Score Boost

  • Posts: 1208

Replied by FrankN on topic Score Boost

Very good point. As long as you are okay with the increased risk and can trust the person, I think its a good idea.
7 years 5 months ago #1
  • Posts: 1265

Replied by Wanderer on topic Score Boost

Allowing others on your account as an AU is a risk and you are 100% personally liable. Similar to a joint account or co-signing on a loan. You are along for the ride so know what the driver's abilities are?
7 years 5 months ago #2
  • Posts: 20

Replied by Raina on topic Score Boost

I've never heard of an AU before either. Could this not backfire on you if that person is an AU on a credit card. What if they make large purchases that they can't pay? If the card is in your name are you not liable for the payment?
7 years 5 months ago #3
  • Posts: 6

Replied by MsSarah82 on topic Re: Score Boost

I have never heard of an AU before, so this was interesting to me. Why on earth would someone want to allow someone use of their good credit? Was it a safe thing, like by making someone an AU they couldn't actually damage your credit? I'm not sure I understand how it exactly works, or even why it was allowed.
7 years 5 months ago #4
  • Posts: 48

Replied by Medi on topic Re: Score Boost

JG224 wrote: Any company that says they can raise your credit score for a fee are scams and should not be used. I know people who fall for it, but raising your credit score is really about paying your bills on time and keeping your debt-to-income ratio low. That is the best way to raise your score, in my humble opinion.

Reality is always tough. We simply can't trust anything that sounds too good to be true nowadays. Our scores are 35% based on the payment history and 30% based on the amounts owed. We should probably focus on those real points instead of gambling away.
7 years 5 months ago #5
  • Posts: 1265

Replied by Wanderer on topic Re: Score Boost

In the past as an "AU" you could increase the scores of your own credit profile. Today some lenders discount "AU's" of any kinds and some will give some score relevance to direct family members.
7 years 8 months ago #6
  • Posts: 364

Replied by FrugalFran on topic Re: Score Boost

Interesting. This is really just curiosity on my part. I am an AU on two of my husband's accounts, but the rest of our accounts are held separately since we can both hold our own credit-wise. What's the deal with people "selling" their good scores? How in the world does that work and why would anyone consider such a thing?
7 years 8 months ago #7
  • Posts: 1265

Replied by Wanderer on topic Re: Score Boost

There is confusion on which lenders and which bureaus ignore, minimize or actually consider AU's. The item that stirred up the devaluation of AU's in the credit lender world was people selling their good scores and putting people on their accounts as AUs. Some say actual family/relatives can become AU's and get credit for it. So, I would suggest searching for some current information on the subject.
7 years 8 months ago #8
  • Posts: 364

Replied by FrugalFran on topic Re: Score Boost

Thanks, Wanderer! So, based on your comment about the credit bureaus and AUs, does that mean that they pretty much ignore whatever the AU does on the account and they focus strictly on what the main account holder does?
7 years 8 months ago #9
  • Posts: 1265

Replied by Wanderer on topic Re: Score Boost

Your right on "AU" is an authorized user.
7 years 9 months ago #10
  • Posts: 364

Replied by FrugalFran on topic Re: Score Boost

Wanderer wrote: Of note, the credit bureaus are aware of the buying AU's to up the score and have some form of screening to try and minimize or exclude such scoring increases. As for myself, I don't trust even relatives with access to my accounts so it will never be a problem.


I apologize if this is a silly question, but what is an AU? Authorized user is what's coming to mind, but it's the weekend and my brain isn't working at 100%. :P
7 years 9 months ago #11
  • Posts: 1208

Replied by FrankN on topic Re: Score Boost

Could not agree more. Never listen to those companies, they are 99% scams. I also 100% agree personal finances were taught in high school, especially with our current student debt crisis.
7 years 10 months ago #12
  • Posts: 141

Replied by patse on topic Re: Score Boost

JG224 wrote: Any company that says they can raise your credit score for a fee are scams and should not be used. I know people who fall for it, but raising your credit score is really about paying your bills on time and keeping your debt-to-income ratio low. That is the best way to raise your score, in my humble opinion.


This is so accurate. The key to good credit is really just paying your bills on time. You also don't want a lot of credit card debt. I wish kids were taught this in high school.
7 years 10 months ago #13
  • Posts: 6

Replied by JG224 on topic Re: Score Boost

Any company that says they can raise your credit score for a fee are scams and should not be used. I know people who fall for it, but raising your credit score is really about paying your bills on time and keeping your debt-to-income ratio low. That is the best way to raise your score, in my humble opinion.
7 years 10 months ago #14
  • Posts: 1265

Replied by Wanderer on topic Re: Score Boost

Of note, the credit bureaus are aware of the buying AU's to up the score and have some form of screening to try and minimize or exclude such scoring increases. As for myself, I don't trust even relatives with access to my accounts so it will never be a problem.
7 years 10 months ago #15