How to Remove an Authorized User From a Credit Card

There are plenty of reasons you might want to add someone as an authorized user on your credit card. Maybe you want to help them build their credit. Or maybe you want to let them take advantage of perks and benefits.

Regardless of your reasons for adding them, there may come a time when you want to remove someone who was previously authorized to use your card from your account. Don’t get stuck searching “how to remove authorized user, credit card.” Learn how to do it step by step.

How to remove an authorized user from a credit card

If you want to remove authorized user, credit card companies usually make it relatively easy. There are a few different ways to do so.

Call your credit card issuer

Check the back of your credit card and call the customer service number. A company representative should be able to remove the authorized user for you.

Remove online or through your app

This is probably the easiest option to remove an authorized user. If you access your card information through an app or the card issuer’s website, it should be relatively simple to log in and remove the authorized user.

Send a written request

Some credit card issuers may allow you to send a request through the mail. Check to make sure the issuer accepts mailed requests and verify the address before sending.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau suggests asking your credit card company to send you an updated card with a new number after you remove someone as an authorized user. If that person still has the credit card number, they could potentially make unauthorized purchases.

When you should remove an authorized user

As a primary cardholder, you have the right to remove an authorized user at any time. However, there are a few situations where removing an authorized user becomes especially important:

• They’re spending too much
• They’re being otherwise financially irresponsible
• You’ve missed a payment
• Your card has a high balance (and you don’t think you’ll be able to pay it down in the very near future)

If your significant other is an authorized user and you break up, you should also remove them as an authorized user as soon as you can.

Does removing an authorized user affect their credit score?

Now that you know how to remove an authorized user from a credit card, you might be worried about whether it could damage their credit score.

Ultimately, the impact on their credit score depends on the account history and whether they have other credit card debt or lines of credit. If you have a perfect payment record and a relatively low balance, removing an authorized user will take that information off their credit report, potentially causing their score to drop.

If the former authorized user has existing debt, removing them from your account can reduce their total available credit. Their existing balances will then take up a larger percentage of their available credit, which can lower their score.

However, if your card is almost maxed out or if you have one or more missed payments, removing them as an authorized user could potentially help their score.

Does removing an authorized user affect the primary cardholder's credit?

What about your credit? Removing an authorized user from your credit card doesn’t damage your credit. And because you will no longer be liable for someone else’s spending as well as your own, there’s a chance that this step could actually improve your credit over time.

Looking for new ways to build your credit?

If you want to improve your credit score (or help your former authorized user improve theirs), Kikoff can help. We make it easy for people with poor credit or minimal credit history to rebuild.

When you join us, you gain access to a suite of tools to help you understand your credit, track it, and improve it. Our zero-interest credit lines can help you establish a positive payment history, and rent and bill reporting can help you get credit for what you already pay.

Are you ready to get started? Sign up with no credit check today!