Tip: Remove an Authorized User account from your credit report to dip under 5/24

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Tip: Remove an Authorized User account from your credit report to dip under 5/24

A lot of people have been affected by Chase’s 5/24 rule. If you’re unfamiliar with 5/24, it’s an unofficial rule whereby Chase will not approve you for a new credit card if you have opened more than 5 cards in the last 24 months. From any bank. Well, some people have Authorized User accounts on their credit report that are included in this 5/24 number. I recently helped a friend out with this problem. His sister was trying to apply for a Chase Sapphire Reserve, but he had added her to one of his credit cards as an Authorized User. So here’s an example of and a “how to” remove an Authorized User account from your credit report to dip under 5/24.

Here’s a look at the side by sides. Before (5/24) and After (4/24) the removal. We used Creditkarma.

FYI, You can still get a Chase Sapphire Reserve with the 100k bonus until March 12th. My buddy’s sister wanted to apply in-branch and wasn’t all too happy when she saw that his card was preventing her from getting under 5/24. He called me and we worked through the steps. As you can see…once we did the proper steps to get it removed, she fell under 5/24. She’ll apply in March to be safe, but I don’t think she’ll have any problems.

Notice the Chase card opened in Feb, 2016. Present on the left, gone on the right.

How did we do it? Here are the steps to removing a  Chase Authorized User

  1. Have the account holder contact Chase. This can be done by calling the number on the back of your card…or via Secure Message. Have the account holder remove the Authorized user and request that the card be removed from the authorized user’s credit report.
  2. Once it’s removed you’ll receive an email similar to below. Have the authorized user fill out the information:

    Dear ———,

    Thank you for contacting Chase.

    I confirmed ——— is not listed as a user on
    your account ending in —- and is not liable for the
    balance or payments.

    To remove the account from her credit report, please print
    this email and have ———– complete and sign
    the form provided below. You may mail this to Cardmember
    Service, PO Box 15298 Wilmington, DE 19850-5298 or fax the
    information to 1-888-593-8302.

    – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
    – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
    – – –

    I am not a user on the account, and I hereby authorize the
    bank to delete this account from my credit report:

    Full Account Number: ________ – ________ – ________
    – ________

    Name To Be Removed: _____________________________________

    Social Security Number: _______ – ______ -__________

    Address:

    _______________________________________________

    _______________________________________________

    _______________________________________________

    Signature: _____________________________________________

    If you need any other assistance, you can send us a secure
    message. We appreciate your business and thank you for
    choosing Chase.

    Sincerely,

    ————–
    Customer Service Specialist

    1-800-436-7927

It took about a week after faxing in the document for the account to no longer be shown on her credit report

Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

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17 Comments

  • SKC February 8, 2018

    I am trying to remove my son from a chase acct and was told he is a secondary acct holder and cannot be removed. To get his name off the acct I have to close it and then it still shows on his credit report. I did not use any of his financial information to open this acct. he is trying to buy a house and doesn’t need this on his credit report. any suggestions?

    • Miles February 8, 2018

      SKC – Secondary acct holder is just another way of saying authorized user. Since you are primary you can add and remove authorized users when you want. I would hang up and call again until you get a rep that will do it.

  • […] Tip: Remove an Authorized User account from your credit report to dip under 5/24 […]

  • Rose February 23, 2017

    Whoa, what did you do to get that list of accounts? I honestly have no idea when I opened many of my CCs.

  • John February 23, 2017

    Finally 2 of my credit card approvals in the past 2 years fell off of my credit history. I’m now at 4/24. I will definitely apply for the Chase Sapphire Reserve. I did get another offer for 70K United miles with Chase’s United CC. Should I apply for both at the same time or should I just apply for 1? Thanks in advance.

    • Miles February 23, 2017

      Hey John – Thanks for the quesiton, John. Both cards are held under the 5/24 rule so you’ll have to pick. I’d prioritize an in-branch 100k Chase Sapphire Reserve offer over the United. Remember the offer ends 3/12. You can always transfer into United from UR to shore up an account too.

  • Nd February 23, 2017

    Dude, this is awesome. You made my day. My wife was denied since she was authorized user on 3 cards I opened and that put her over 5/24. I just called and chase removed her, they got us in touch with their credit specialist and they asked my wife some security questions and then told her the card would be removed from her credit report. I hope it goes through! Thanks again for the baller tip.

    • Miles February 23, 2017

      Nd – That makes us very happy! Thanks so much for the feedback and glad it could help!

      • Nd February 24, 2017

        You’re welcome, I really enjoy your articles, especially one about Porsche ride in FRA airport. Want to do that same day.
        Quick follow-up question, can I remove my wife as authorized user on a Barclaycard we closed back in October? It still shows up on her credit report and is putting her over 5/24. This would let her apply for more chase cards…

        • Miles February 24, 2017

          Nd – So Barclay is a bit different. You can remove the AU, but it needs to be closed for 30 days before they will pull it from her credit report. I think your best shot is to do it immediately so the 30 day clock starts. Then apply for the Reserve on March 10th or 11th which will give you a couple week head start. Call on the 30 day mark to Barclay and have them pull the record. Then once you see it’s gone, call recon on the Reserve when it shows only 4/24. Who knows…maybe you’ll get approved for the Reserve anyways, but if I were in your situation it’s how I would do it.

          • Nd February 24, 2017

            Thanks, I will try that. She already has the reserve, trying to get her the preferred or the 70k offer united card.

          • Miles February 24, 2017

            Nd – i think you have plenty of time with the biz preferred…looks like in branch is popping up to 100k ( could be targeted) on march 12th, but regardless – you should be ok getting the 80k worst case

          • Nd February 24, 2017

            So, I called Barclays and they told me since I closed account in October, I have to fax or mail a written request to take this card off the credit report for my wife. Sounds like a long shot but I don’t see a downside to trying it. Any tips welcome!

          • Miles February 24, 2017

            I think it will work – sounds similar to what my buddy’s sister did with Chase. Had to fax documents and it was removed. Lemme know how it ends up

          • Nd March 7, 2017

            Hey Miles, good news. Chase removed my wife’s account from her credit report after I called them. And that put her under five cards in 24 months. I just applied for the Sapphire preferred for her, and she was approved! Thanks so much

          • Miles March 7, 2017

            Nd – Fantastic! glad it worked out =)

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