How to add someone to your credit card

by Mallory Malesky

If you have a good credit score, adding someone to your credit card can improve his credit score.

A good credit score makes it easier to get approved for mortgage and vehicle loans and standard consumer credit cards. Your credit score is based on your payment and length of credit history and the types of credit and loans you have in your name. Paying your bills on time and using your credit wisely helps to improve your credit score, however a few mistakes can lower the score. If you have a family member or friend who needs help to improve her credit score, you can add her as an authorized user to a credit card.

Contact your credit card company to see if it allows authorized users to be added. Inquire about how the company reports this information to the credit bureaus. Not all credit card companies will report positive credit activities for you and the authorized user.

Complete the application to add an authorized user. Many card companies have this form available on their website or it can be requested by mail. You will need the user’s full name, Social Security number and address.

Wait for the card company to review the application and approve it. If you requested that the new user to be issued a card, it will come in the mail.

Continue to make payments to your credit card on time each month.

Jennifer Boggs / Getty Images

Most credit card issuers let you add an additional person, such as a child or employee, to your credit card account without requiring that this person actually apply for the credit card themselves. This additional user is called an authorized user.

The authorized user receives a credit card with their name on it, and they can use the card just the same as if they were the primary account holder. All purchases the authorized user makes go to the same account and appear on one credit card statement. The authorized user shares the credit limit with the primary account holder and their purchases reduce the amount of credit available to both users.

Unlike a joint account holder, an authorized user doesn’t have to go through a credit check to be added to the credit card account.   Some credit card companies may charge a fee for adding authorized users, while some rewards credit cards offer a bonus if you add an authorized user to your account.​

Authorized User Permissions

The authorized user receives all the credit card privileges of the primary account holder, but has no legal responsibility for purchases made on the account. If there’s ever a lawsuit regarding debts on the account, the authorized user won’t be included, even if that person was responsible for the purchases.  

Authorized users can make a payment on the account, even though they’re not required to.

For safety, authorized users can’t perform account maintenance activities such as adding other authorized users, changing the address on the account, requesting a credit limit increase, or negotiating a lower interest rate.

Credit History Impact

The credit card account history could show up on the authorized user’s credit report if that credit card issuer reports authorized user accounts to the credit bureaus. That’s great if the account has a positive payment history, and bad if the credit card payment has a history of late payments or maxing out the limit.  

If an authorized user account is not showing on your credit report, there’s a good chance that credit card issuer, as a policy, doesn’t report authorized user accounts to the credit bureaus. A quick call to the card issuer’s customer service can let you know whether you can expect the authorized user account to show up in your credit history and with which bureaus.

After the subprime mortgage crisis of 2007, FICO score calculations were updated to give less weight to authorized user accounts overall, and also to exclude authorized user accounts added for the sole benefit of a credit score boost. For example, if a person pays a credit repair service a fee for authorized user accounts, FICO scores will likely not consider that account for calculating a credit score.  

Adding an Authorized User

To add an authorized user, contact your credit card issuer by phone or by logging on to your online account. The card issuer will need the authorized user’s personal information, including their name, address, date of birth, and social security number, to process the request.

The company may impose a limit on the number of authorized users you can add to your account. And it’s probably for the best—the more people with spending access to your credit card, the harder it is to keep track of the charges.

Some credit card issuers allow you to set different spending limits for each authorized user on your account. Often this is as easy as logging into your account and changing each person’s limit.

Removing an Authorized User

Dissolving the authorized user relationship is almost as easy as starting it. Simply call the credit card issuer or log on to the primary account holder’s online account and request to remove the authorized user. The user’s credit card will be deactivated and they will no longer be able to make purchases.

If you need more than one screen you need to add a credit card to your account. Only one free screen per organization (Terms and Conditions)

Updating your billing details

Before you can add a credit card you will need to update your billing details. Click on your profile name, then click on billing (Only the owner of the team can access the billing page).

Make sure you fill in all the required information. In (1) you can add additional invoice recipients.

Adding a credit card

Adding a credit card is easy, start by adding you card # (2), expiration date (3) and CVC # (4), then accept out terms and conditions (1) and hit Add card (5)

This is how it should look when you have added your credit card correctly. You will not be able to see the whole credit card # (1), this is normal. If you have more than one screen you will not be able to remove (2) your current credit card. Also you can not remove (2) a credit card when you need to replace it with a new card, go to Updating your credit card.

Updating your credit card

Credit cards do expire, so you might need to update your credit card. Start by adding you card # (2), expiration date (3) and CVC # (4), then accept out terms and conditions (1) and hit Update card (5)

When you have updated your credit card successfully only one credit card will be visible in your account.

How do I delete my credit card?

There are two things you need to pay attention to before being able to delete your credit card. You need to delete the screens in the account and then wait until the billing period is over.

Can I update my credit card?

Please check the guide Updating your credit card.

Together, you can benefit from adding an Authorized User

Earn rewards faster

You’ll earn rewards from every purchase made by your Authorized User.

Build credit

When you add a friend or family member as an Authorized User to your Discover® card, you help them build a credit history, with responsible use. 1

Track purchases

You can conveniently track all spending on the account in one place.

Adding an Authorized User is fast, easy and free

1. Enter the Authorized User’s personal information.
2. Submit application.
3. All done! If approved, we’ll send you a card for your Authorized User, at no cost.

Hear from cardmembers who added an Authorized User

“This is so helpful for tracking spending of my Authorized User.”

Rosemarie / Virgin Islands

“I added my fiancé as an Authorized User and it’s building her credit, too.”

“Adding an Authorized User is quick and simple.”

Questions? We’ve got answers.

What is an Authorized User?

An Authorized User is someone added to an account without an additional credit check. They’ll get a card with their name on it and share charging privileges (up to the primary cardholder’s available line of credit).

An Authorized User is not responsible for paying the charges on the account. The primary cardholder (and secondary, if applicable) is responsible for all charges made on the account, including by the Authorized User.

Who can be an Authorized User?

An Authorized User needs to be at least 15 years old and can be any family member, friend or person whom the primary cardholder trusts.

How is an Authorized User added to a Discover card account?

The primary cardholder can add an Authorized User by logging into Account Center, selecting “Manage” and then selecting “Manage Authorized Users.”

Not registered for the Account Center? Register Now.

What information is needed in order to add an Authorized User to an account?

It is our practice to verify the identity of all users of a Discover card account. To do so, we require the primary cardholder to provide the first and last name, address, date of birth and social security number for all Authorized Users added to their Discover card account.

Note: This information helps us better understand our customers and those who are authorized to use accounts.

Will the primary cardholder’s credit score or Authorized User’s credit score be affected when an Authorized User is added to an account?

Adding a user won’t impact the primary cardholder’s credit score. However, the primary cardholder and any secondary cardholder are responsible for timely paying on the account under the account terms, including as to charges made by the Authorized User. When you add a friend or family member as an Authorized User to your Discover card, you may help them build a credit history, with responsible use. 1

1. Discover reports the account credit history to the three major credit bureaus as to you and as to the Authorized User. This can help build the Authorized User’s credit history if used responsibly. Late payments, delinquencies or other derogatory activity with your credit card accounts and loans may adversely impact yours and the Authorized User’s ability to build credit.

What can/can’t Authorized Users do on an account?

Authorized Users can report any lost or stolen cards, request additional cards, obtain account information such as account and rewards balance, initiate billing disputes, request statement copies, inquire about fees and payment amount/due date, make payments, complete a BT or cash advance or remove themselves at any time.

Authorized Users cannot close the account, add another Authorized User, increase the credit line, request a lower annual percentage rate (APR), change a personal identification number (PIN), request account center assistance, change account information such as account email address(es), or set up direct pay.

Add an Authorized User today

With an Authorized User, you can easily get more from your Discover card. Add a user in minutes, at no cost.

Get cash back with no annual fee.*

*See Rates, Fees, Rewards Terms and other info.

1. Discover reports the account credit history to the three major credit bureaus as to you and as to the Authorized User. This can help build the Authorized User’s credit history if used responsibly. Late payments, delinquencies or other derogatory activity with your credit card accounts and loans may adversely impact yours and the Authorized User’s ability to build credit.

Whether you are considering joining someone else’s credit card account or you are the current account holder looking to add a person, entering into an authorized user relationship is a move to consider carefully.

Considerations
As the authorized user title suggests, anyone added onto an account under this designation is authorized to make charges. The authorized user even gets a credit card with his/her name on it. The charges made by an authorized user will show up on the primary account holder’s bill and the authorized user will not have legal responsibility to pay those charges. For these reasons, it is a good idea to weigh the potential positives and negatives for all parties.

Pros
The act of an individual contacting a creditor and adding an authorized user onto a credit card account not only allows the authorized user to have the use of the credit card to make charges, but it also generally allows the authorized user to have the primary account holder’s credit history show up on his credit report. This can be a tremendous benefit for anyone who is having trouble building a credit history on their own, since an authorized user does not need to go through a credit check to be added to the primary cardholder’s account.

However, because some creditors may not report information to credit bureaus on behalf of authorized users, it is important to ask the creditor involved if it reports this kind of information before going to the trouble of creating the authorized user relationship.

When that authorized user later wants to apply for individual credit, it will also be important to find a potential creditor that uses a credit scoring model that factors in authorized user information. Otherwise, the authorized user may not have a credit history on which a potential creditor can base a lending decision.

