topic Re: How often should i use my best buy store card to keep it active in Credit Cards

How often should i use my best buy store card to keep it active

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 19:23:43 GMT

I'm really not trying to put any major use into the card since my CL of $600 is caped an i will never receive a CLI. How often should i use the card to keep in active. The last time i used it was last month don't plan on using it at all this month. Not gonna close the card cause there is no AF but i will never apply for a HSBC backed card again.

Re: How often should i use my best buy store card to keep it active

score_building — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 20:16:46 GMT

i've seen posts of closure indicating less than 3 months of non use. i would try to use it at least every other month (or even once a month really) if possible since hsbc seems to leading the pack on snap closures (in any case you wouldn't want to let it get past 89 days of nonuse if you wanna keep it for sure) good for you for taking a stand on hsbc. i am sometimes baffled by their apparent popularity considering how they handle accts.

Re: How often should i use my best buy store card to keep it active

Anonymous — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 20:23:48 GMT

@score_building wrote:
i've seen posts of closure indicating less than 3 months of non use. i would try to use it at least every other month (or even once a month really) if possible since hsbc seems to leading the pack on snap closures (in any case you wouldn't want to let it get past 89 days of nonuse if you wanna keep it for sure) good for you for taking a stand on hsbc. i am sometimes baffled by their apparent popularity considering how they handle accts.

I wonder can you use the card to buy candy or soda they have at the registers? If so that would be great use for the card lol

Re: How often should i use my best buy store card to keep it active

haulingthescoreup — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 23:02:37 GMT

Yep, it will work on peanut M&M's.

I've gotten away with going as long as 4-5 months without using it, but I'm moving it up to every 3 months or so. (The parking is terrible, so I hate going there.)

I think that they're a bit more lenient with store cards than they are with their bank cards, but in this day and age, my philosophy is use it or lose it.

Re: How often should i use my best buy store card to keep it active

Anonymous — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 03:38:44 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@score_building wrote:
i've seen posts of closure indicating less than 3 months of non use. i would try to use it at least every other month (or even once a month really) if possible since hsbc seems to leading the pack on snap closures (in any case you wouldn't want to let it get past 89 days of nonuse if you wanna keep it for sure) good for you for taking a stand on hsbc. i am sometimes baffled by their apparent popularity considering how they handle accts.

I wonder can you use the card to buy candy or soda they have at the registers? If so that would be great use for the card lol

Last time I was there I spent $2.12 on paperclips and a paperclip holder. For a couple of weeks prior to that purchase I had trouble finding paperclips everytime I wanted one, so a smart cheap purchase that kept my card active.

Re: How often should i use my best buy store card to keep it active

Creditaddict — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 03:58:02 GMT

I thought most store cards will never close out, they will just go dormant on credit report or lower cl but would stay open.

I know I'm lucky to use my American Eagle card once a year and they have never closed or cld it.

Re: How often should i use my best buy store card to keep it active

score_building — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 04:28:11 GMT

i think like you and HTSU are saying they're probably more lenient with store cards, they're wicked fast w/ bank cards apparently, i think i mistook the time frame for store cards. hsbc is a scary beast, lol.

Message Edited by score_building on 03-15-2009 09:28 PM

Re: How often should i use my best buy store card to keep it active

Creditaddict — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 04:28:33 GMT

I agree, what flew in the past is not the same in this time frame... use your cards every 3 months to be safe! speaking of it, I need to go buy something at AE tomorrow! lol

Re: How often should i use my best buy store card to keep it active

haulingthescoreup — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:43:07 GMT

Creditaddict wrote:
I agree, what flew in the past is not the same in this time frame... use your cards every 3 months to be safe! speaking of it, I need to go buy something at AE tomorrow! lol

They've trained us well, haven't they?

We've turned into little Pavlovian credit dogs, obediently using our plastic to keep it alive.

Luckily, we can always use paper clips and light bulbs (Home Depot.) And I have two daughters in their 20's, so that keeps J.Crew happy.

Re: How often should i use my best buy store card to keep it active

Anonymous — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 13:01:03 GMT

payed off my BB store card about 3-4 months ago and have yet to use it and it's still open though I may charge something on it to get it some use though to save the age.

Re: How often should i use my best buy store card to keep it active

Anonymous — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:21:49 GMT

My gf has a BB card that she hasn't used in over a year. We ran her report yesterday and it shows it's still active. I'm going to advise her to use it so that she can keep it open. But not sure if that 3 month inactivity closes the account cause she hasn't used it for a LONG TIME.

Re: How often should i use my best buy store card to keep it active

score_building — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:29:03 GMT

to err on the side of caution these days, many of us prefer to make semi-regular (small) purchases at least, but yes some customers are untouched for several months or even years. so long as you are aware that it is a chance to take.

the new motto in this crunch is 'use it or lose it' since we are still hearing reports of surprise closures on some accts. with some issuers (like hsbc) with just a few months of nonuse.

@Anonymous wrote:
My gf has a BB card that she hasn't used in over a year. We ran her report yesterday and it shows it's still active. I'm going to advise her to use it so that she can keep it open. But not sure if that 3 month inactivity closes the account cause she hasn't used it for a LONG TIME.

Re: How often should i use my best buy store card to keep it active

Anonymous — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:32:54 GMT

Thanks for the info. I'm going to buy a DVD on with her card and tell her it's for her own good =)

Message Edited by FicoHound007 on 03-16-2009 07:32 AM

Re: How often should i use my best buy store card to keep it active

Anonymous — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 14:59:38 GMT

I think even thought the CCC might not consider the card "inactive", that it can stop factoring into your CR and score after 3 months of non-use. I've gotten the "Recently used an account that was inactive" SW alert after charging on a card that hadn't been used in 3 months.