topic Re: found a nice trick to keep unused credit cards open in Credit Cards

found a nice trick to keep unused credit cards open

wilmer007 — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 06:31:41 GMT

i went looking for a way to keep my non rewards CC from BoA active since i don't plan to use it until BoA decides to upgrade it.

after searching through recommendations ranging from subscriptions such as netflix or newspapers/magazines i came across the amazon reload a balance page when going through my amazon account.

so here is what you have to do:

1) in your Amazon Account under Amazon Wallet click: Reload your Gift Card Balance. if you don't have a gift card balance you can always give yourself a giftcard with a card such as a cashback credit card.

2) in the empty box "enter an account" go ahead and input $1.00 (the minimum is $0.50)

3) Input the credit card info for the card you plan to not use but need to stay active

4) click the big yellow box at the bottom "Reload $1.00"

5) congrats you just ensured your card will stay active

6) remind yourself to come back January 1 of every year to keep the card active

7) repeat steps 3-6 for additional unused credit cards

congrats you just kepted all your inactive cards active for another year and now you'll have a little bit of amazon credit to spend.

Re: found a nice trick to keep unused credit cards open

grillandwinemaster — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 06:07:15 GMT

What if I just go to Del Taco and charge a .59 cent taco once a year?

Re: found a nice trick to keep unused credit cards open

wilmer007 — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 06:29:46 GMT

you could but you'll be wasting gas, wear and tear on your car and wasting time if you did. at least on amazon your done in two clicks and you didn't have to go anywhere.

Re: found a nice trick to keep unused credit cards open

austinguy907 — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 07:02:55 GMT

Once upon a time.....

I signed up for PRIME....

Cancelled the PRIME....

A couple of years later they decided to auto-renew my cancelled subscription w/o notice...

I refuse to save anything financial with AMAZON at this point due to dealing with their mess up and not catching it and dealing with it before I had to waste time with them over it...

I'd rather have the damned TACO just on principal at this point NOM NOM NOM Might even opt for a couple of them just to make the trip worthwhile!

Re: found a nice trick to keep unused credit cards open

baller4life — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 08:52:53 GMT

Thanks for sharing and informing those that were not aware. This trick has been known across multiple forums for many years. And yes, it is a good way to keep cards active. Especially for those that have a ton of cards and could never physically swipe them all regularly! 😉

Re: found a nice trick to keep unused credit cards open

morgacj2004 — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 17:27:35 GMT

" And yes, it is a good way to keep cards active. Especially for those that have a ton of cards and could never physically swipe them all regularly! 😉"

I think he is talking about you Credit Addict ! LOL

Re: found a nice trick to keep unused credit cards open

AverageJoesCredit — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 17:32:36 GMT

Good info but wonder about some cards that maybe need usage at least every 6 months. Just a thought.

Re: found a nice trick to keep unused credit cards open

Berk — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 17:42:23 GMT

So, if I'm reading this correctly, I have to come back once a year and use my credit card if I want to keep my unused credit card active.

Where does the unused part come in?

Re: found a nice trick to keep unused credit cards open

baller4life — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 18:08:42 GMT

I would load Amazon at least every 6 months just to be on the safe side.

@Berk unused as in no activity on the card at all. Some lenders will close cards for inactivity. So this trick creates activity.

Re: found a nice trick to keep unused credit cards open

CreditCuriosity — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 17:59:24 GMT

I have all 17 of my major active CC's set up on amazon and make sure i put 5 on each of the not used ones every few months. Best way as don't have to leave the house.

Re: found a nice trick to keep unused credit cards open

Berk — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 18:01:59 GMT

@baller4life wrote:
I would load Amazon every 6 months just to be on the safe side.

@Berk unused as in no activity on the card at all. Some lenders will close cards for inactivity. So this trick creates activity.

Exactly! So you USE the card to keep the UNUSED card active. Now I get it!

Re: found a nice trick to keep unused credit cards open

Berk — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 18:05:29 GMT

@CreditCuriousity wrote:
I have all 17 of my major active CC's set up on amazon and make sure i put 5 on each of the not used ones every few months. Best way as don't have to leave the house.