The FICO scored developed by Fair Isaac Corporation, the most popular credit score among major lenders, uses authorized user information in its credit scores as long as there is no evidence that the authorized user has been added to a stranger’s account for the purpose of capitalizing on the stranger’s good credit. However, Fair Isaac models starting with the FICO® 08 model forward substantially reduces the benefits to the credit history of authorized users.

For a person who wants to create access to funds for someone else – like a parent who wants a child to have some degree of financial independence – an authorized user relationship has the advantage of coming with a record of how the allocated funds are used in the form of a credit card statement.

This can often be preferable to using cash, since both parties can review the authorized user’s transactions together to strategize the best use of the funds that are provided. Adding a young person who is away from home – at college, for example – as an authorized user can also give the young person access to funds for emergency purposes or while travelling.

Cons
While there is nothing inherently negative about adding an authorized user to your account or being added as one, if the authorized user runs up large charges, this will result in a higher monthly bill for the primary account holder and create a difficult situation for everyone.

If the authorized user goes so far as to make charges large enough that funds are not available to make the monthly payment on the credit card, this could result in late payments and eventually show up on credit reports.

Furthermore, multiple back-to-back late payments could trigger collection actions or lawsuits against the primary cardholder. A large bill could also result in a lower credit score for both the primary account holder and the authorized user since simply using a higher percentage of the available limit on a credit card can have a negative effect.

• It is important that anyone added as an authorized user is familiar with techniques for keeping credit card account information secure, including:
• Only using the credit card at trusted locations or websites
• Not giving out credit card information via email or text
• Carrying the card only when it is needed
• Shredding all credit card statements
• Monitoring all swipes of the credit card to guard against concealed, fraudulent charges at stores or restaurants
• Checking all credit card receipts for accuracy

Protecting yourself
It is vital for both parties to understand how an authorized user will make charges with the credit card. Put an agreement on paper and have everyone sign it. This should help to avoid any misunderstandings or disagreements about how the card is to be used.

Some credit cards allow for a credit limit to be set for an authorized user’s charges, so taking advantage of this feature could greatly reduce the chances of a charge being made that does not conform to the agreement between the involved parties.

Monitoring credit card transactions closely is another way to head off any problems before they become major headaches. It is a good idea for anyone with a credit card to check the account history online at least once a week for occurrences of identity theft or mistaken charges, but when there are multiple users for an account it is especially important to monitor the online statements because a lack of watchfulness and communication could mean accidentally making charges that put the account over its limit if the account holder has “opted-in” to be able to charge above the card’s limit.

If a late payment of 30 or more days is imminent on the credit card, the authorized user will want to be removed from the account, since the late payment will damage his credit. If an authorized user decides for this or any other reason to be removed from an account, the authorized user can simply call the creditor to request that this action be taken.

Alternatives
While adding someone as an authorized user can help that person’s credit score, it is usually used as a temporary measure designed to transition that person into taking on a greater credit responsibility. A secured credit card, for which a deposit is placed as security for repayment of the card, can be a good option for building or rebuilding credit. A secured credit card has the advantage of being entirely in the individual’s own name and not potentially putting another person’s credit at risk.

Student credit cards can be a solid choice for the college-bound. Because of the Credit CARD Act of 2009, a young person applying for a student credit card may need the signature of a parent, but the responsibility ultimately rests with the child to use the card responsibly. Student cards tend to come with lower credit limits to reduce the risk to the creditor. Parents and children should review together all the details of any card offer – fees, annual percentage rate (APR), grace period, etc.

A final option is to make someone a joint account holder instead of an authorized user. Adding someone to a credit card account as a joint user instead of an authorized user means that the information from the account is more likely to be factored into any future lending decisions for the person who is added. The advantage to the cardholder is shared legal responsibility for account payments. As with an authorized user, adding someone as a joint account holder is a decision to consider with caution.

A person that you authorize to use your JCPenney account is referred to as an authorized user. This person can make charges on the account but cannot make changes to the account, request account information and is not responsible for repayment of debt accumulated on the account. In addition to having use of the card, the authorized user may receive a boost to his credit score as long as your JCPenney account remains in good standing.

Step 1

Gather the personal information of the person you would like to add to the account, such as her name and Social Security number. Have this information readily available when you speak to a JCPenney representative.

Step 2

Locate the customer service phone number for JCPenney. You can find this number on the back of your credit card or at the JCPenney website.

Step 3

Call the customer service line and inform the rep that you would like to add an authorized user to the account. According to JCPenney, contacting customer service is the way to add someone to the account.

Step 4

Review then sign the Additional Cardholder Authorization form that JCPenney sends to you via mail or email. By signing this form, you accept responsibility for any charges made by the authorized user on the JCPenney card.

Step 5

Mail or fax the completed form back to JCPenney. If using the mail, make sure you send the letter via certified mail, return receipt requested to ensure that it was delivered to the correct address.

Step 6

Check your mail over the next three to four weeks to ensure the new card arrives. It will bear the name of the authorized user and must be activated prior to use. If the card doesn’t arrive, contact JCPenney customer service.

You can use your online JCPenney account to monitor any charges made by the authorized user.

Warning

Late payments made on the JCPenney card will appear on your credit report as well as the credit report of the authorized user.

Things You’ll Need

JCPenney additional cardholder authorization form

What is an Authorized User?

An authorized user is someone who has permission to make purchases using your credit card account but is not legally responsible for paying the debt. Adding someone as an authorized user to your account can help them establish a credit history and improve their credit history. But, if they abuse that privilege, as the primary account holder, you will be stuck holding the bill.

Before allowing someone to become an authorized user on one of your accounts, be sure they understand their responsibility and be certain you are sure they will use the account responsibly.

How Does Being an Authorized User Help Their Credit?

When you add someone as an authorized user on your credit card, that account could be included in their credit report. Any account that is listed on their credit report will factor into their credit scores.

As long as that account is being paid on-time and the balance is kept low, it will likely have a positive effect on their credit history. If you have used the account responsibly over time, those habits will reflect on their credit report and may help to improve their credit scores.

If the account becomes delinquent, Experian will remove the account from their credit report. That individual will lose the account history, but will avoid having a negative credit reference in their report.

It’s a fairly safe way to help young adult children, friends or family members establish their credit history. Making someone an authorized user can also be a great tool to teach them how to manage credit wisely. You don’t necessarily have to give them a card, which allows you to keep some control over the account. Parents can use the experience to show their children how credit works:

• explain budgeting
• go to the store,
• allow a child to make purchases with the parent’s supervision
• discuss the billing statement at the end of the month

Be cautious any time you are considering adding an authorized user. It’s up to you to make sure the bill gets paid on time, regardless of the charges the authorized user makes.

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Permission helps, but the practice comes with risks

Image by Brooke Pelczynski © The Balance 2020

Credit and debit cards are useful tools for payments. They do away with the need to carry cash and work online and in-person at most merchants. However, this convenience may tempt people to share their cards with others.

Although it’s not only possible but extremely easy to use someone else’s debit or credit card or lend yours, not all banks or credit card companies will permit you to do so. Even if the practice isn’t forbidden by the issuer, both the person lending and using the card risk trouble if the issuer or other authorities find out.

Understanding Your Card Terms

Before you share your plastic with a relative, a friend, or an employee, review the cardholder agreement for your debit or credit card to determine whether sharing your card is permitted.

Most issuers require you to make an effort to avoid unauthorized use of the card, which is the use of your debit or credit card without your permission. However, not all issuers treat the sharing of cards as unauthorized use. Some issuers outright prohibit anyone who isn’t named on the card from using it.   Others note that if you give someone else permission to use your card, it does not count as unauthorized use, but you will be liable for all charges they make.  

Using a Card With Permission

Getting approval to transact with someone else’s card or giving someone permission to use yours is better than not doing so, but it’s important to do your homework and go about it the right way.

Getting Permission

Assuming that an issuer allows the cardholder to give permission to someone else, the cardholder should consult the cardholder agreement to determine how to grant that permission. Some stipulate that you authorize someone else to use your card simply by lending your card or making the account number available to someone else.  

If there is no specific instruction for granting permission for card use, it’s a good idea for the cardholder to give a signed note to the borrower granting them permission to use the card. If a merchant finds out that you aren’t the cardholder and questions you, present the note as an explanation. Merchants also stand to lose from unauthorized transactions. They risk a chargeback, a disputed charge made to the card issuer that can result in the loss of revenue, if the authorized cardholder is unaware of and later finds out about a card purchase.  

Without a permission note, the burden may fall most heavily on the borrower if they are caught using a card without their name on it. A merchant will have no way of knowing about the verbal permission you may have received from the cardholder ahead of time, so the default assumption may be that you’re committing fraud. If a merchant asks for identification and you can’t provide it, they may call the police or confiscate the card. What’s worse, the person who gave you the card could later claim that you took it without permission (if you spend too much, for example, or if your relationship sours).

Obtain a signed permission note from the cardholder to avoid the appearance of impropriety when using someone else’s card.

Using Cards in Violation of the Agreement

Even if you get permission to transact with someone else’s card (or you allow someone to use your card), if doing so is against the rules of the cardholder’s card issuer, the cardholder would be breaking the agreement they signed with the issuer.

Perhaps no one will notice, but if the bank or credit card company does find out that a cardholder improperly allowed someone else to use the card, it may charge the cardholder fees, reduce card limits, close the account, or even take legal action against the cardholder.  

