My Dad put me on as an authorized user for a credit card. Somehow it has been changed to joint user!?

Question

I just got a credit report. It says on there authorized, and then it changed to joint holder somehow? I never signed anything and had no idea this was going on. I called the Chevron credit card company and told them to take me off the account and told them I also wanted this off my credit as I never signed anything or gave them my SSN, and should not be held accountable. They told me they would take me off the account, but they couldn't do anything about my credit report, as in sending them a notice. Are they liable for this? Does anybody know how the status suspiciously changed to a joint holder? Should I just file a dispute with the credit reporting compaines?

Answer 1

It really doesnt do anything too much to your credit. I am an authorized user on one of my husbands accounts and when I tried to get approved for a mortgage they told me that the authorized user type cards dont count on credit. Just dispute that with the credit bureaus and they should take it off.

Answer 2

An authorized user is NOT the same as a joint user.  A joint user - usually a spouse or family member agrees to repay the debt.  An authorized user is allowed to charge on the card while the cardholder(s) remains legally responsible for the debt.  The cardholder or authorized user can remove themselves from an account. A joint user is not allowed to remove themselves from the account.  

If the credit card agreed to remove you, you must have been an authorized user.  Write a letter to the credit bureau explaining the error and get a letter from Chevron stating the same thing - you were an authorized user - not a joint card holder.  It will probably take a couple of months to get straightened out.  Stay on it until it is corrected.

Answer 3

An authorized user is the same as a joint user.  If you have the authority to use it, then you have joint control of the card.  Chevron probably thinks you're crazy and that's why they took you off the account.