Do Authorized User Accounts Count Toward 5/24?
Often yes - which catches a lot of people off guard.
What's an Authorized User Account?
An authorized user (AU) account is when someone adds you to their existing credit card so you get a card with your name on it - but the actual account belongs to them. Common setup: a parent adds an adult kid; spouses add each other; a family member adds a teenager to help build credit.
The AU doesn't apply for the card. The AU isn't responsible for the bill. But the account often shows up on the AU's personal credit report anyway.
Why It Matters for 5/24
The 5/24 count is based on personal credit cards on your personal credit report in the last 24 months. If an AU account is reporting to your credit report, rule-enforcing issuers will usually count it toward your 5/24 number - even though you didn't open it.
That means a card your spouse opened & added you to could be quietly using up one of your 5/24 slots without you realizing it.
How to Handle It
When you send me your card list, include any cards you're an AU on, with the approximate month/year the primary cardholder opened them. I'll factor those into your 5/24 math.
If an AU account is bumping you closer to 5/24, there are usually two options:
Wait for it to age out. AU accounts age out of the 24-month window just like cards you opened yourself.
Have the primary cardholder remove you as an AU. Once removed, the account typically drops off your credit report - though timing varies. This isn't always the right move, but it's worth knowing the option exists.
Since your AU list is already factored into your 5/24 math, removal isn't usually time-critical - whether to push the primary to drop you off comes down to how close you are to 5/24 & whether it's even practical to ask.
Wait - But My Spouse Uses That Card Every Day
Fair question. If we're talking about removing you as an AU - or just not adding you in the first place - how do you actually use the card for daily purchases without being an AU?
Two simple workarounds cover almost everything:
Load the card into your eWallet. Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay - all of 'em. The named cardholder shares the card details, you load it into your phone, & you tap-tap-tap your way through in-person purchases just like it's yours.
For online purchases, just use the card number like it's yours. Type in the number, expiration, & security code at checkout. The website doesn't care who's typing.
Between those two approaches, almost every household covers daily spending without ever needing an AU.
A Bigger Point: Adding AUs Rarely Helps
Some people add their spouse or kids as AUs hoping to earn more points. In my Ohana Program, that's rarely the right move. The bigger wins come from each adult in the household opening their own cards & earning their own welcome bonuses - not from piling AUs onto one person's account.
If your household has two adults & you're both willing to play the points game, opening separate cards in each name unlocks far more value than stacking AUs.
The exception: AU accounts can be a real boost for someone trying to establish or rebuild credit. A young adult with no credit history, or someone rebuilding from past damage, can pick up years of payment history & account age by being added as an AU on a well-managed card. If that's the situation, the credit-building benefit usually outweighs any 5/24 cost - because someone in that boat isn't ready to be opening rewards cards anyway.
Related Questions
Important Disclosures
Educational guidance only - not financial, credit, or tax advice. Individual results vary based on card approval, spending habits, redemption choices, & timing. Approval for any credit card is subject to issuer criteria.
Hawaii Reward Travel may receive compensation when a customer clicks on a link, when an application is approved, or when an account is opened. This is how this free program is funded. Compensation does not influence guidance. Opinions are the author's alone & have not been reviewed, endorsed, or approved by any bank, card issuer, or other entity.
