Five Warnings for Credit Card Co-Signers

It sounds harmless.

Just sign your name, and a friend or relative will get a much-needed credit card. Like most things in life, however, being a co-signer is not that simple.

Financially, "co-signing is probably the worst thing you can do," says John Ulzheimer, president of consumer education for SmartCredit.com.

Judging by the complaints and lawsuits made by co-signers, it also seems to be one of the least understood arrangements, he says. When friends and relatives co-sign, they often don't realize the new card debt is also theirs -- 100 percent.

Often, the potential co-signer has a relationship with the wannabe account holder. That, too, can be jeopardized, says Ulzheimer.

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With the potential for complications, personal and financial, "there are too many downsides," he says.

Even good character is no guarantee, says Todd Mark, vice president of education for Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Greater Dallas. Especially lately, his group has seen plenty of people with fine character who have had to default, he says. That can leave co-signers holding the bag.

"It's not worth risking your own financial security," he says.

Is someone asking you to co-sign for a credit card? Here are five facts you need to know before you decide.

The Bill is Yours

When you sign that credit card contract, you're saying, "If anything goes wrong, I'll pay the balance. All of it. Plus interest and penalty fees."

You're not acting as a reference. You're not "loaning out" your good credit. You're not promising to tell bill collectors where to find the account holder. You're not offering to split the bill or help them catch up if they fall behind.

You, (the person with good credit) are promising to pay the entire bill because the lender doesn't think the applicant is quite up to the task, says Ulzheimer. The lender has seen the applicant's credit report and financial information.

Ask why the individual needs a co-signer, he says.

• If his credit is bad, that means he doesn't have a good record with past debts. That's not a good sign for you.
• If her income isn't high enough to qualify, that tells you upfront that she probably doesn't have enough money to meet current bills plus this new one, Ulzheimer says.
• Younger than 21? Students aren't barred from getting cards, he says. They simply can't get them if they don't have the income to pay the bills.

Lenders Will Count This Debt as Yours

Are you planning to buy a home, refinance a home or take out a loan for a large purchase such as a home, car or medical care? Lenders will look at your debt load. The co-signed account included.

"That account will impact your score no differently than if you were the only person on that account," says Barry Paperno, consumer affairs manager with myFICO.com. As far as creditors and potential creditors are concerned, "it is your account," he says.

Every consumer can only handle so much debt. If this card pushes you into the danger zone in the eyes of your own creditors, you risk paying higher rates on your own credit cards, higher rates on future loans and even being denied credit or having your credit lines cut.

A co-signed card also has the potential to drop your credit score, says Ulzheimer.

That's because credit-scoring formulas look at how much available credit you have and how much you use each month. The less you use, the better, he says.

Even if your account holder pays the bill on time every month, if that person is using a chunk of the available credit, it could lower your score, says Ulzheimer.

The Account Holder May be Able to Increase the Credit Limit

The Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure Act, or Credit CARD Act, mandates that while the account holder is younger than 21, the co-signer has to give written permission for any credit limit increases, says Chi Chi Wu, staff attorney with the National Consumer Law Center.

However, once the cardholder is past the age of 21, no federal law requires that the co-signer be notified of any credit line increases, she says.

You may be thinking of co-signing, believing that if anything goes wrong, you can just write a check for your student's relatively small card bill.

However, if your adult child keeps that account open past his or her 21st birthday, the bill could end up being quite a bit more than you estimated.

Bad Marks can Show Up on Your Credit Report

Late payments, missed payments or collections on the account?

In the eyes of creditors, this is your account, so "you're equally at risk for any sort of negative credit reporting and/or collection activities," says Ulzheimer.

Even if you never have to pay a dime, co-signing with someone who doesn't know how to manage credit or just doesn't do it well can cost you money by eroding your own credit. These days everyone from potential employers to loan officers to insurance companies can look at credit reports.

One smart move: Look at the alternatives to co-signing. A few to consider:

• Adding the person as an authorized user to one of your credit cards. You'll be responsible for the bill. The other person can build their credit. If he or she abuses the privilege, you can shut off access.
• A secured credit card. The other person gets a card in his or her own name with a credit limit backed by funds. Most secured cards build credit, and some can convert into traditional credit cards after a trial period.
• A debit card. With a checking account, the other person can get a debit card. It doesn't build credit, but it also doesn't place your credit at risk.

You Need an Exit Strategy

Do you want to be responsible for your friend or relative's credit card bill for life?

If not, you need an exit strategy.

Often, ending the co-signing arrangement requires closing the card account, says Nessa Feddis, vice president and senior counsel for the American Bankers Association.

The wrinkle: Depending on the contract and your state laws, you may need the cardholder's cooperation, she says. It may not be as simple as just telling the card issuer you want out.

Another consideration: Unpaid debts accumulated while the co-signed account was open are still your responsibility -- even after the account is closed. Until they're paid, they're still your bills, too.

Considering co-signing? Call the issuer first, and find out exactly what your options are for ending the co-signing relationship when that day eventually comes, Feddis says. Do you have to close the account? Do you need the account holder's permission?

While you're at it, ask about your access to account information. Can you get account status and balance information as a co-signer? Will you be told if the credit line or interest rates change? Will you be notified if payments are late or if the account is heading for default?