How to Remove Negative Authorized User Credit Reports

Getting added as an authorized user on another person's credit card account is a useful way to build your credit history and increase your access to credit without any legal obligation to repay the debt. The account on which you are an authorized user appears both on the owner's credit report and your credit report. However, if the credit card owner misses payments or maxes out the credit line, this can damage your credit score. When the authorized user account is hurting you more than it is helping you, remove it from your credit report.

Instructions

1

Ask the person who added you as an authorized user on the account to take you off. If the person complies, this is the simplest way to prevent the account from continuing to report to the credit bureaus.

2

Call the customer service phone number on the back of the credit card that you have. An authorized user credit card has the same number as the primary account holder's card, but the authorized user's name is printed on it. Explain to the representative that you would like to be removed from the account.

3

Dispute the account with the credit bureaus if the credit card company refuses to remove you as an authorized user. Because you did not open the account, you can dispute it as not belonging to you. File separate disputes with Experian, Equifax and TransUnion to have it removed from all three reports.

4

Check your credit report in about 45 days to confirm that the account on which you were an authorized user no longer appears on your report. If it is still there, repeat the process until you are successful.