Activate or not?

[Anonymous]

I just pulled a credit report from experian and realized that my revolution card, which I only used to make a purchase at buy.com, ($50 off) is not reporting.  They sent me the actual card in the mail in May and I have not activated it yet.  It has a limit of $ 5000, compared to my Amex at $2700, and Chase Visa at $3100.  I'm a college student and pay off all of my cards each month and carry no balance.  Would it benefit me to activate and occasionally use this card?  Also, I am mad at AMEX because Chase gave me a CLI before them, although I hardly ever use my Chase card.  Last time I pulled my FICO score from Equifax it was 715 in February.  Would activating the card increase the likelihood that AMEX would also give me a CLI?   Thanks for your responses.   

Message Edited by Allen123 on 10-12-2008 08:12 PM

[Creditaddict]

i would activate it and use it!!!

[wmarat]

Revolution card is not reported to CRA's, so how amex is going to know about you CL on revolution card?

[Uniqua]

How can you use the card at buy.com if it is not activated?

[Anonymous]

I'm not so sure that things won't be reported.  On their own website, it says

NOTICE OF FURNISHING NEGATIVE INFORMATION TO CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES

We may report information about your account to credit bureaus. Late payments, missed payments, or other defaults on your account may be reflected in your credit report.

(https://www.revolutioncard.com/Docs/privacyPolicy.html)

So they may just report everything.  I sent them an email to clarify. 

Also, the account number was provided to me online after approval, so I didn't need to activate the actual card to make a purchase at buy.com.

[ficonovice]

If you have used the card, you have "activated" it. You can close it if you want and it may or may not report either way.

Good luck

[wmarat]

They report negative info only.

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@Anonymous wrote:

I'm not so sure that things won't be reported.  On their own website, it says

NOTICE OF FURNISHING NEGATIVE INFORMATION TO CONSUMER REPORTING AGENCIES

We may report information about your account to credit bureaus. Late payments, missed payments, or other defaults on your account may be reflected in your credit report.

(https://www.revolutioncard.com/Docs/privacyPolicy.html)

So they may just report everything.  I sent them an email to clarify. 

Also, the account number was provided to me online after approval, so I didn't need to activate the actual card to make a purchase at buy.com.

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[jmbfl]

This is a very strange card. It can be used at about 50 to 60 merchants, but they include Macys and Bloomingdales. These are not flybynight operations! You can find a list here:

https://www.revolutioncard.com/Website/where_to_use.aspx

As for activating it, why not? It won't hurt you (unless you screw up) - won't help you much either. It is my personal view that holding a CC and not activating it when you receive it is not a good plan! I know a lot of people do it but it is an invitation to trouble. If you are going to retain the account activate the card - if you don't want the account then call the CCC and close it.

[Anonymous]

I just called customer service after I received a reply to my email I sent them.  Apparentely they do report to the credit bureaus all of your credit information, but only do so every 2-3 months and only if you have activity on your account.