Nanny card tanking my credit

[Anonymous]

I (nanny) have a nanny card given to me by my employers to cover kid related expenses, the biggest charge on there that I’ve used it for was to pay for dance class that DB authorized. The previous nanny explained it as a way to build my credit, and as a recent college grad with a reasonable amount of student loans, but no other debt, I was okay with it. Now I see that instead of only being made an authorized user on one credit card I’ve been made an authorized user on 3 separate cards 2 of which are either maxed out very close to being maxed out. Between the three cards there’s something like 50K owed. I’m pretty upset by this because despite my paying off most of my student loans, in the last year alone my credit has dropped something like 100 -150 points because of debt that isn’t mine. How can I address this politely? Is there any hope of my score rebounding?

[Anonymous]

I was an authorized user in a card but my credit was not ran to do so and it had no impact on my credit. I’m a bit confused by this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I was an authorized user in a card but my credit was not ran to do so and it had no impact on my credit. I’m a bit confused by this.

The cards and their balance show up on my credit report. Because their balances are so high they’re tanking my credit because I’m an authorized user it’s showing up on my credit as if it was my debt.

[Anonymous]

This may be a mistake in how the cc companies reported you to the credit bureaus. It may also be that your NF used your good credit to build their credit lines.

I hate to say this, but you need to tell them to take you off the two extra cards. If they do not, call the credit card companies and close the accounts. I would take someone to court over this. If they gave the cc companies your social, and used your credit score to qualify, that is identity theft.

I'm sure they are very nice people who never intended to do you harm, but you are not wrong here. Two maxed out cards and a third open? This is a bankruptcy waiting to happen, at which point you will lose your job (b/c no money) and your credit will be destroyed for 7 years if you are still entangled with them. 10 if the bankruptcy somehow covers you b/c the cc companies come after you once your NF declares.

[Anonymous]

Go to each credit company and file an appeal saying these are not your cards. Have them cancel the card you are using and give you a prepaid.

[Anonymous]

I agree w/the poster who stated that your Nanny Family may have used your #SSN + good credit score to obtain two credit cards in your name.

They likely thought that they would be able to get away w/it by having the statements sent to their own address.

I would directly ask them if they could give you an explanation as to where these other two credit cards came from since you only use one.
Also, explain to them your unfortunate situation at how your credit is tanking & see what they think.

If their answers do not satisfy you, make sure you actually have some proof to accuse them of identity theft.

For example, since you haven’t used those two other cards yourself, then that can easily be proved because you wouldn’t have personally signed for anything purchased on them.
It likely will have a paper trail leading back to your employers.

If that turns out to be the case, then the credit card companies will do an internal investigation + let you know their findings.
Then they will let the credit bureau know you are a victim of identity theft and your credit score should be back to what it was.

Obviously you will no longer be able to continue working w/this family for obvious reasons.

Hope you find all this useful.
Good luck.

[Anonymous]

I just posted about authorized user issues in another forum. It's an error in how it is being reported. Call the credit card company.

[Anonymous]

My husband made me an authorized user on his credit card, and the balance now shows up on my credit report, too. Luckily, I don’t have the balance issues, so it doesn’t affect my credit. I tell you this to show that it is common, when you are an authorized user (you get your own credit card with your name on it), for the debt to appear on your record.

It is also possible that, if the credit cards are all owned by the same credit card company, that a request to make you an authorized user on one was misconstrued by the company, and you were accidentally made a user for all.

Whatever the proper terminology, you need to be able to use the credit card without receiving a card in your name (if that option exists), or you need a prepaid card.

Just let your employers know that all three cards have appeared on your credit report, and you want to know if they will take care of the removal, or if you should. You don’t have to mention their maxed out balances - lie, if you need to, and say you were turned down for a personal card because you have too many open accounts - which belong to them. Although, really, you should just say that the accounts are affecting your credit rating and you can no longer be an authorized user.

[Anonymous]

PP here. Are you also sure that they don’t use the cards exclusively and pay off the balances every month? If the balance is reported at the end of the month as $35k and they pay it in full, then rack up another $35k the next month, it will have the same effect as leaving a $35k balance. However, in the first scenario, the family has money to cover the debts (which is not true of the second scenario).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:PP here. Are you also sure that they don’t use the cards exclusively and pay off the balances every month? If the balance is reported at the end of the month as $35k and they pay it in full, then rack up another $35k the next month, it will have the same effect as leaving a $35k balance. However, in the first scenario, the family has money to cover the debts (which is not true of the second scenario).

Doesn't matter. She was only told she was an authorized user on one card, and three are showing up on her credit report. Even if paid off, all that revolving credit will lower her score.

She needs to find out what's going on ASAP, and contest these items with the credit bureaus, too.

[Anonymous]

This is why I only use my own cards and get reimbursed. Plus then I get the airline miles too. Hope you’re able to sort it out OP!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is why I only use my own cards and get reimbursed. Plus then I get the airline miles too. Hope you’re able to sort it out OP!

We do this with our nanny and it also works well. We reimburse immediately using a bank transfer into her account.

[Anonymous]

I prefer reimbursement, especially after the hassle this go round about them wanting to get a card for me, but never getting around to it.

[Anonymous]

Goodness this sounds scary and completely unnecessary. Why even use a nanny’s name on a card? Get a debit card or prepaid card or leave cash in a special place. I don’t agree with reimbursements though except for gas.

[Anonymous]

I had my nanny use my credit card with my name on it for years. it was fine.
No need to mix credit reports.