions they have set.
From this point forward, every purchase you make will be reported to the credit bureaus under the primary cardholder's account. The payment history, balance, and credit limit will all appear on your credit report as well as theirs.
How authorized user status affects your credit report
When you are added as an authorized user, the account history typically appears on your credit report. This includes the credit limit, current balance, and payment history going back to when the account was opened. If the primary cardholder has a long history of on-time payments and keeps the balance low, this can help your credit score. If they miss payments or carry a high balance, it can hurt your score.
Not all card issuers report authorized users to the credit bureaus. Some report to all three bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion), some report to only one or two, and a few do not report at all. Ask the primary cardholder to check with their issuer or look at their account terms to find out whether authorized user activity is reported.
You have no control over how the account is managed once you are added. If the primary cardholder stops paying or maxes out the card, those negative marks will appear on your credit report. You cannot remove the account yourself — only the primary cardholder can remove you, which will stop new activity from being reported but will not erase the account's history from your credit file.
When the card issuer may deny the request
Most issuers approve authorized user requests without issue, but some have restrictions. A few issuers require the authorized user to be a family member or household member. Others have age minimums, typically 13 or 16 years old. Some business cards do not allow authorized users at all.
If you have a very poor credit history or are on a fraud watch list, the issuer may decline to add you. If the primary cardholder's account is in default or has been closed due to fraud, the issuer will not add new users. In these cases, the issuer will tell the primary cardholder why the request was denied.
If the request is denied, you can ask the primary cardholder to try again after a few months, or to contact the issuer's customer service to ask what would need to change for the request to be approved.
Removing yourself or being removed from the account
The primary cardholder can remove you at any time by contacting their issuer. Once removed, your card will stop working immediately. The account will no longer report to your credit report going forward, but the historical record of the account will remain on your credit report for as long as the account stays open under the primary cardholder's name.
You cannot remove yourself from the account. Only the primary cardholder has the authority to do so. If you want to be removed and the primary cardholder will not do it, you have no legal recourse — the account belongs to them.
If the primary cardholder closes the entire account, your authorized user status ends automatically. The account will remain on your credit report for seven years after it is closed, even though you are no longer an active user.
Authorized user status versus becoming a joint cardholder
A joint cardholder is legally responsible for the debt, can make changes to the account, and has equal rights to the card. Becoming a joint cardholder requires a formal application and a credit check that counts against your credit score. The issuer will review both applicants' credit histories and may deny the request if either person has poor credit.
Authorized user status requires no application, no credit check that affects your score, and no legal responsibility. You get the convenience of using the card without the risk. However, you also have no control over the account and no say in how it is managed.
If you want to build credit and the primary cardholder trusts you, authorized user status is usually the easier path. If you need equal control over the account or want to share responsibility for the debt, you would need to discuss becoming a joint cardholder instead, which is a separate process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will being added as an authorized user hurt my credit score?
No, being added does not hurt your score. The issuer typically does a soft credit check, which does not lower your score. However, if the account has a high balance or late payments, those negative factors will appear on your credit report and may lower your score over time.
Can I use the card right away or do I have to wait for the physical card to arrive?
It depends on the issuer. Some issuers, like American Express and Discover, let you use the account immediately through a digital wallet or online. Others require you to wait for the physical card to arrive and be activated. Ask the primary cardholder to check with their issuer.
What happens if the primary cardholder doesn't pay the bill?
You are not responsible for paying the bill. The primary cardholder is legally liable for all charges. However, missed payments will appear on your credit report and will lower your credit score, even though you did not make the charges.
Can I request a higher credit limit as an authorized user?
No. Only the primary cardholder can request a credit limit increase. You can ask them to do so, but the decision is theirs to make and the issuer's to approve.
Does being an authorized user help me build credit?
Yes, if the account is reported to the credit bureaus and the primary cardholder pays on time and keeps the balance low. The positive payment history will be added to your credit report and can help your credit score grow. However, if the account is mismanaged, it will hurt your score instead.