Too much work for me. Every once in a while I'll get an email saying a card was closed for inactivity. I look at credit cards like I look at clothes - if I have clothes in my closet that I haven't worn for a year or so down to Goodwill they go. If I have a credit card I'm not using and it closes - oh well. Get enough of em to close and I can go on another app spree!

That reminds me - time to update my profile.

Re: found a nice trick to keep unused credit cards open

Anonymous — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 18:05:43 GMT

I think people over stress the unused CC issue. I didn't use my BoFA card for 1.5 years and there wasn't an issue. My buddy has a Capital One card that hasn't been used in 6 years and it's still active. I think it's yearS before most lenders will close out a CC for inactivity.

Re: found a nice trick to keep unused credit cards open

baller4life — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 18:06:59 GMT

@CreditCuriousity wrote:
I have all 17 of my major active CC's set up on amazon and make sure i put 5 on each of the not used ones every few months. Best way as don't have to leave the house.

Perfect for those sd cards you don't want to be closed. 😉

Re: found a nice trick to keep unused credit cards open

Berk — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 18:07:39 GMT

Yeah, I had a Kohl's card that I didn't use for 5 or 6 years. Capital One finally closed it. I had forgotten all about it until I got the email.

Re: found a nice trick to keep unused credit cards open

baller4life — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 18:14:12 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I think people over stress the unused CC issue. I didn't use my BoFA card for 1.5 years and there wasn't an issue. My buddy has a Capital One card that hasn't been used in 6 years and it's still active. I think it's yearS before most lenders will close out a CC for inactivity.

This is true. However, some lenders do close cards sooner than that. Synchrony is notorious for this. I have seen Barclays close as well in less than a yr. Some people like to keep their older tradelines or those with hefty limits open. But, dont use them. This is a good alternative. To each it's own tho.

Re: found a nice trick to keep unused credit cards open

CreditCuriosity — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 18:19:34 GMT

@Berk wrote:
@CreditCuriousity wrote:
I have all 17 of my major active CC's set up on amazon and make sure i put 5 on each of the not used ones every few months. Best way as don't have to leave the house.
Too much work for me. Every once in a while I'll get an email saying a card was closed for inactivity. I look at credit cards like I look at clothes - if I have clothes in my closet that I haven't worn for a year or so down to Goodwill they go. If I have a credit card I'm not using and it closes - oh well. Get enough of em to close and I can go on another app spree!

That reminds me - time to update my profile.

most of my cards serve some time of purpose.. Just an example which i dont have anymore is my Amex platinum... Horrible for normal spend, but great for the "parks" .. Granted they arent going to close a 450 AF card on a person.. I agree I have given up at least 5 of my cards, but as I get lower being 17 I find it harder to close them for one reason or another. 4 Amex's use them all for either storing MR's or Cash or business credit. 3 Chase cards 2 are UR's CSP/Freedom and Ritz is pseudo travel card and that is 7 right there alone. Don't forget blispay 2% 0% financing for 6 months, fidelity 2% normal card and you see where I am going.. Most of my cards serve a purpose, but a few are more so rare than others one being my Marvel MC.. Got the best rate for that and a niche card i will use for theme parks or movies or possibly amazon if SM ever gets nerfedm etc so i keep that one around vs. cancelling.

Re: found a nice trick to keep unused credit cards open

keisham320 — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 18:45:45 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I think people over stress the unused CC issue. I didn't use my BoFA card for 1.5 years and there wasn't an issue. My buddy has a Capital One card that hasn't been used in 6 years and it's still active. I think it's yearS before most lenders will close out a CC for inactivity.

My husband's BofA MLB card closed after 1 year of inactivity....I guess there's no rhyme or reason when dealing with BofA and how they treat inactive cards..

Re: found a nice trick to keep unused credit cards open

negg — Fri, 04 Nov 2016 22:52:23 GMT

Last week I went to 7-11 and bought a .69 water. That's first time I've used the card in 15 months. I know it's still active cause I get 2 letters a week offering BT or opening a new card.

Re: found a nice trick to keep unused credit cards open

Anonymous — Sat, 05 Nov 2016 00:06:46 GMT

Thanks for the share OP.