Question about store cards

[Math_Rocks]

I have Kohl's, Mervyn's and Macy's. I just paid off $600 balance on Kohl's and haven't used Mervyn's in like 10 years (but it was my first card so I'm glad its still reporting). I used to regularly use Macy's but, unfortunately, now live in a state with no Macy's.

All of these are helping with my utilization but I'm concerned that my Macy's card will get closed for non-use. But if I were to use it to order say some Clinique online, wouldn't that hurt too because I'm suddenly using a card that hasn't been used for a long time?

[Logical]

What may hurt worse is buying something you may not need. Let the cards be a servant. Unless you are getting an important loan in the next few months who cares if Fico goes up or down a little.

Mervyn's may be a bigger problem. Do a search with the key words "Mervyn's" and "bankruptcy"

[Anonymous]

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Math_Rocks wrote:
I have Kohl's, Mervyn's and Macy's. I just paid off $600 balance on Kohl's and haven't used Mervyn's in like 10 years (but it was my first card so I'm glad its still reporting). I used to regularly use Macy's but, unfortunately, now live in a state with no Macy's.

All of these are helping with my utilization but I'm concerned that my Macy's card will get closed for non-use. But if I were to use it to order say some Clinique online, wouldn't that hurt too because I'm suddenly using a card that hasn't been used for a long time?

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I agree with Logical in that you shouldn't keep cards you don't need or want.  Do keep in mind how your utilization might be affected if you close a card, though.

The direct answer to your question, though, is yes, you may be dinged when you use a card that has been inactive for a long time.  However, you will recover as soon as that card reports again.  The ding is only temporary, and short lived, at that.

Message Edited by cheddar on 07-26-2008 07:14 PM