Handling Unexpected Charges

When you give someone permission to use your debit or credit card, it may be difficult to recover funds from unexpected purchases because the usage may not be considered unauthorized.

Banks often won’t reimburse you if someone drains your account at an ATM after you give them permission to use your card or the PIN.   Likewise, credit card companies hold you responsible for charges by someone whom you permit to use the card.   However, Some issuers will revoke the permission you granted to someone if you notify them.  

Lending out your card is risky even when your cardholder agreement permits it. There’s no guarantee that someone will only use the card for expenses you intended to pay.

Adding an Authorized User

Instead of using someone else’s debit or credit card or lending out your own, make use of “authorized users.” At an account holder’s request, credit card issuers can provide additional cards with someone else’s name printed on the face. The account still belongs to the primary cardholder, who is responsible for paying off the card, but the authorized user is allowed to use the account for purchases and is not responsible for the debt. If anyone asks the authorized user for identification, everything will match correctly.  

Using Cards Without Permission

If you use someone else’s cards without their permission, you’re exposing yourself to considerable risks.

Understanding the Penalties

It doesn’t matter what you intend to use the cards for—if you can’t prove that you have permission, problems may be afoot. That means don’t charge small expenses to the card, “borrow” with intentions to repay the cardholder, or even use the card for benefits that won’t cost the cardholder any money. For example, avoiding showing the card for free access to cardholder events or services.

Using a debit or credit card without the cardholder’s permission is treated as unauthorized use, a form of fraud that may carry financial or criminal penalties at the federal and state levels.     There are separate statutes for stealing card information, which is identity theft.    

Handling Accidental Possession

If you receive cards due to an error or you find them on the street, you might argue that you never intended to steal them. Regardless, it’s a bad idea to hang onto anything that might make you look fraudulent. Instead, leave any cards that you find with local police or at the bank or credit card company that issued the cards.

Reporting Unauthorized Use

One way to prevent unauthorized use on your card is to avoid making your card available to someone else on an as-needed basis. If you notice a transaction that was made on your card without your permission, take these steps:

Summary

Considering adding an authorized user to your card? Here are six answers to questions about account access, credit limits, fees, points, credit utilization and statements.

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Dear Speaking of Credit,
I have a few questions regarding adding an authorized user to my Chase Sapphire Preferred card, that I can’t seem to find answers to online. My girlfriend needs to begin building her credit score, and I see this as a potential opportunity to help.

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2. By adding her, would my “credit limit” of $5,000 increase to $10,000 because of the second card?

3. Will she have to pay an additional annual fee?

4. Will my account receive the miles/points for the money she spends?

5. Can I pay off balances early to maintain below a 35 percent balance to mitigate the title of “risky cardholder” to credit agencies? For example, if 35 percent of $5,000 is $1,750 per month, but we each spent $1,000, can we do it in a way in which the balance is never over $1,750?

6. How do I keep the authorized user’s purchases separate from mine? Does each card have its own separate balance on my account?

Not sure if you can answer all or any of my questions, but I appreciate you taking the time to reply. – Nathan

Dear Nathan,
It’s good of you to help your girlfriend begin to build a credit score. It’s also good that you’re asking these questions now, before adding her to your card as an authorized user.

Not only is it important for both of you to understand what can happen when mixing your finances in this way, but, as you’ll see, different cards offer different options and levels of account access for authorized users.

I’ll try to answer your questions one by one:

1. Do I maintain full access to the account?

Authorized user access can vary widely from card to card. With some, you, the cardholder, can set access levels for the authorized user ranging from limited permissions, such as only making payments or reviewing recent charges, to granting almost all of the same controls over the account that you have.

With most cards, the authorized user cannot close the account, order additional cards or update the bank account information associated with the card. All cards would give you or your girlfriend the ability to easily remove her from the account at any time.

2. By adding her, would my “credit limit” of $5,000 increase to $10,000 because of the second card?

Your credit limit will only increase if you specifically request a credit limit increase or are scheduled to receive an increase anyway. It would be based solely on your own credit score, card activity and other qualifications.

However, instead of increasing your credit limit, some card companies will allow you to further restrict the amount an authorized user spends on the card.

3. Will she have to pay an additional annual fee?

Probably not. While some of the “higher-end” cards charge a fee for authorized users – either as a single fee for multiple authorized users or a fee for each one added – most cards, including your Chase Sapphire Preferred Card, won’t charge you anything to add your girlfriend.

Where it could actually pay to add her as an authorized user is via one of the rewards sign-up bonuses offered by Chase and others that, along with adding an authorized user, typically require a minimum purchase amount over the first few months.

4. Will my account receive the miles/points for the money she spends?

Among the various cards, rewards tend to be earned without regard to the user. Yet, with most cards, only the primary cardholder is able to redeem or transfer the rewards.

One way adding your girlfriend as an authorized user could benefit you is that her purchases on the card could help you reach any of the spending thresholds that can trigger reward bonuses.

5. Can I pay off balances early to keep my credit utilization below 35 percent to mitigate the title of “risky cardholder” to credit agencies?

You sure can. If you can’t simply limit your spending to that 35 percent utilization target, or monitoring your spending that closely is way too much trouble, you can raise and lower your credit utilization – the amount of credit being used from the total credit available to you – during a billing month without impacting your credit score.

The only requirement is that, in addition to making your minimum payment by the due date for a particular month, you either add to it at that time or make additional payments before the following closing/statement date.

The balance on that date, having been lowered to the desired utilization percentage, will be reported to the credit bureau and used to calculate your credit utilization percentage for that month.

6. How do I keep the authorized user’s purchases separate from mine? Does each card have its own separate balance on my account?

A few card issuers provide statements that list authorized user charges separately from the primary user’s. Unfortunately, Chase isn’t one of them. American Express and Capital One are among those that do.

Most statements simply list a single balance for all charges by all users for the billing month without designating the user.

Of course, there are ways to overcome this combining of charges. Both of you could hang onto the receipts of any purchase you make and compare them to the statement each month. Another option is that each of you make payments to the card for your own purchases as they occur throughout the month.

Finally, as you mentioned in your question, authorized user benefits are rarely available online or spelled out in card agreement fine print. I suggest calling your card issuer before adding any authorized user, to make sure you have the most up-to-date details relevant to your specific situation.

I hope this information will be helpful to you as you help your girlfriend build her own credit score.

(*The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date. Please see the bank’s website for the most current version of the offer.)

The editorial content on this page is based solely on the objective assessment of our writers and is not driven by advertising dollars. It has not been provided or commissioned by the credit card issuers. However, we may receive compensation when you click on links to products from our partners.

Barry Paperno is a former CreditCards.com personal finance contributor.

What’s up next?

How will closing secured card, opening unsecured card affect credit?

The possible impact of closing a credit card will be mostly offset by the benefits of opening a new one — if your available credit doesn’t shrink and your credit utilization ratio doesn’t increase

Add loved ones to your Chase credit card

• They get access to funds.
• You get added convenience when you add an authorized user.

All correspondence, including credit cards, statements, and notifications will be sent to the name and address on file for the primary cardmember. The primary cardmember is responsible for repaying all balances on this account. Authorized users will have the same account number and charging privileges as the primary cardmember but will not be financially responsible. Chase provides account information to the credit reporting agencies for all account users. This information could impact an authorized user’s credit score. When you tell us to add a user to your account, you’re confirming that you have a relationship with the person or people whose name(s), address(es), and date of birth(s) you’ve told us, that all their information is correct, and that you have their consent to add them. If Chase determines you’ve given us fraudulent name, address, or date of birth information, or did not have such consent, Chase can close this account.

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Choose the checking account that works best for you. See Chase Premier Plus Checking and other Chase Coupon offers for new customers. Make purchases with your debit card, and bank from almost anywhere with your phone, tablet or computer and at our 16,000 ATMs and nearly 4,900 branches nationwide.

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It’s never too early to begin saving. Open a savings account or open a Certificate of Deposit (see interest rates) and start saving your money. Savings accounts and Certificate of Deposit accounts are FDIC insured up to the maximum amount allowed by law.

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Get a mortgage, jumbo mortgage or refinance your home with Chase. See today’s mortgage rates and calculate what you can afford with our mortgage calculator before applying for a mortgage.

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Ask us about Chase Private Client, a unique level of service that combines concierge banking from Chase and access to J.P. Morgan’s investment expertise.

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With Business Banking, you’ll receive guidance from a team of business professionals who specialize in helping improve cash flow, providing credit solutions, and on managing payroll. Chase also offers online and mobile services, business credit cards, and payment acceptance solutions built specifically for businesses.

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Chase Bank serves nearly half of U.S. households with a broad range of products. Chase online lets you manage your Chase accounts, view statements, monitor activity, pay bills or transfer funds securely from one central place. If you have questions or concerns, please contact us through Chase customer service or let us know about Chase complaints and feedback.

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Chase gives you access to unique sports, entertainment and culinary events through Chase Experiences and our exclusive partnerships such as the US Open, Madison Square Garden and Chase Center.

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Investing involves market risk, including possible loss of principal, and there is no guarantee that investment objectives will be achieved.

