An authorized user is someone you trust to spend on your credit card who can piggyback on your credit to build – or restore – their credit history. The authorized user can access credit without applying for a card, and your on-time payment history will show up on the user's credit report, as long as the card reports to credit bureaus.
Authorized users benefit from an established credit line and positive payment history. Ideally, the card is several years old, has a positive payment history and a low credit utilization. These factors will increase your credit quickly.
FAQ:
When can a child start building credit?
13 to 15 years old
Add your child as an authorized user
A child generally only needs to be 13 to 15 years old to qualify as an authorized user and start building credit, while some card issuers have no minimum age requirement at all (read about the minimum ages for each card issuer).
Will adding my child as an authorized user help his or her credit?
Yes, adding children as authorized users can help their credit scores. It's up to the primary cardholder to maintain a healthy credit score so the authorized users can reap the benefits.