A tradeline is any account that appears in your credit file.

Tradelines are important because your credit report depends entirely on how you manage your tradelines, and maintaining a positive credit record is essential for financial success.

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It's best to build a positive credit file of your own tradelines (primary tradelines) and keep them in good standing by always making payments on time.

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However, adding an authorized user tradeline to your credit file will add an existing tradeline and the entire payment history to your credit report.