Investment products and services are offered through J.P. Morgan Securities LLC (JPMS), a registered broker-dealer and investment advisor, member of FINRA and SIPC. Annuities are made available through Chase Insurance Agency, Inc. (CIA), a licensed insurance agency, doing business as Chase Insurance Agency Services, Inc. in Florida. JPMS, CIA and JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A. are affiliated companies under the common control of JPMorgan Chase & Co. Products not available in all states.

“Chase Private Client” is the brand name for a banking and investment product and service offering.

By Fiona Vanier

Updated: 6th August 2020

We are committed to full transparency in our mission to make the world smarter, happier, & richer. Offers on MyWalletHero may be from our partners – it’s how we make money – and we have not reviewed all available products and offers. That transparency to you is core to our editorial integrity, which isn’t influenced by compensation. Learn more here.

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If you owe someone money but you don’t want to use your bank account to pay them, investigating the cheapest ways to pay with a credit card could be the answer.

There are a number of ways you can do this, but many involve hefty fees and charges. However, it is possible to minimise these fees by choosing your payment method carefully.

So, here we have listed the cheapest ways to pay someone with a credit card.

1. PayPal

In order to do this, both you and the recipient of the money will need a PayPal account. A PayPal account is quick and easy to set up. Follow the instructions on the website .

Once you have both registered, add your credit card to the account. If you have more than one card registered to your account, make sure the credit card you want to use for the payment is the ‘preferred’ card. The recipient will need to add their bank account details to their account. This will enable a transaction from your credit card to their bank account.

Log onto your account and select the option for making a payment for friend or family. You will need the email address that the recipient used to open their account. Add the amount and follow the instructions. You will receive confirmation of the transaction via email. The recipient should receive the funds in 3 to 5 days.

This is one of the cheapest ways to pay someone with a credit card, because this type of transaction is free. However, you will be charged if you are paying the recipient in a foreign currency, so try to avoid doing this.

2. Money transfer card

You could apply for a credit card that offers a special deal on a money transfer. If you apply and are accepted, then request the money transfer sooner rather than later. These types of cards tend to offer special deals for a limited period only.

The card provider will transfer the money to your bank account, and you can then use this money to pay the debt.

You will be charged a one-off fee for the money transfer and could be charged a rate of interest on the balance on the credit card. Some cards offer 0% interest for a limited period in addition to a typical one-off charge of 4% of the total amount transferred. You can check out the best balance transfer and money transfer credit cards here .

3. Make a purchase

If you owe someone money and they are about to make a purchase which is worth the same amount, you could offer to make the purchase for them with your credit card.

This could be one of the cheapest ways to pay someone with a credit card, as long as you are making the purchase in the UK with a UK-based credit card. Bear in mind that you may be charged a transaction fee for using a credit card.

Make sure you keep the receipt in case there is a problem with the goods or services being purchased. Your credit card company is jointly liable for any breach of contract by the retailer under Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. So, you could claim a refund if there is a problem with a purchase worth more than £100.

Take home

Make sure you keep proof of payments made to the person you owe money. This will avoid any problems later.

Bear in mind that the fees and charges outlined are for the transactions only. If you have an outstanding balance on your credit card and you are not paying the balance in full every month, you will accrue additional charges and interest. If this is the case, you will need to take this into account when working out the true cost of paying off the debt with a credit card.

The Motley Fool receives compensation from some advertisers who provide products and services that may be covered by our editorial team. It’s one way we make money. But know that our editorial integrity and transparency matters most and our ratings aren’t influenced by compensation. The statements above are The Motley Fool’s alone and have not been provided or endorsed by bank advertisers. John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Barclays, Hargreaves Lansdown, HSBC Holdings, Lloyds Banking Group, Mastercard, and Tesco.

About the author

We are committed to full transparency in our mission to make the world smarter, happier, & richer. Offers on MyWalletHero may be from our partners – it’s how we make money – and we have not reviewed all available products and offers. That transparency to you is core to our editorial integrity, which isn’t influenced by compensation. Learn more here.

It’s the catch-22 of credit for young adults: you can’t get a credit card because you don’t have any credit, but you can’t build enough credit to qualify because you can’t get a credit card. It’s more difficult for young adults under age 21 to get a credit card on their own since federal law now requires credit card issuers to verify their personal income before granting a credit card.  

Young adults, even college students, who don’t have enough income can’t get approved for a new credit card on their own. However, parents may help their kids avoid this dilemma by adding the child to one of their existing credit cards.

Many credit card issuers allow you to add an authorized user—a person who is authorized to make charges—to your account. The authorized user gets the benefit of the credit card without the legal responsibility of owning a credit card.

Adding an authorized user is different from creating a joint account. With a joint credit card, both parties are equally responsible for any balance on the card.

Why Add Your Child as an Authorized User?

Making your child an authorized user on one of your credit cards gives you the opportunity to teach them about credit and help them begin building a good credit score.   At the same time, the child isn’t responsible for making credit card payments. That responsibility still falls on you, but you can involve your child in the process and teach them how responsible credit card use affects their credit.

Decide if Your Child Is Ready

Before you make your child an authorized user on your credit card, be sure you’re both ready to take that step. Here are some key questions to consider:

• Is your child trustworthy? Having a credit card is a big responsibility. Since you’re ultimately on the hook for the purchases made on your credit cards, you have to be able to trust your child to abide by whatever terms you set for the credit card.
• Does your child typically follow rules you’ve set at home?
• Is your child responsible with money?

Set a Few Guidelines

Before you call to add your child to your card, make sure you set some guidelines for how the credit card should be used.

• How much can your child spend?
• What are they allowed to purchase?
• Should they ask for your permission before making a purchase? Or let you know after they’ve made the purchase?
• Who’s going to make payment? By when?
• How long is the authorized user arrangement going to last?

Discuss the consequences of not following the guidelines, such as removing access for a month or lowering their purchasing limit. Stick to your word. If you say you’re going to remove your child’s authorized user status because they’ve charged too much, then it’s important to follow through.

Creditors aren’t lenient with mistakes, so having guidelines helps you teach your child that there are serious consequences of misusing a credit card.

Choose an Account

It may be better to open a separate account or to add them to a credit card that you seldom use. That way, your transactions aren’t mixed together and you can allow your child access to the online account without the concern of them viewing your transactions. Or, if you share a credit card with your child, make sure you leave a buffer of available credit so your child’s purchases don’t push the balance over the credit limit.

If you decide to add your child to one of your existing credit cards, choose one that has a completely positive credit history. Some credit cards report the entire account history to the authorized user’s credit report once they’re added to the account.   It would be counterproductive to add them to an account that’s riddled with late payments and other negative items, as these would be added to your child’s credit and hurt rather than help.

Primary and Authorized User Card Responsibilities

Once added to the account, your authorized user will receive a separate credit card in their name. Some credit card issuers even issue different account numbers for authorized users. Even with their own card, the authorized user is simply allowed to make purchases on the account. They typically can’t make any other transactions, such as cash advances or balance transfers. Nor can they make changes such as closing the account, requesting a credit limit increase, or adding users.

Keep in mind that you’re responsible for all charges made on your card, even those made by an authorized user. Even if the authorized user has verbally agreed to pay for their charges, the credit card issuer generally holds the primary account holder responsible for the balance.  

How to Boost Their Credit Score

Credit score boosts from authorized user accounts were almost eliminated when FICO decided it would no longer include authorized user accounts in its credit scoring model. The decision was based on the number of people who had exploited the loophole by purchasing access to authorized user accounts. Eliminating authorized user accounts would have hurt millions of consumers, so FICO instead tweaked its most recent credit score model—FICO 08—to only include legitimate authorized user accounts.  

As long as all users on the account are engaging in responsible credit behavior, your child should see a boost to their credit.   The VantageScore 3.0 also considers authorized user accounts when calculating a score.  

When to End the Authorized User Relationship

Once your child can qualify for credit on their own, there’s not really a need to keep them as an authorized user. Once they have built good credit and have their own income, the authorized user setup has served its purpose. Removing your child’s authorized user privileges is as simple as making a phone call to your credit card issuer.

Making your child an authorized user is a big financial leap for both you and your child. Arm your child with the right information can help them develop healthy credit and money management habits that will benefit them throughout adulthood.

Adding an authorized user is one way to share a Sears credit card account. However, unlike with a joint ownership account where all the account holders are legally responsible for an outstanding balance, an authorized user has no legal responsibility to pay the bill. Although Sears places no restrictions on who you can add, Fred Williams, an author and consumer credit expert, noted in a 2010 article on Bankrate.com that the potential risks make it vital to add only those you trust not to abuse this privilege.

Adding a User

To complete the process online, log into your Sears online account and select “Manage Authorized Users” from the account section of the navigation menu. To do it by telephone, call Sears Customer Service at 1-800-917-7700. Both options require the name, birth date, telephone number and social security number of the user you want to add. In addition, you’ll need to specify whether you want Sears to issue a credit card to the user. If you do, Sears will send the card to your mailing address.

How It Works

Both you and Sears controls the privileges an authorized user has on the account. For example, in addition to deciding whether an authorized user should have a credit card, you can set a spending limit and configure online account settings. You can also tell Sears if its representatives can provide information about an authorized users card status and balance over the telephone. By default, Sears does not allow an authorized user to make any changes to your account.

• You can easily link a credit card to your Cash App, though you’ll first have to add a bank account or debit card.
• Similar to Venmo, Cash App is a payment app for transferring money to others, and like Venmo, there’s a fee to transfer money using a credit card.
• Here’s how to link a credit card to your Cash App.
• Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.

