most unfriendly inactivity creditors

Weights · ‎01-27-2014

I know the general consensus is to use a credit card at least once every six months or so to avoid closure for this reason. I'm also aware that policies seem to differ between individual creditors as to when they'd take this action if nonuse persists. That said, I'm curious as to which creditors, from your experience, would be the quickest to take this action. The only one I've had do this to me in the past was HSBC with a retail account. I don't remeber which one it was, but I didn't use it for three months, and it was closed by them. Oh well, their customer service was not that good anyways, so no loss there.

gdale6 · ‎01-27-2014

Barclays clearly states it may be closed for 90 days of inactivity. Its why I dont have a card from them.

iloverewards · ‎01-27-2014

Just to provide a data point, i didn't use my NFL extra points card for a year and my account was not closed. However, they didn't let me PC to priceline a few weeks ago even though they said it's an easier card to qualify for. They said if I applied, I'd probably get it but they can't PC it. Whatever! They also wouldn't give me a credit limit increase even though I've always PIF. Whatever!

emptypockets · ‎01-27-2014

Probably GE and (previously mentioned) Barclays. With GE, I had a card that I had never used, and it was cancelled after about a year. Once, I let Walmart go over 6 months without use, and they lowered the limit to 124. I used the card for something small, and they raised the limit back to where it was. I called in and was told that when they lower a limit to amounts ending in 24, it is some kind of code for a pending closure. This was a few years ago.

CC's: AMEX (4), Alliant Visa, PenFed AMEX, Pen Fed Promise, Citi (3), Chase (5), US Bank Cash+, Huntington Voice, Nasa Plat Cash Visa, Barclay's Visa, Discover IT, Cap One QS, BOA (2), BMW Visa, 5/3 Real Life Rewards MC; FNBO Amex; Comenity Visa/MC (3), Ebates Visa Siggy, Nordstrom Visa, Walmart MC, Sam's Club MC; A few assorted store cards.

Current Scores (09/2017): EQ My Fico: 786; TU MyFico: 799; EX (My Fico): 797

Hockeyplayrr · ‎01-27-2014

I'm assuming if the card has an annual fee inactivity isn't an issue right?

gdale6 · ‎01-27-2014

@Hockeyplayrr wrote:
I'm assuming if the card has an annual fee inactivity isn't an issue right?

That is a good bet, they will want to collect their fee. I would not keep a card open that had an AF if I wasnt going to use it, would not be worth it.