Stupid Question

[danaf]

My husband did not file and has excellent credit.

If he were to put me as an authorized user on one of his cards, would it help my credit scores? Something tells me no but thought I would ask anyway.

[magyar123]

"Authorized userships" can help a little, but very little in improving scores. IF and that is a BIG IF, his creditors actually report authorized users. More and more creditors do not.

[lrprn]

If he were to put me as an authorized user on one of his cards, would it help my credit scores? Something tells me no but thought I would ask anyway.

Regretfully Fair Issac finally figured out that authorized users were using cards they were not responsible for paying to raise their credit scores. In June 2007 they stripped out any scoring related to authorized users from credit scores.

Unfortunately, being an authorized user on your husband's card will not help you at all now. See http://www.fairisaac.com/fic/en/news...u-abuse-nr.htm for the details.

[danaf]

ok - what about joint user then?

[lrprn]

ok - what about joint user then?

Yes, joint user will count towards your credit score. However, since you just filed bk, it's unlikely you'll be approved....but you never know.

If you don't mind the hard pull on your credit when the cc makes the credit inquiry, then ask your husband to request to add you on. Good luck!

[Runnin on empty]

danaf, I don't know where your credit stands, but why not consider going with a low-limit BK friendly card like WAMU or something like that? This way, hubby doesn't take an unnecessary risk, and you still work on rebuilding your credit.

[danaf]

running - I thought of it but the fees tick me off. I'll still think on it - maybe I'll change my mind in a few months.

We are in a community property state anyway so everything is a risk. The only reason I was able to file solo successfully was because the debt was all in my name from before we were married. Doesn't mean we are out of the woods yet though. I'm expecting zombie collectors to be rearing their heads in the future. But - the bk protect all community property going forward so they won't have much luck.