The Cash App, by Square, is a handy, convenient app that allows you to pay friends and family without having to have actual cash on hand, or even be in the same room.

It’s a peer-to-peer payment app, that’s simple to use. It’s great for situations like splitting a pizza with some friends or requesting money from a friend, and both can be done digitally from your phone.

However, in order to do this you first have to link your bank or card to your Cash App account. If you don’t link a card or bank account to your account you can still receive money, but you can’t cash out or send money to others. You should note that Cash App does charge a 3% fee for sending money using a credit card.

Here’s how link a bank account or a credit card to your Cash App.

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How to link your bank account to your Cash App

1. Open the Cash App on your iPhone or Android.

2. Go to the “My Cash” tab by tapping the icon of a building in the lower-left corner.

3. Under the options for “Cash and Bitcoin,” tap the “+ Add Bank” option.

4. If you want to add a debit card, enter your card information in the pop-up screen, then tap “Add Card.” After that, your bank should be linked.

5. If you don’t have a debit card, tap “No Card?” to add your bank account.

6. Select your bank from the list of banks. Then enter your online banking username and password, and follow the on-screen instructions to link your account.

How to add a credit card to your Cash App

1. Open your Cash App.

2. Go to the “My Cash” tab by tapping the icon of a building in the lower-left corner.

3. Tap “+ Add Credit Card” under the name of your bank.

4. Enter your card information, then tap “Add Card.” This will link the card to your account.

Related coverage from How To Do Everything: Tech:

How to unlink and delete your Cash App account on your iPhone

‘Can you send money from PayPal to Cash App?’: Not directly, but you can use your bank account — here’s how

How to change your Cash App PIN on an Android or iPhone

How to set up a Venmo account, connect it to your bank, and sync your contacts to easily send or receive money

How to verify your identity on Venmo, in order to send and receive money in the app

Insider Inc. receives a commission when you buy through our links.

Can I add an authorized user to my credit card account?

Yes. Log in to Regions Online Banking and select your credit card account. Then choose “Add Authorized User” from the “I Want To” drop down menu in the upper right corner of the “Account Details” page. Authorized users can also be added by calling 1-800-253-2265. Please note that authorized users CANNOT close the account, add another authorized user, increase the credit line or request a lower APR.

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Only bank deposit products are FDIC insured.

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Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information: Your health and safety is our top priority. Making an appointment is subject to a screening process meant to protect our associates and our customers. If you are feeling ill, have tested positive for COVID-19, have been exposed to the virus or have traveled internationally or to any CDC Advisory location, we cannot accommodate a branch visit. Please see our Coronavirus Response page for other ways we can serve you.

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Banking products are provided by Regions Bank, 1900 5th Avenue North, Birmingham, AL 35203

We are committed to full transparency in our mission to make the world smarter, happier, & richer. Offers on The Ascent may be from our partners – it’s how we make money – and we have not reviewed all available products and offers. That transparency to you is core to our editorial integrity, which isn’t influenced by compensation.

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If you want another person to be able to pay for purchases using your Chase card, you can set them up as an authorized user. They’ll have their own card linked to the account, exactly like yours, although certain card benefits may only be available to you as the primary cardholder.

While the process to set this up is simple, it’s not a decision to take lightly. Here’s the specifics on adding an authorized user to a Chase card, including how it works and what happens after you do it.

What you need to know first

When someone is an authorized user on your Chase credit card account, you’re responsible for the transactions they make with the card. Anything they do with the card can affect both your credit and theirs.

For example, if your authorized user runs up a high balance on the card, you’ll be responsible for paying it, and the high credit utilization could cause your credit score to drop.

For this reason, you should be very careful about who you add as an authorized user. The most common types of people to add as authorized users are:

• Spouses
• Children
• Employees (if you have a Chase business card)

Why add someone to your Chase card?

There are a few benefits of adding an authorized user to your Chase card:

• Any spending they put on your card can earn you travel rewards or cash back. This spending also applies to any minimums you need to meet on a sign-up bonus.
• It’s more convenient for both of you, as they can use your credit when necessary without you being there. This is particularly helpful for business owners who authorize their employees to make purchases for the company.
• It can help build their credit, which is one reason parents sometimes make their children authorized users on their credit cards.

How to add an authorized user

After you’ve logged in to your Chase account, you can add an authorized user by following these steps:

1. Click on the credit card account where you wish to add the authorized user.
2. Click “Things you can do,” and then select “Add an authorized user” from the drop-down menu.
3. Fill out the form.
4. Click “Add Authorized User.”

You’ll need to enter this information about the person whom you’re making an authorized user:

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Residential address

Make sure all the information you enter is accurate and current. If you provide false information, Chase could close your account and any others you have with it. The authorized user will get their card within seven to 10 business days.

Is there a fee for authorized users?

On most Chase cards, you won’t need to pay anything for your authorized users. The only current exception is the Chase Sapphire Reserve®, which has a fee of $75 per authorized user.

Authorized users access to benefits

Authorized users on Chase cards generally get all the same perks as the primary cardholder, but the Chase Sapphire Reserve® is an exception again. Although authorized users will get their own Priority Pass Select membership for airport lounge access, they won’t receive the following:

• $300 annual travel credit
• Up to $100 credit for Global Entry or TSA Precheck membership

This probably isn’t much of a surprise, as Chase would lose money issuing credits worth more than the annual user fee.

Setting spending limits on business credit cards

With Chase’s personal credit cards, there’s no way to limit what an authorized user can spend. It’s different with Chase’s business cards, such as the Chase Ink Business Cash℠ and the Chase Ink Business Preferred℠.

If you’re a business owner and you want to limit how much an employee can spend as an authorized user, this is how to do it:

1. Log in to your account and click on the card.
2. Click “Things you can do” and select “Set spending limits” from the drop-down menu.
3. Select the card, enter your desired spending limit, and click “Submit.”

Adding an authorized user to your Chase card is a useful option in select situations. Maybe you want your teenager to have a card of their own in case of emergencies, or if you and your spouse have combined finances, it could make sense to get them a card tied to your account. Just make sure the person you add is someone you trust completely, because ultimately it’s your credit on the line.

Don’t pay credit card interest until nearly 2022

The Ascent just released a free credit card guide that could help you pay off credit card debt once and for all. Inside, you’ll uncover a simple debt-cutting strategy that could save you $1,863 in interest charges paying off $10,000 of debt. Best yet, you can get started in just three minutes!

We are committed to full transparency in our mission to make the world smarter, happier, & richer. Offers on The Ascent may be from our partners – it’s how we make money – and we have not reviewed all available products and offers. That transparency to you is core to our editorial integrity, which isn’t influenced by compensation.

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Adding your spouse as an authorized user gives your beloved access to your credit line. Is that a good idea?

Married couples tend to combine many aspects of their lives, including their financial lives. This can be a good thing because two people working together to accomplish shared financial goals can be more successful than one person.

But as you merge your money with your spouse, you will likely have to make a decision at some point: Should you add your husband or wife to your credit cards as an authorized user?

Image source: Getty Images

This guide will help you to decide if that’s a good idea so you can do what’s right for your money and your relationship.

What does it mean to add your spouse as an authorized user?

When you add your spouse as an authorized user to your card, the credit history from that account shows up on your spouse’s credit report. Your spouse also has authority to use the card as if it were his or her own — but doesn’t not have the legal responsibility to repay any balances charged.

What are the benefits of adding your spouse as an authorized user?

Adding your spouse as an authorized user to your cards can be convenient. You can both charge on the same credit card account so you have one joint monthly bill to pay instead of having separate cards you each use.

You can also earn rewards more quickly on the one card you both share, rather than each participating in separate credit card rewards programs and potentially taking longer to earn enough points to redeem.

If you have a long and positive credit history on the card that you add your spouse to, this can also help your spouse’s credit. That happens because the particular credit card you’re adding your spouse to shows up on his or her credit history, so your spouse can benefit from the card’s long positive payment record, which is a key feature in determining credit scores.

When you go to get a joint loan, such as a mortgage, it can be good for both of you if your spouse’s credit score is as high as possible.

When is adding your spouse as an authorized user a bad idea?

Adding your spouse as an authorized user can be a bad idea if you don’t 100% trust your spouse to be responsible with spending. Unfortunately, this can actually be a major problem in many relationships as financial infidelity is incredibly common.

If you add your spouse as an authorized user, he or she could charge as much as desired on your card while you remain responsible for the bills. Your credit could be ruined because of your spouse’s charges if you can’t afford to pay back what was borrowed, or if your spouse maxes out your card and hurts your credit utilization ratio.

And if you get divorced, your creditors will hold you 100% responsible for repaying what’s owed on the card that’s in your name — even if your spouse was an authorized user and made the charges. It doesn’t matter if your divorce decree says your spouse is supposed to pay. You’re the one with a legal obligation to your creditors, and you’re the one your creditors could pursue collections activities against.

If you’re not sure you can count on your spouse to be responsible, this could mean you need to have a more serious talk about money management in your relationship. But until you’re confident that your financial conflicts have been fully resolved, keep your credit cards in your own name only.

Consider your card history and your relationship when making this choice

Every relationship is different, and you need to think about what’s right for you when deciding if your partner should be added as another user on your credit cards. By carefully considering how your spouse’s credit — and your financial obligations — could be affected, you can make the choice that’s best for your particular situation.

