topic Re: Getting shut down for inactivity in Credit Cards

Getting shut down for inactivity

folks19 — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 05:32:19 GMT

Hey guys!

Does anyone know which credit card issuers are known to shut people down for inactivity?

How much time of inactivity does it usually take until I get shut down?

Does using my card every 6 months solve this problem?

Does anyone have some more important or interesting information about this topic?

Please share!

Re: Getting shut down for inactivity

AllZero — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 05:43:36 GMT

Too vague a question per lender. Don't know your lender, lender specific. 6 month usage interval may prevent closure for inactivity.

Re: Getting shut down for inactivity

folks19 — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 06:07:14 GMT

@AllZero wrote:
Too vague a question per lender. Don't know your lender, lender specific. 6 month usage interval may prevent closure for inactivity.

I'm asking if there are any issuers that are known for shuti.g people down due to inactivity?

If you're not aware of any, then that's the answer!

Thanks abyway😀

Re: Getting shut down for inactivity

Jnbmom — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 06:16:52 GMT

@folks19 wrote:
@AllZero wrote:
Too vague a question per lender. Don't know your lender, lender specific. 6 month usage interval may prevent closure for inactivity.
I'm asking if there are any issuers that are known for shuti.g people down due to inactivity?
If you're not aware of any, then that's the answer!
Thanks abyway😀

Actually that's not the answer. There are many lenders that are slashing limits and closing down outright, but it depends on the lender and other aspects of the card and how the user utilizes his/her card. That is why the poster asked what specific lender you were asking about, too broad of a question.

You always use the search feature here, there have been many recent threads regarding this issue. Enter the creditor and closures and you will get many hits.

@folks19

Re: Getting shut down for inactivity

AllZero — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 06:26:06 GMT

@folks19 wrote:
@AllZero wrote:
Too vague a question per lender. Don't know your lender, lender specific. 6 month usage interval may prevent closure for inactivity.
I'm asking if there are any issuers that are known for shuti.g people down due to inactivity?
If you're not aware of any, then that's the answer!
Thanks abyway😀

I gave your generalized question with a generalized answer.

Re: Getting shut down for inactivity

NRB525 — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 10:50:24 GMT

All card issuers will close accounts for inactivity, eventually.

The exception may be Annual Fee cards, but then you are paying to keep a card open and not using even the basic purchase capability.

Making a purchase every 6 months should help, but for a card at a furniture store, or at a youth-oriented clothing store you eventually outgrow, you may find it hard to find something really useful to buy.

Re: Getting shut down for inactivity

Adkins — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 10:54:58 GMT

A safe way is to use a card quarterly - spring, summer, fall and winter. I do this with my cards that stay SD unless used for specific reason, for example my Discount Tire card. It's used every three to four years for a large tire purchase, but that's it. In-between those times I pull it out four times a year and get gas or a candy bar at a gas station.

Re: Getting shut down for inactivity

UpperNwGuy — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 11:44:12 GMT

@folks19 wrote:
Does anyone know which credit card issuers are known to shut people down for inactivity?

Synchrony, Comenity, Capital One, Citibank, and Discover have all shut me down for inactivity.

What cards do you have? Perhaps we can comment on those individually.

Re: Getting shut down for inactivity

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 15:21:21 GMT

@NRB525 wrote:
All card issuers will close accounts for inactivity, eventually.

That's basically the answer I would have given, with the "permitted" period varying between lenders.

And there arelots of issuer-specific caveats as well. For example, at least in the past Amex won't close a card for inactivity if you are using at least one of their other cards. Other issuers focus on each card, if that card hasn't been used for X, it might get closed, even if you are using other cards from that issuer.

Re: Getting shut down for inactivity

Kforce — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 15:31:25 GMT

@folks19 wrote:
Does anyone have some more important or interesting information about this topic?

{ Maybe Interesting }

Have one CU card 25 years old.

At least 12 years with no use, and every 4 years they sent me a new card.

I keep thinking they will close it but they never do

{ Also Interesting, maybe }

I have seen the recommended time frame become lower every year. I remember it used to be about once a year then every 6 months and last year or two some reported problems at about 5 months. The "New" recommended number is every 3-4 months to use your card to be sure to not have a problem.

Re: Getting shut down for inactivity

crnbread73 — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 16:46:13 GMT

Personally, I have been cutoff for non-use by BOA, Commenity, Capital One, and just recently Merrick (yes it was a rebuilder but had a decent cl and I have had it a while but have not use it is maybe 3 years). Length of time with the non-use varies between lender. None of these sent me anything to use the card to avoid it being closed other than Target. I will use it when I get the letter just because it has a large limit. The others have not really made a difference as all except Merrick only had a $1000 CL. Best advice is if there is a card that you don't want to lose then just use it randomly and pay if off. Setup an auto pay or something on it.

Re: Getting shut down for inactivity

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 17:43:31 GMT

If it helps, I last used my Barclays Uber card on Jan 29 and my last payment was on Mar 5. It's still not shut down as of this morning.

I feel as though I'm almost daring them to shut me down since I have no intention of using it ever again.

Re: Getting shut down for inactivity

Anonymous — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 18:22:12 GMT

Comenity closed my Childrens Place account today; inactivity for 4 months....boo

Re: Getting shut down for inactivity

folks19 — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 19:59:55 GMT

Thanks everyone for sharing your experience!

i see that some people wrote that that my question was too vague, and that it can vary by lender. that does make sence.

i just want to know if anyone has any more experience on this topic?

Re: Getting shut down for inactivity

minski — Wed, 17 Jun 2020 21:43:55 GMT

It took me a while to find this topic.

May have some data points of interest to you. On the other hand, due to the current economy, things may have changed.

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/General-Credit-Topics/Credit-cards-closed-due-to-inactivity/m-p/5394950

Re: Getting shut down for inactivity

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 01:00:28 GMT

Also, CCC's can change their shutdown policy at any time without notice. Some have been known to close a card and the cardholder is unaware until trying to use it.

I'd say if you are looking to avoid a closure, and you really like the card, use it more than once every 6 months. You should be safer if you use the card 6 times a year.

Re: Getting shut down for inactivity

folks19 — Thu, 18 Jun 2020 01:44:50 GMT

@minski wrote:
It took me a while to find this topic.

May have some data points of interest to you. On the other hand, due to the current economy, things may have changed.

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/General-Credit-Topics/Credit-cards-closed-due-to-inactivity/m-p/5394950

that was very helpful! thanks a lot!