Does Piggybacking Credit Still Work

W

wilson

Member
Has anyone here tried credit piggybacking, either by being added as an authorized user on someone else’s card or through one of those tradeline companies that sell access? I’m curious if it actually works to give your credit score a noticeable boost or if it’s mostly hype. Would love to hear real experiences
 
Yeah, it definitely still works, but only if the primary account holder has a clean history low utilization, no late payments, long age. I added my younger brother to my Amex and his score jumped like 60 points in two months. The catch is, lenders know about this trick, so they sometimes discount it if they suspect it’s “rented.” Still good for building history though.
 
I tried one of those tradeline companies back in 2021. Cost me like $400 to be added to some stranger’s Chase card. Honestly, my score went up maybe 30 points, but then dropped again after I was removed. Wouldn’t recommend paying for it unless you’re desperate to qualify for something ASAP. It’s a band-aid, not a fix.
 
Piggybacking works best when it’s family or friends adding you, not shady companies. Lenders can usually tell if you’ve been rented onto someone else’s account. My mortgage officer literally told me, Yeah, we ignore tradelines sometimes. So it can help with FICO but may not help with big underwriters.
 
It does work, but the effect has been watered down over the years. Ten years ago, you could shoot up 100+ points. Now, depending on your overall credit profile, it’s usually more like 20–40 points. Still decent if you’re on the edge of a threshold (like 679 → 701).
 
Just a PSA: Not all banks report authorized users the same way. Some only report if you’re related, some require SSN, some won’t report back history. So if you’re piggybacking, make sure the card issuer actually shares AU info with the bureaus. Otherwise, it’s wasted effort.
 
I’m skeptical about those tradeline-for-hire sites. Half of them look like MLM scams. I mean, why would I trust some stranger online to add me to their credit card? Feels like a good way to get ripped off. Piggybacking through family/friends seems safer.
 
I used piggybacking before applying for an auto loan. Got added to my cousin’s Discover card, which was like 10 years old with a $20k limit. My utilization ratio went from 45% to 8% overnight. Score jumped 72 points in a month. Got me a better APR on the car loan. Totally worth it.
 
Honestly, it works, but you gotta combine it with fixing bad habits. If you’re still missing payments or maxing out your own cards, piggybacking is just lipstick on a pig. Credit scoring is like 35% payment history.....if you’re not fixing that, no tradeline will save you.
 
I feel like credit bureaus are cracking down. I tried piggybacking through my uncle’s Amex last year, and Experian flagged it as authorized user account....low impact. My score barely moved. Maybe depends on which scoring model is being used.
 
I did it for my wife when we got married. She had no credit history. Added her to my Visa with 12 years of spotless history. Within 3 months she had a score in the 700s. Didn’t even touch a credit card of her own until later. So yeah, it can absolutely work if done right.
 
My buddy paid $800 for two tradelines before getting a mortgage. His score shot up like 90 points in two months. But after he closed on the house, those tradelines fell off and his score dropped back down. So yeah it’s temporary, but for a big milestone, it’s useful.
 
What nobody mentions is the risk for the cardholder. If the AU decides to go rogue and rack up charges, YOU are legally responsible for them. So unless you really trust the person you’re helping, it could end badly. That’s why most people only do it for family.
 
I had mixed results. My sister added me to her Citi card with a $10k limit. My score went up like 40 points. Then my dad added me to his store card that only had a $500 limit and a missed payment......my score tanked 60 points. Lesson: not all piggybacking is good piggybacking.
 
Yeah it works, but lenders aren’t dumb. I had a loan officer literally tell me they ignore AUs if it’s obvious the person hasn’t had the account long. They want to see your history, not borrowed credibility. Think of it as a booster not a foundation.
 
I don’t get the hate for tradeline companies. Like, if you need to qualify for an apartment or loan fast, why not? It’s the same thing as paying for credit repair services. Is it overpriced? Yeah. But does it sometimes get the job done? Also yeah.
 
Lol, my mom added me to her card when I was 19. Now at 32 I still thank her for the head start. No way would I have been approved for a $20k Amex at 22 without it. Piggybacking is like the cheat code parents should all give their kids.
 
There’s also the ethical angle. Some lenders consider it gaming the system. I mean, it’s technically legal, but is it fair that someone can just rent a stranger’s credit history? Feels like the system is broken when stuff like that works.
 
I used it when I was rebuilding after a bankruptcy. Got added to my mom’s 15-year-old Visa. It didn’t skyrocket my score, but it helped me get approved for a secured card faster. So yeah, not a miracle cure, but useful in the right situation.
 
Anyone else notice some credit monitoring apps don’t even show AU accounts properly? I was on my mom’s card and Credit Karma didn’t even display it for weeks. Made me think nothing was happening, but my actual FICO had gone up 55 points.
 
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