Don’t pay credit card interest until nearly 2022

The Ascent just released a free credit card guide that could help you pay off credit card debt once and for all. Inside, you’ll uncover a simple debt-cutting strategy that could save you $1,863 in interest charges paying off $10,000 of debt. Best yet, you can get started in just three minutes!

By Kate Anderson

Updated: 7th August 2020

We are committed to full transparency in our mission to make the world smarter, happier, & richer. Offers on MyWalletHero may be from our partners – it’s how we make money – and we have not reviewed all available products and offers. That transparency to you is core to our editorial integrity, which isn’t influenced by compensation. Learn more here.

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When you are struggling with credit card debt, it can feel like there is no way out. But sometimes there are options available that you may not have thought of before. One option could be a family member or friend paying your credit card bill for you. Or have you ever wondered if you can pay someone’s credit card for them? We’re here to clear up what you can and can’t do when it comes to paying someone’s credit card bill.

And if you are looking for more ways to get out of credit card debt, take a look at our article that explores 5 ways to pay off your credit card debt once and for all.

Can I pay someone else’s bill?

Do you have a friend or a family member that is struggling with debt? According to The Money Charity, the average time to pay off credit card debt by making only the minimum payment per month is 26 years and 8 months. For some, outstanding balances on credit cards can quickly spiral. And compound interest means that they never get their heads above water.

It may be that you are in a secure financial position and want to lend a helping hand to someone in need. But as it is their debt, are you able to help out?

The answer is yes, you can pay someone else’s credit card bill.

How do I pay someone’s credit card?

If you use online banking, all you need to do is set up the credit card company as a payee. Then you can choose to make a one-off payment or regular monthly payments (direct debits). To set up the card provider as a payee, you will need the sort code and account number of the card. This can typically be found on the credit card statement.

Alternatively, when you type in the name of the card provider into your online banking, you are shown a list of card prefixes. If this is the case, all you will need to do is select the first four digits of the credit card from that list. The account number and sort code will automatically be selected.

The most important thing to remember, though, is to use the 16-digit credit card number as the reference.

If you are not a fan of online banking and prefer the face-to-face approach, you can also make payments in branch. Just make sure you have the card details mentioned above.

Can I transfer a balance from someone else’s credit card?

It may be that you have a good/excellent credit score and can access some good balance transfer deals. Or perhaps you have less outstanding credit card debt and want to transfer the balance to your card. But is this doable?

Technically, this is possible, but not all providers allow you to transfer another person’s balance to a credit card in your name. And it is likely that even the providers that do allow this will have some restrictions in place. For example, the person whose balance you’re transferring may need to be your partner, a family member or a close friend. Also, only you can request the transfer, not the person whose balance needs to be transferred.

If this is something you are thinking of, then be aware it is risky to take on someone else’s credit card debt. You should only do it if you trust that they will make the repayments. Otherwise, you’ll need to be happy to pay off the debt if they don’t.

This is because once the transfer has been made, the debt will be in your name. This means that you are legally responsible for paying it.

If you do end up transferring someone else’s balance to your card, but they are still making the payments, then try to keep a written record of payments. This is just in case problems arise later on.

The Motley Fool receives compensation from some advertisers who provide products and services that may be covered by our editorial team. It’s one way we make money. But know that our editorial integrity and transparency matters most and our ratings aren’t influenced by compensation. The statements above are The Motley Fool’s alone and have not been provided or endorsed by bank advertisers. John Mackey, CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Barclays, Hargreaves Lansdown, HSBC Holdings, Lloyds Banking Group, Mastercard, and Tesco.

About the author

I am a freelance finance writer who also writes for Fitch Solutions. Previously I worked as an analyst for Nielsen, specialising in consumer finance reports and news insights.

We are committed to full transparency in our mission to make the world smarter, happier, & richer. Offers on MyWalletHero may be from our partners – it’s how we make money – and we have not reviewed all available products and offers. That transparency to you is core to our editorial integrity, which isn’t influenced by compensation. Learn more here.

Photographer: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg

One of the fastest ways to boost your credit score is to be added as an authorized user by someone with excellent credit. When you are added as an authorized user to an account, you will inherit the credit history of that account (good or bad). If you have limited or no credit history, your credit score could quickly and dramatically improve with this method.

This post will explain:

• How being an “authorized user” can help boost your credit score
• The risks of being added as an authorized user
• The steps to become an authorized user

How Being An Authorized User Can Help Your Credit Score

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You can thank an obscure regulation for the potential benefits of being an authorized user. Regulation B “requires that, when using credit history to evaluate creditworthiness, lenders consider the history of accounts on which the applicant is an authorized user, when available, if one of the account holders is the authorized user’s spouse. Because credit records do not indicate whether an authorized user is a spouse, lenders generally over comply with these requirements and consider all of the accounts on which an applicant was an authorized user when assessing creditworthiness.”

In other words, once you are added as an authorized user to an account (and it doesn’t matter whose account), the history of that account appears on your credit report – and it will be treated as if it was your credit history.

This can be a good thing if you are added to an account with an excellent history. For example, if a mother adds her daughter to a credit card that has been open and in good standing for 20 years, the daughter will receive the benefit of those 20 years of credit history.

There are just a few things to remember:

• Not all credit card companies report authorized users to the credit bureau. The major credit card issuers (American Express, Bank of America, Chase, Citibank, Capital One and Discover) do report. However, many smaller banks and credit unions do not. Make sure you check with your bank or credit union to see if they report to the bureau. You can find a list of banks that report authorized users to the credit bureau here.
• Some credit card companies have age restrictions on authorized users, whereas others have no age restrictions at all. Make sure you ask your credit card company to see who is eligible. You can find age requirements of the major credit card issuers here.

On Clark Howard’s website (a personal finance expert), a 19 year-old with an 820 credit score is featured. The way to get such a good score so quickly is not a mystery: his parents added him as an authorized user to a card with a 17-year history of on-time payments. That long history of responsible use was immediately passed along to the 19 year-old, helping him achieve an excellent credit score.

The Risks of Being an Authorized User

There are a number of risks that both the account holder and the authorized user should consider.

For the account owner, the biggest risk is that the authorized user can start spending on the credit card – and the account owner is liable for the debt. If you make a son, daughter or friend an authorized user and receive a bill for a big weekend in Vegas, you will be responsible for paying the debt, not the authorized user. Be careful before you hand plastic to someone else.

The spending done by authorized users could also impact your credit score. For example, if an authorized user makes a big purchase, that additional debt could negatively impact your score – particularly if it drives up your total utilization.

Some credit card issuers charge an annual fee for authorized users. This is much more common with rewards credit cards that offer extra benefits and perks.

The authorized user is taking a different risk. Having someone else’s credit history on your credit report is a good thing – so long as the account remains in good standing. However, if the primary account owner starts to miss payments or behave poorly, the credit history of the authorized user will be harmed. Before agreeing to become an authorized user, make sure you know and trust the person adding you to their account.

The Steps to Become an Authorized User

Adding an authorized user is easy. For most major credit card issuers, you can do it quickly and easily online. But if you run into any difficulties, credit card companies are more than happy to help via the phone. Cardholders who add authorized users are much more likely to be active, good customers – so credit card issuers are happy to oblige.

Typically, you will need to provide the name, address, date of birth and (for some issuers) the Social Security number of the authorized user.

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PayPal is a convenient and safe online banking resource that can be used to complete different types of online money transactions. Using PayPal creates a security barrier between the people and companies you send and receive money from, which helps protect your sensitive financial information. In addition to making safer online purchases, you can also pay some of your bills, receive deposits, donate to charitable organizations, transfer money abroad and send money to anyone with an email account. All this and more can be done without having to send your bank account information to many different sources.The PayPal account doesn’t need to have a balance as long as you have a confirmed bank account or credit card linked to your PayPal it.

If you prefer to streamline your approach to e-commerce, you can link a debit or credit card directly to PayPal. When you make a purchase using this online service, funds can be routed directly from your debit or credit card to the vendor in question using PayPal as an intermediary.

Add a Card to Your Account

You’ll first need to add the credit card to your account so PayPal will use it for transactions. Log in to your Paypal account. Click on the “Profile” link. Select “Financial Information” and “Credit/Debit Card.” Select “Add a card.” Enter the requested card information. Confirm by clicking “Add Card.” The PayPal company will make a small deposit and deduction from your card.

Verify Your Credit Card

Once you’ve added the credit card to your PayPal account, you’ll need to verify it’s your card and that PayPal has the correct information. View your credit card statement (online or paper statement) and write down the exact amounts for each transaction made by PayPal. Then log back into your PayPal account, select “My Account” and go to “Profile.” Click on the “Bank Account’s” tab and select “Confirm.” You will be asked to enter in the amounts of the small deposit and deduction as a means to verify your ownership of the credit card.

Add Funds Using Your Credit Card

Add funds to your PayPal account from the credit account balance by logging into your account and clicking “Transfer Money” under your balance on the home page. On the next page, select “Add money to your balance.” Enter the amount of money you wish to transfer from your Visa card and click “Submit.” Your money should be available within 3 to 5 days. It’s important to note that the same credit card can be linked to only one PayPal account at one time. Some cards qualify for instant confirmation, particularly if you have online access to your credit card account. If this is the case, the confirmation can be done in minutes.

