 TITLE: Authorized User vs. Cosigner: What Is the Difference? CONTENT: How Being an Authorized User Works\n----------------------------------\nAs an authorized user on a credit card account, you're able to make purchases, but only the primary account holder is responsible for paying off the debt. The account owner may decide to give you a physical card of your own—or not. To learn how to build credit responsibly, it's ideal to have your own card and pay the primary cardholder for any charges you make immediately. Make sure that the credit card issuer reports authorized users' behavior to the three credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax) so it does, in fact, help you.\nOn the flip side, if the person who owns the account maintains a high balance on the card or misses payments, the arrangement won't benefit your credit. Some credit bureaus may even include the main account holder's negative information on your credit report. That makes it crucial to choose wisely when considering whose account to join.\nIt's easy enough to remove yourself as an authorized user, if necessary, by calling the credit card company and making the request. Doing so could affect your length of credit history, though, if the account was the oldest you were associated with. END