Combine credit history with spouse**

I don't believe this is true. I process loans for a bank and was asked this by a customer in the past. I checked with our head underwriter and he said that you can't. Now this was about two years ago so this may have changed recently but I've never heard of it or seen it. Besides almost all financial institutions combine your credit files when you apply for credit jointly anyways so why risk damaging your spouses good credit.

On the other hand you can write letters to your wifes creditors granting permission to add your name to your spouses accounts. Not all will but some may and it definately should help your credit out.

I don't know for certain but it just doesn't make any sense to me... what if you do the above to take out a loan and then you loose your job and default on the loan. Now you both have bad credit which makes the battle twice as hard.

According to me, it is always better to maintain two different accounts. A merger has various drawbacks. I agree completely with Scott in this case. One damage to the merged credit it would be very difficult for both to recover. So if you keep it separate in case of damage to ones credit the other might come in handy.

The concept that Fasfeed has given in his post is not in my knowledge. I am not at all aware of this. Can this be done? I have heard of joint bank accounts but not a merged credit.

FICOs are now calculated to ignore authorized users...merging a credit file does nothing if you aren't actually responsible for the debt.

Well, I just called my supervisor at work and had him contact our bank's representative with Equifax. He said that she has never seen that done in the past and all she could tell us is that the credit bureaus have a legal obligation to keep a seperate credit file for any person who has a SS#.

When I had mentioned above that you could try to add your name on your spouse's acct I didn't mean just as an authorized signer. Most companies will want to check your credit to add your name on the same account but I have heard of some credit card companies that will just add your name without a credit check and not just as an authorized signer. The only way you'd know for sure is if they issue you a card that actually has your name on it. If they just send a second, duplicate card with your spouses name then it won't show on your credit. Anyone please stop me if you think I'm wrong here.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY... did you get your loved ones something sweet?

A merged credit report is simply 1 report with both spouses info on it. Anytime a married couple apply for credit together a merged report will be pulled. However, each credit line on the report will be marked B, C or J - Borrower, Co-Borrower, or Joint so each line is clearly marked. 1 advantage MAY be if your spouse has scores 701, 715, 720 and you have 680, 675, 653 the AVERAGE score may rise, but most companies will take the middle score for each of you, then use either the lower of the 2 or the middle score for the person making the most money.

Unfortunately, there is no short cut to better credit.

Agreed. If it were that easy to increase your credit I'm sure it would be more popular and a lot of people would be doing it.

Yea.........when i was married, and my husband and I applied for credit, the company/bank had ONE credit report for BOTH of us. I've been seperated 8 years and divorced 1 year. BOY....did I work on my credit!! NOTHING, on my credit, ahd my ex's name on it!1 YEAH!!

Hi Inesse,

This is a forum for discussion regarding credit. If that interests you please participate with us. Do not keep posting the same things over when it keeps getting moderated everyday. All the best.

I've never heard of this. I've heard of authorized users but I believe that is no longer factored into FICO scoring.

FICO has stopped considering piggy backed accounts. Authorized account are also not considered?