topic Re: Should I bother using unused cards in Understanding FICO® Scoring

Should I bother using unused cards

Anonymous — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 05:55:27 GMT

I have 2 credit cards that have very big credit limits, and are my oldest 2 cards.

I haven't used each in over a year.

I'm thinking I want to throw a few charges on them, to keep them active enough to not ever give the company an idea to cancel them due to not being used.

Could there be a problem with some sort of haven't been used in too long ding to my score. I've read about that msg comine up once in a while for people.

I had a thought on actually PAYING $25 to both cards, giving them both activity, yet no balance. Eventually they'll just send me a check for the $25. Do you think that would "fool" them into thinking their activity?

Is it usually a person that decides to close an acct, or some sort of computer that does all the analysis.

Re: Should I bother using unused cards

haulingthescoreup — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 14:26:27 GMT

Oh, wow, yes! --you don't want to lose those, ever.

I'd take a one-time score ding for having them wake up from a coma, any day. Even though they'll stay on your reports for 10 years after closing, at some point you would really miss those years of history.

Are they bank-type cards? If so, I'd say a tank of gas on each. If a store card, I'd try an online order first. If decliined, take it to a store, pick something out, and let the cashier at point of sale work at getting it re-opened.

You can try paying in full before the statement date to see if that avoids the reporting ding. I've heard this both ways --sometimes people say that the ding only comes with a balance reporting, but others say it comes even with $0 showing. If you do lose points, it shouldn't be much, and they'll be back next month.

Don't know about the deliberate overpayment. I'd hate to get closed down because I woke things up this way, yet the overpayment didn't count.

Re: Should I bother using unused cards

smallfry — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 15:03:03 GMT

@haulingthescoreup wrote:
Oh, wow, yes! --you don't want to lose those, ever.

I'd take a one-time score ding for having them wake up from a coma, any day. Even though they'll stay on your reports for 10 years after closing, at some point you would really miss those years of history.

Are they bank-type cards? If so, I'd say a tank of gas on each. If a store card, I'd try an online order first. If decliined, take it to a store, pick something out, and let the cashier at point of sale work at getting it re-opened.

You can try paying in full before the statement date to see if that avoids the reporting ding. I've heard this both ways --sometimes people say that the ding only comes with a balance reporting, but others say it comes even with $0 showing. If you do lose points, it shouldn't be much, and they'll be back next month.

Don't know about the deliberate overpayment. I'd hate to get closed down because I woke things up this way, yet the overpayment didn't count.

My oldest credit account is my Walmart card and I never let it report a balance. I haven't seen any point loss when I use it but like everything credit YMMV.

Re: Should I bother using unused cards

haulingthescoreup — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 15:23:14 GMT

smallfry wrote:

My oldest credit account is my Walmart card and I never let it report a balance. I haven't seen any point loss when I use it but like everything credit YMMV.

Have you ever gone for months and months without using it at all?

I've read several posts that say that someone didn't use their card at all for a long time, used it and PIF'd before statement, and still got the ding.

(I'd still rather take the one-time ding than risk losing the card.)

Re: Should I bother using unused cards

smallfry — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 15:43:15 GMT

@haulingthescoreup wrote:
@smallfry wrote:

My oldest credit account is my Walmart card and I never let it report a balance. I haven't seen any point loss when I use it but like everything credit YMMV.

Have you ever gone for months and months without using it at all?

I've read several posts that say that someone didn't use their card at all for a long time, used it and PIF'd before statement, and still got the ding.

(I'd still rather take the one-time ding than risk losing the card.)

Probably never longer than 3-4 months on the outside.

Re: Should I bother using unused cards

Red1Blue — Sun, 05 Apr 2009 19:39:02 GMT

You should use the card once every 2-3 months with a small charge like buying a gum or some thing and do pif. If you dont use the cards for long time you risk they might close the cards on you.