Tradeline Eligibility Criteria Explained
Written by TradelineScore
Editorial reviewer: Raquel Hudson.
This revised guide has been editorially reviewed and approved by Raquel Hudson.
More than a decade of experience in tradeline placement, credit report analysis and client support. Read her full background.
Two sets of requirements. One clear starting point.
Customer eligibility and credit-card account eligibility are different. Customers must meet the identity and order requirements below; cardholders must meet the account standards. An eligible account or customer does not guarantee a credit-score increase or lender approval.
Customer and account checks are separate
The person being added
Customer eligibility
Age, identity verification and order readiness. When a broker orders, these requirements apply to the customer who will be added as the authorized user.
The credit-card account
Account eligibility
Account age, payment history, utilization and bureau reporting. Statement review happens after an order arrives and before fulfillment.
Customer eligibility requirements
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Provide your own legitimate, full nine-digit Social Security number. CPNs and EINs are not accepted as substitutes.
- Remove active credit freezes and fraud alerts before an order can proceed.
- Provide accurate, verifiable identity information. Address discrepancies are reviewed case by case; the verification team determines the appropriate address.
Required identity information and documents
- Full legal name.
- Date of birth.
- Full Social Security number.
- Home address.
- Government-issued photo ID or driver’s license.
- A photo of your Social Security card or W-2.
Documents may be submitted during or after ordering. Verification must be completed before the customer’s information is released to the cardholder and before the order moves forward for AU placement. This does not mean every document must be uploaded at checkout.
No minimum customer credit score
There is no minimum customer credit score. Past or active bankruptcy alone does not disqualify a customer; the other eligibility requirements still apply.
No established U.S. credit history?
You may still qualify. These situations are evaluated individually and will likely require consultation with the broker manager.
Seller account eligibility requirements
- Account age of at least six months, with no exceptions.
- No fixed minimum credit limit.
- An active account in good standing.
- Utilization strictly below 10%. It must remain below 10%; exactly 10% does not qualify.
- No late-payment or derogatory history.
- Reporting to at least two of Experian, Equifax and TransUnion.
When the account is reviewed
Cardholders can list an account before its statement review is completed. When an order arrives, the cardholder operations team reviews the account statement and eligibility before fulfillment. A listing does not mean that this post-order review has already been completed.
Account age: a firm six-month minimum
An account younger than six months does not qualify, even if it has a high credit limit. A higher limit cannot replace the age requirement.
Once an account meets the minimum requirements, age and credit limit remain useful listing details to compare. Neither guarantees a particular credit-score change or lending result.
Before ordering and AU placement
- 1
Resolve freezes and alerts
Remove active credit freezes and fraud alerts before the order can proceed.
- 2
Check customer information
Use accurate, verifiable details. Ask the verification team about address discrepancies rather than assuming an exact credit-file address match is always required.
- 3
Review the individual listing
Follow its order cutoff and reporting dates. There is no universal recommendation to purchase five to seven days before a statement date.
- 4
Complete identity verification
An initial order may be submitted before all verification documents are collected. Provide the required information and documents during or after ordering. Verification must be completed before the customer’s information is released to the cardholder for AU placement.
Eligibility is separate from the Posting Guarantee
Seller admission
The account must meet the seller requirements above, including reporting to at least two of the three major bureaus. This is an account eligibility rule.
Purchased-line posting
Under the Posting Guarantee Policy, a purchased line counts as posted when it reports to at least two of Experian, Equifax and TransUnion by its listing-specific Final Reporting Date. TradelineScore does not promise which two bureaus will report.
Two dates with different purposes
The Final Reporting Date is used to evaluate posting. The applicable order-specific Dispute Period separately governs when initial nonposting must first be reported. Review the applicable terms rather than treating those dates as interchangeable.
Credit-score changes and lender approval are not guaranteed. Posting protection is governed by the Posting Guarantee Policy and its applicable terms.
Frequently asked questions
Who is eligible to be added as an authorized user?
Customers must be at least 18 years old, have their own legitimate Social Security number, remove active credit freezes and fraud alerts, and complete the required identity verification before their information is released to the cardholder. CPNs and EINs cannot substitute for an SSN. Customers without established U.S. credit history may still qualify after individual review, likely with broker-manager consultation.
Do I need a minimum credit score to qualify?
No. TradelineScore has no minimum customer credit score. You must still meet the identity and order requirements. Eligibility does not guarantee a credit-score increase or lender approval.
Can someone with a credit freeze or fraud alert be added?
Active credit freezes and fraud alerts must be removed before an order can proceed.
Is there a minimum account age or credit limit to sell a tradeline?
The account must be at least six months old, with no exceptions. There is no fixed minimum credit limit. The account must also meet the other seller eligibility requirements, including utilization strictly below 10%, no late-payment or derogatory history, active good standing and reporting to at least two major bureaus.
Can I still be eligible if I've filed bankruptcy?
Yes. Customers with past or active bankruptcy may qualify. Bankruptcy alone does not disqualify a customer; the other eligibility and verification requirements still apply.
Review the requirements. Then compare the listings.
Check your customer information, resolve active freezes and alerts, and follow the dates shown on the individual listing before ordering.