Piggyback Credit
The practice of becoming an authorized user on another person's credit card to benefit from their positive account history. While legitimate when done with family members or trusted individuals, paid tradeline arrangements (stranger's accounts rented for a fee) are controversial and may be less effective with current FICO models.
Related guides
- Full credit & FICO® glossary
Browse all defined terms by category.
- Authorized User
A person added to someone else's credit card account who can use the card but is not legally responsible for the debt. The primary cardholder's account history appears on the authorized user's credit report, which can improve the authorized user's score without them taking on legal liability.
- Tradeline
Any credit account listed on your credit report, including credit cards, loans, and lines of credit. Each tradeline includes account details such as the creditor's name, account number, credit limit or loan amount, balance, and payment history.
Frequently Asked Questions About Piggyback Credit
What does Piggyback Credit mean?
The practice of becoming an authorized user on another person's credit card to benefit from their positive account history. While legitimate when done with family members or trusted individuals, paid tradeline arrangements (stranger's accounts rented for a fee) are controversial and may be less effective with current FICO models.
Is Piggyback Credit important for my FICO® score?
Understanding Piggyback Credit helps you manage your credit profile more effectively, which in turn supports a stronger FICO® score.