How to Avoid a Credit-Card Surprise When a Spouse Dies

[Hugh_Lebowski]

4. I suppose this is useful information ...

Still kinda mind-blowing to me that people don't already know how this stuff works, the difference between a primary/joint account holder vs. being an authorized user.

Being an authorized user DOES go on your credit report and can help boost (or lower) your score ... though creditors and reporting agencies (Equifax, etc) have their own standards as to how much they 'count' your accounts for which you were only an authorized user as opposed to primary holder (which can work out well or poorly for you, depending on how the primary card holder handled their credit).

Some creditors also do not report authorized users to the credit agencies, whereas some others do.

Generally speaking though an authorized user is quite a lot like being a primary or joint card holder AFA your credit report goes.