topic Re: Will my new CC post to CRs if I don't activate? in Credit Cards

Will my new CC post to CRs if I don't activate?

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 18:57:25 GMT

I have avoided activating the new Platinum card for 3 weeks b/c money is tight (just sent a hefty sum to step-DD to help w/ college tuition) and I'm worried I'll use the card if I activate it.

Will it still post to CRs if I don't activate it?

Re: Will my new CC post to CRs if I don't activate?

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:00:32 GMT

its taking will power to not activate it. I don't see why it would take any extra will power to sock drawer it. I guess activation is just one more layer of security between non-usage and usage, lol.

Anyway, I don't have an answer to your question, my question is, why don't you simply activate it and then sockdrawer it? Or even activate it and then rip it up and hold off on requesting a replacement until money situations improve?

Re: Will my new CC post to CRs if I don't activate?

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:19:01 GMT

The card will report even if you don't activate it because the account has still been opened. I got burned by this before as I thought not activating wouldn't make a difference.

Re: Will my new CC post to CRs if I don't activate?

fused — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:20:49 GMT

FretlessMayhem wrote:
The card will report even if you don't activate it because the account has still been opened. I got burned by this before as I thought not activating wouldn't make a difference.

You're right!!!

Re: Will my new CC post to CRs if I don't activate?

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:21:22 GMT

Yep, Fretless is right. The card will probably report whether you activate it or not.

BTW, activation is mostly just a reason to get you to call in so they can try to sell you something. I bet you could use that card even without activating it if you tried.

Message Edited by cheddar on 07-17-2008 12:21 PM

Re: Will my new CC post to CRs if I don't activate?

fused — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:23:29 GMT

cheddar wrote:

BTW, activation is mostly just a reason to get you to call in so they can try to sell you something.

Ha Ha! Boy, do I agree with this comment. LOL

Re: Will my new CC post to CRs if I don't activate?

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:40:03 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:

Yep, Fretless is right. The card will probably report whether you activate it or not.

BTW, activation is mostly just a reason to get you to call in so they can try to sell you something. I bet you could use that card even without activating it if you tried.

Message Edited by cheddar on 07-17-2008 12:21 PM

Completely agree!

Re: Will my new CC post to CRs if I don't activate?

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 19:48:57 GMT

@fused wrote:

@Anonymous wrote:

BTW, activation is mostly just a reason to get you to call in so they can try to sell you something.

Ha Ha! Boy, do I agree with this comment. LOL

Hmm. I know my new Discover card (I switched designs) came in the mail on Tuesday saying it had to be activated calling from the number I listed as my home number.

As an experiment (and to save cell minutes), I called from my landline to see if they would say anything. I activated fine, and the CSR didn't bring it up. So I guess it doesn't matter.

However, they didn't try and sell me anything. Discover and Amex are both good and not soliciting me every time I call in.

Re: Will my new CC post to CRs if I don't activate?

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:02:07 GMT

FretlessMayhem wrote:

As an experiment (and to save cell minutes), I called from my landline to see if they would say anything. I activated fine, and the CSR didn't bring it up. So I guess it doesn't matter.

However, they didn't try and sell me anything. Discover and Amex are both good and not soliciting me every time I call in.

My experience has been the same. Chase, on the other hand, tried their hardest to push every type of protection program on me. And by Chase, I mean the offshore call center Chase hired to do their bidding.

Also, I called and activated from my cell phone after listing my landline on the application. That must just be something they tell you to make you think its a form of protection

Re: Will my new CC post to CRs if I don't activate?

lisac — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 20:29:56 GMT

i applied for the walmart card, it showed up on my cr 2 days after approval. i haven't even gotten the card yet.

Re: Will my new CC post to CRs if I don't activate?

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:21:12 GMT

Wow, the credit gods must be looking out for me today. I was recently approved for an Orchard card(39.00 processing fee, 79.00 AF and high APR), but just got approved for a NFCU card with no AF and a much higher limit. Prior to seeing this thread I -was- going to just cut up the Orchard card and simply not activate it. I was under the impression that 'activation' meant that you were accepting the card and were activating the TL when you called in, hence it would never report if I didnt activate it.

I know different now, though..whew!

Re: Will my new CC post to CRs if I don't activate?

Anonymous — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 22:51:28 GMT

Not activating it is just one more step to keep me from using it. It's the NFCU --- for Lucid: yes, you will quickly become very partial to NFCU. They will love you long time, and are much more forgiving for the occasional mistake.

Thanks for the dirt tip, though, cheddar. My pride, however, will keep me from actually trying to use it unactivated "just to see". I'd rather not hold up the line if it gets declined.

Oh, and NFCU always has you enter your access # when you call to activate so I think they might have a "real" activation process.

Re: Will my new CC post to CRs if I don't activate?

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 02:14:06 GMT

I don't think you could use it without activating it. I think originally it was designed as an anti-mail theft device, but the CCCs quickly learned they could exploit it for marketing.

Re: Will my new CC post to CRs if I don't activate?

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 02:20:54 GMT

thrasher865 wrote:

I don't think you could use it without activating it. I think originally it was designed as an anti-mail theft device, but the CCCs quickly learned they could exploit it for marketing.

Some issuers actually don't let you use the card before you activate it, but for the most part it's just a way to provide a marketing opportunity and a false sense of security.

I've read of people using a new card for a week without activating it first, only to get a call from the CCC saying, "Why haven't you activated your card?"

Re: Will my new CC post to CRs if I don't activate?

biturbomunkie — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 02:55:09 GMT

for my BT cards, i leave the stickers on even after activation and put "BT DO NOT USE" to keep myself from using them. then, i put the cards in my safe just to be... safe. but IIRC, NFCU's cards don't come w/ stickers, so i suppose you could activate it and put a post-it on it? and then maybe hide it somewhere?

FretlessMayhem wrote: Discover and Amex are both good and not soliciting me every time I call in.

you must be lucky. one discover rep told me, "well you never know, you could walk out the house and get run over and..." - that's after she questioned (yes - questioned) my decision of not signing up for their payment protection plan.

Re: Will my new CC post to CRs if I don't activate?

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 03:03:13 GMT

Once you apply for the card you are stating you want the card in your possesion so after youve been approved the card is yours! lol I got a JCP card it was on my report before i recieved the card!LOL i havent activated it yet either.

Re: Will my new CC post to CRs if I don't activate?

Anonymous — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 20:34:19 GMT

That whole "home phone number" thing is either impossible to validate, or they just don't care. I have so far activated cards from

airport pay phones
various overseas landlines
overseas cell phones
Skype

and never once had an issue.