There is no simple answer to this question, but we’ll break down everything you need to know in an easy to understand way. When you’re just starting to build your credit, every bit of help matters. For instance, getting added to someone else’s credit card account can give you a boost that could, in a short period of time, make the difference between your having to apply for a secured or an unsecured credit card. But there’s a catch: This approach doesn’t always work for everybody.

Asking someone to add you as an authorized user to his or her credit card account might sound like a no-brainer; unfortunately, that’s often not the case. You might think there is no risk in it for you, and it’s the other party that will be liable for paying the credit card account. In fact, there are potential risks for both parties. So, think carefully before becoming an authorized user on another person’s credit card account.

What Do I Need to Know About Being an Authorized User on a Credit Card?

If your credit history is slim, you can sometimes build credit by being added as an authorized user on someone else’s credit card. With responsible use, including on-time payments, you can get noticed by credit bureaus as someone who might use credit wisely. Conversely, with irresponsible use, such as missed payments, you run the danger of damaging your credit score.

How Old Do I Have to be to Become an Authorized User?

There is no set age, but often people under 18 can be added as authorized users on their parents’ accounts. At Discover, we permit primary account holders to add up to five authorized users at no charge. Authorized users receive their own credit card that they can use to make purchases. However, it’s worth noting that the primary account holder is responsible for making all payments toward the card’s balance.

By Becoming an Authorized User, am I Inheriting the Primary Account Holder’s Credit Habits?

Before you consider becoming an authorized user, the first, and most important, thing to look for is whether the primary account holder pays their bills on time. If they do not make timely payments, that gets documented on the credit reports of authorized users. And credit card issuers report late payments to credit bureaus.

So it doesn’t take much to begin to negatively impact your credit score. What’s more, late payments, as bad as they are, are not the only thing that can hurt you. If the account in question has a high utilization rate, that too can weigh heavily on your credit score.

So before signing on to be an authorized user, it’s best to do your own due diligence by evaluating the credit habits of the primary account holder. Otherwise, instead of working to build a positive credit history, you may find yourself achieving the opposite.

What’s the Bottom Line?

Becoming an authorized user can be a way to build a credit history, but there are risks should the strategy not go according to plan. Your best bet is to evaluate the primary account holder — do they make timely payments each month? — and find out if the creditor reports authorized users’ activity to the major credit bureaus. Not all of them do, and it’s important that you know this information before taking a step that may not serve you in the long run.

Originally published Nov. 16, 2015

Updated June 28, 2019

Legal Disclaimer: This site is for educational purposes and is not a substitute for professional advice. The material on this site is not intended to provide legal, investment, or financial advice and does not indicate the availability of any Discover product or service. It does not guarantee that Discover offers or endorses a product or service. For specific advice about your unique circumstances, you may wish to consult a qualified professional.

A couple of days ago Ben wrote about why you should want to have as many no annual fee American Express credit cards as possible. That’s because each card gets its own set of Amex Offers, which are really cool and often lucrative cashback savings opportunities. And the more cards you have, the more offers you can get since they tend to vary a bit between cards.

Like Ben, I haven’t always taken advantage of Amex Offers though. I once thought they were too complicated or would only be for things we wouldn’t normally buy. But it turns out, this old dog can learn new tricks — I’ve since discovered that they are really easy to load to your account, and they are sometimes for things we actually need. In short, they are surprisingly easy to use and the credits post automatically as well.

Anyway, once you’ve taken Ben’s advice and acquired several no-fee Amex cards, you might be ready for the next level of optimization. And that involves adding some authorized users to your accounts.

Why add additional cardholders?

Generally speaking, each authorized user on an Amex account gets their own unique credit card number. This is in contrast to Chase, where, in my experience, everyone on your account shares the same number.

Since the Amex authorized user gets their own card number, they are also eligible for Amex Offers. In fact, your authorized user will likely have the same set of offers you have. So if you get an offer that you like, not only can you load it on your card, but you can also load it on their card as well.

Is adding authorized users a hassle?

I’ve known about Amex Offers for a long time. And I’ve known that Amex authorized users are eligible for their own Amex Offers. And I’ve known that many cards let you add authorized users for free.

Yet I still hadn’t added any authorized users to some of our accounts. Why? Because I assumed it would be a bit of a pain, and would almost certainly require a phone call. Which I detest.

But it turns out that it’s really easy, and, at least for my accounts, could be done completely online in just a few minutes.

How to add authorized users to American Express cards

I have two business cards, the The Marriott Bonvoy Business™ American Express ® Card and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express. I had never added my wife to these cards, so I figured I should finally do that.

First I logged into my account and selected my Starwood Business Card. Then on the right panel, there was a link to add employee cards.

Perhaps fittingly, my most recent transaction is credit from from Boxed.com, courtesy of Amex offers

Then I selected my Starwood Business card as the one I wanted to add an authorized user to. (I later repeated the process for my Business Platinum.)

I filled out some basic information, mostly just name and email address — and submitted the application. (Note that I could have added up to five authorized users at once.)

A few moments later my order was acknowledged. Apparently I will need to enter the social security number and birthday of the authorized user when the card arrives.

That was it. I was literally done in two minutes.

When I repeated the process for my Business Platinum Card, I made sure to get my wife the Green Card, which has no annual fee (Rates & Fees). There might be some reasons to get the Platinum or Gold version, but for now, I just wanted to have another card eligible for Amex Offers.

Bottom line

Amex Offers is a great way to save some money on things you were going to buy anyway. And the best way to maximize your use of Amex Offers is to add some authorized users to your accounts.

Of course you should only add people you trust since you’ll ultimately be responsible for their charges. But it’s definitely a good way to leverage your benefits and, in my case, justify paying the annual fee on some cards I might otherwise have canceled.

Are you using authorized user cards for Amex Offers?

The following links will direct you to the rates and fees for mentioned American Express Cards. These include: The Business Platinum® Card from American Express (Rates & Fees).

Assume Mr. Smith has a score of 850, Mr. Jones has a score of 550, and from this point forward, neither Mr. Jones nor Mr. Smith will do anything to negatively affect either of their credit ratings.

Would Mr. Smith’s credit score be negatively affected for putting Mr. Jones on his credit card as a joint account, (not as an authorized user)?

Links to where you found information would be greatly appreciated.

OK. Again, I’m talking about making someone with poor credit a “joint” account holder which does help their credit over time. I am not talking about making them an “authorized user” which no longer affects their credit.

We are also assuming that from that point forward, no negative actions occurr to affect anyone’s credit score.

4 Answers

No. Your credit score is based upon reported credit information for your accounts on which either you’re the primary account holder or you’re an authorized user.

When you add an authorized user or a joint owner, you don’t pick up any of the AU’s other account experience on your report. In either case the only way something on their report would be reflected on yours would be if they separately made you an authorized user / joint owner on one of their accounts (and then it would be only to the extent of that specific account).

So, as you lay things out, the primary account holder has nothing to worry about.

As an aside, it was suggested by another contributor that being added as an “AU” to an account is no longer a viable way to improve your credit. That’s not true.

There is a proposed revision to the FICO score methodology that is along those lines, but it hasn’t been adopted yet. Further, that revision has been changed. Whereas at one time it was proposed that AU accounts would be ignored entirely, it’s most likely that being an AU under accounts such as a spouse’s or another relative’s will still be evaluated under the new score algorithm when it’s adopted.

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Bills & payments

Exchanging Tesco Clubcard vouchers for NOW TV credit

You can now swap your Tesco Clubcard vouchers for NOW TV credit, and use them to get the best and latest shows, movies and sports with our NOW TV Passes.

For details on how to exchange your Clubcard vouchers for NOW TV credit, head to Tesco’s website.

Check your NOW TV credit at any time in My Account.

Paying for your Passes through BT?

Sorry, but you can’t add or use NOW TV credit if you’re paying through BT.

What can I spend my credit on?

Once you’ve swapped your Clubcard vouchers for NOW TV credit, you can redeem it on any of the NOW TV Passes or devices.

Keep in mind You won’t be able to spend your credit on any NOW Broadband products.

What devices can I use to spend my credit on?

You can make purchases using your NOW TV credit on all our supported devices, except:

• White NOW TV Box
• LG Netcast Smart TVs and Blu-ray players
• EE TV
• Apple TV – 3rd generation

How much credit can I have on my account?

You can have up to £300 of credit on your NOW TV account at any one time, and you can add up to £150 of credit each time you swap your Clubcard vouchers.

How long do I have to spend my credit?

Once you’ve added credit to your account, you’ll have 36 months to spend it before it expires. We’ll send you a reminder by email before your credit is due to expire.

Keep in mind You won’t be able to transfer your credit to another NOW TV account.

What happens if I don’t have enough credit to pay for my purchase?

No problem – if you run out of credit, we’ll use your saved payment card to pay the outstanding balance.

Membership for our monthly Passes auto-renews at the standard price each month, unless cancelled. Any available credit on your account will be used first for your next monthly payment, with any remaining balance paid with your saved card. You can cancel your membership at any time.

Can I add credit if I’ve got the NOW TV Combo?

Sorry, but if you’ve got the NOW TV Combo (with your broadband and TV Passes provided as one combined package, you can’t add credit to your NOW TV account at the moment. This applies if you’ve ever had the NOW TV Combo in the past too.

We’re working to fix this – keep an eye on this page for more updates.

