Reports authorized users to the credit bureaus. But if your issuer doesn't do that or the card isn't used responsibly, being an authorized user won't help them build credit.
If you have an authorized user on your account, you may find their transactions listed on a separate line or section on the statement.
Adding yourself as an authorized user on someone else's credit card could help to build and establish your credit. However, there are some important factors to consider since becoming an authorized user can actually hurt your credit score if you're added on an account that is not in good standing.
Many issuers will report the full history for the account to your credit report. Becoming an authorized user also comes with its own risks because the primary cardholder has full control and responsibility over the account. If the primary cardholder misses a payment, it will negatively impact your credit score.
How can I add my spouse as an authorized user? You can typically add your spouse as an authorized user to your account by calling your card issuer or going through the issuer's online portal.
If the card has a long record of on-time payments and low credit utilization, that positive history will be removed from the authorized user's credit report. And if the account has been open for a long time, it could also decrease the average length of their credit history.
The advantage of being an authorized user is if the person has excellent payment/ card history, it will reflect on your credit report simultaneously boosting your credit score. The disadvantage is that if that person begins to fall behind on payments, that negative information will also reflect on your credit report.
Authorized users on credit cards can make purchases, review their transaction history and dispute unauthorized charges. However, they don't have complete access to or control over the credit card account, and they aren't ultimately liable for the debt.
PCI DSS requirement 4.2 states that credit card information must not be captured, transmitted, or stored via email.
Authorized users can make charges, but they aren't responsible for bill payments.