Can I use NOW TV credit for Passes billed by NOW TV’s partners?

Do you pay for your NOW TV Pass via iTunes? Unfortunately you can’t use your NOW TV credit to pay for these Passes at the moment.

If you pay for your Entertainment Pass via Vodafone, then you can still use your credit to purchase any other NOW TV Passes.

• To change a card on Cash App, you have to unlink or remove the card you don’t want from your account first, and then you can add a new card.
• You can change debit or credit cards on Cash App, as well as your connected bank account.
• Visit Business Insider’s homepage for more stories.

Cash App is a peer-to-peer payment app, like Venmo. It allows you to transfer money between friends and family easily, without having to get cash, make change, or even meet face-to-face.

This is possible because Cash App is connected directly to your debit card, bank account, or credit card. When you set up your account, you can choose which and how many cards you want to link, and add them accordingly.

If you ever want to change cards on the Cash App, there is an easy way to do it. You simply have to remove one card and add another.

Unlinking a bank account is a little different than removing a debit or credit card, so we’ll show you how to do all three in this article. You can replace them instantly, or, if you choose, you can simply remove them, and wait until later to add new cards or accounts.

Check out the products mentioned in this article:

iPhone 11 (From $699.99 at Best Buy)

Samsung Galaxy S10 (From $899.99 at Best Buy)

How to change a card on Cash App

1. Open Cash App on your iPhone or Android phone.

2. Tap on the icon with a cash amount in the lower left corner to go to the My Cash tab.

3. Tap on either the name of your bank or your credit card, depending on which one you want to remove.

4. If you’re unlinking a debit card, under “Bank Accounts,” find the item labeled “Debit Card xxxx” and tap the three dots in the upper right corner.

5. If you want to remove the card altogether, tap “Remove Card.” This will remove the card from your account immediately. If you want to replace it with a new debit card, tap “Replace Card.”

6. Fill in the new card’s information. When you finish, tap “Add Card” and the new card will replace the old one on your account.

How to remove or replace a bank account on Cash App

If you want to change a bank account, follow the first three steps above and then continue here.

1. Under “Bank Accounts,” find the item labeled “Account xxx” and tap the three dots in the upper right corner.

2. If you want to remove the bank account altogether, tap “Remove Bank.” This will unlink the account from your Cash App profile immediately. If you want to replace it with a new bank, tap “Replace Bank.”

3. Follow the on-screen instructions to enter the routing and account numbers for your new bank. When you finish, the new bank will be associated with your account.

By Sarah Kingsbury updated on 01/23/2019

Have you ever tried to buy a new song on iTunes only to find that your credit card or Apple ID info are out of date? In this article, we’ll show you how to update or change your iTunes billing info on iPhone or the computer. We’ll also cover how to remove your credit card information from iTunes and your Apple ID on iPhone. Each Apple ID can be assigned a credit card for use with iTunes, the App Store, iBooks, and any other in-app purchases. So let’s dive into how to keep your Apple ID and billing info up to date so that you can get back to buying those rad tunes!

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There are many reasons you might want to edit your Apple ID or billing info, from a new credit card to a recent move or adding someone new to Family Sharing. Because there are so many reasons for editing your info, we’ll cover each available method below.

Why Can’t I Remove My Credit Card from iPhone?

First thing’s first; while you can delete your credit card information or billing info altogether, we highly recommend updating your iTunes and Apple ID billing info instead. Making edits to your billing info is much simpler than starting over from scratch. Completely removing your credit card from your iPhone means you won’t be able to sign up for subscriptions, buy apps or music, or do anything else on iPhone that requires payment information. However, if you have your heart set on removing your credit card from your iPhone, and have been unable to complete the process on your own, we’ll help you troubleshoot the problem below.

If you’ve tried and failed to delete your credit card information in your Apple ID, it’s probably because of one of the following things is preventing you from removing your credit card:

• You have an unpaid balance or payment due.
• You have an auto-renew subscription active.
• You’re part of Family Sharing.

For most people, those three problems will cover why you’re not able to remove your credit card on your iPhone. However, there are a couple other more rare possibilities, which you can read about here. Once you’ve paid your balance, turned off auto-renew, and left Family Sharing, you can remove your credit card from your iPhone and select None instead. Here’s how:

• Open Settings.
• Select iTunes & App Stores
• Tap on your Apple ID at the top.
• Select View Apple ID.
• Tap Payment Information.
• If nothing is preventing you from removing your credit card, you should be able to select None under Payment Method.

• If something is preventing you from removing your credit card, None will not appear. Refer to the list above to figure out what is preventing you from removing your credit card information.

How to Change Your Credit Card on iTunes on iPhone & iPad

• Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
• Select iTunes & App Stores
• Your Apple ID will be at the top: tap on it. and select View Apple ID.​

• You’ll be prompted to enter your Apple ID password or to use Face ID or Touch ID.
• Tap Payment Information.
• Here you can enter the payment information of the new credit card you want to use.
• Once all the information is entered including the billing address associated with your credit card, tap Done at the top. And tap Done again to exit Apple ID Account Settings.

Now you should have a new credit card for use with iTunes, App Store, and any other apps on your iPhone or iPad.

How to Change Your iTunes Billing Info on Your Computer

If you’d prefer to update your iTunes credit card on your computer, you can easily do so on Apple’s website. Again, this is the credit card used for purchases on your iPhone or iPad, or in iTunes. Any time you’re asked to enter your Apple ID password for purchase, this credit card is the one being charged, which means keeping it up to date is important. To do this on a computer,

• Visit AppleID.Apple.com.
• Sign in using your Apple ID email address and password.

• You’ll be directed to a page with all of your Apple ID account info.
• Find Payment & Shipping. Click Edit…

• Doing so will extend the page and reveal all the billing info you currently have in place. Enter the payment info for the new credit card you want to use for payment on your iPhone and iPad, including the billing address associated with the credit card.
• Click Save when you’re done.

Now, when you go to purchase something from the iTunes store, App store, or if you make an in-app purchase, the new credit card you’ve entered will be charged.

When you save your card through My Vodafone or while upgrading, you authorise Vodafone to use these details to perform an Automatic Recharge on your prepaid plan’s expiry date. The plan you will be Auto Recharged on will be the same plan as your most recent recharge, and you can opt-out at any time. T&C apply.

Using your saved credit or debit card is also a great way to top up your My Credit.

How to manage a credit/debit card.

The best way to manage your credit/debit card is through My Vodafone.

Aside from opting in to Automatic Recharge, when you register a credit/debit card with us, you can:

• Use our Recharge by SMS service.
• Recharge by calling 1511 from your prepaid phone.
• Access increased daily and monthly recharge limits.
• Recharge up to 5 Vodafone prepaid services using the same card.

Additional information.

You can register an Australian or internationally issued:

Yes, but both you and the credit card holder will need to visit a Vodafone store to authorise the registration.

The best way to manage your credit/debit card is through My Vodafone. If you have multiple services, you must be logged in to My Vodafone with the number the card is registered on.

To help protect against credit card fraud, daily and monthly spend limits apply to credit card and debit card recharges made online, over the phone and by SMS.

Having a good credit score is important if you want to finance a major purchase such as a home or a car. Your credit rating can also affect your job search, renting an apartment and your auto insurance rates.

You will need to wait until you have a social security number before you can apply for a credit card. However, you do not necessarily need a green card before you can apply for credit and it is a good idea to begin building your credit as soon as you can.

Unfortunately, your credit score back home cannot be used in the United States. It will be difficult for you to get a credit card with no history and without credit you cannot build your credit score.

The fastest way to build credit is to have your new American spouse add you as an authorized user to all their cards. You can also open a joint credit card with your spouse to help build your credit.

My US Citizen Spouse Has Bad Credit, How Do I Build Credit On My Own?

If you spouse doesn’t have the best credit and you do not want to start off negatively in your quest for good credit – you have an uphill battle. Credit card companies will not approve you without some type of payment history.

Obviously, you will not have a payment history in the U.S. because you are a new resident starting with a clean slate. To get around this catch-22 you can apply for a secured credit card and deposit a set amount with the credit card company in case you default.

Another option is to contact your spouse’s bank and open your own checking account. Once you manage this checking account well, ask them if you can apply for your own credit card.

You May Not Have An Actual Credit Score For Up To A Year

Once you have at least one credit card in your name you will begin to build credit history that will contribute to your credit score. Don’t worry if you do not have a FICO score yet and try not to apply for too many credit cards all at once.

Your credit score can take several months to a year to be generated; continue to pay the balance in full and on time every single month.

As a new permanent resident you get to start from scratch – this is great if you had bad credit back home but you need to take care and not make the same mistakes you did in your past with credit.

How Long Will It Take To Build An Excellent Credit Score As A Green Card Holder?

The time it takes to build excellent credit (score 760+) can vary depending on how you manage your finances. Use CreditKarma.com (free online credit score) to keep track of your monthly progress and to make sure there isn’t any inaccurate information on your credit report.

Below are how your score is calculated:One of the most important factors is your payment history – do not miss any payments! Try not to use more than 10% of your available credit to keep the utilization as low as possible.

After one year, you should see your credit score in the 700’s. Some people may be shocked how quickly their credit scores can get into the 700 club, but remember that you are starting off with a clean record.

It is much easier to build great credit if you do not have any past blemishes on your credit report.