Avoiding CLD

[Anonymous]

I recently got a CLD on my J.Crew (WFNNB) store-only card presumably because I hadn't used it for more than 12 months.  I rarely shop there anymore primarily because of how expensive everything is in there.

Common practice to avoid CLDs appears to be a small purchase every few months just to show activity; anything from a candy bar to a cup of coffee.  As some of you may know J.Crew doesn't really sell anything for a few bucks.  I was wondering if buying something then returning it would work to avoid a CLD? 

Any experiences with store-only cards would be appreciated!  Thanks.

[MarineVietVet]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I recently got a CLD on my J.Crew (WFNNB) store-only card presumably because I hadn't used it for more than 12 months.  I rarely shop there anymore primarily because of how expensive everything is in there.

Common practice to avoid CLDs appears to be a small purchase every few months just to show activity; anything from a candy bar to a cup of coffee.  As some of you may know J.Crew doesn't really sell anything for a few bucks.  I was wondering if buying something then returning it would work to avoid a CLD? 

Any experiences with store-only cards would be appreciated!  Thanks.

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I'm not clear what you mean. Are you talking about buying something with no intention of keeping it and knowing full well you will return it?

From a BK years ago to:
EX - 3/11 pulled by lender- 835, EQ - 2/11-816, TU - 2/11-782

"Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they've made a difference. The Marines don't have that problem".

[laz98]

i think that is what the OP means, but i don't think they mean that they are going to buy something, wear it around, & THEN return it.

to answer your question, OP, it would seem like this would be sufficient, but i can't say that i have ever tried it.  i actually have a couple of cards i need to use myself.  i have been waiting for the holiday season to see if i can get a good deal on something.

[sandsanta]

I've got a better idea: open cards from stores you actually use.

[visorboy1974]

I usually only app for cards I use pretty frequently.  If I outgrow a store or don't use it anymore, I simply close the card.  Your scores look good enough where you won't miss it.  

[LS2982]

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@sandsanta wrote:

I've got a better idea: open cards from stores you actually use.

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I believe the OP did use it at one time but got too expensive down the road.

[Walt_K]

I wouldn't worry about it.  If you don't shop there very much anymore, no big deal if they reduce your credit line.  Was it a large portion of your overall CL such that it is really affecting your utilization?

[haulingthescoreup]

I very rarely use my J.Crew. Not only have they not CLD'd me, they have actually increased my limit.

I buy gloves and scarves once a year for holiday presents.

I'm not really thrilled with the idea of buying something with the sole intent of showing activity on the card and returning it. Some poor 8-bucks-an-hour employee has to go through all the doo-dah of ringing it up in the first place and then managing the return, tying them up and costing the store money in exchange for nothing at all.

I seriously doubt that you'll get CLD'd. Store cards often lie around gathering dust for years and are never noticed by the issuer.

[Anonymous]

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@laz98 wrote:

i think that is what the OP means, but i don't think they mean that they are going to buy something, wear it around, & THEN return it.

to answer your question, OP, it would seem like this would be sufficient, but i can't say that i have ever tried it.  i actually have a couple of cards i need to use myself.  i have been waiting for the holiday season to see if i can get a good deal on something.

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Exactly  

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@sandsanta wrote:

I've got a better idea: open cards from stores you actually use.

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 This would be good advice if I didn't already have a J.Crew card. 

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@visorboy1974 wrote:

I usually only app for cards I use pretty frequently.  If I outgrow a store or don't use it anymore, I simply close the card.  Your scores look good enough where you won't miss it.  

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 I considered this, but there's no AF and it is one of my older cards so my AAoA would probably take a pretty serious hit. 

.

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@LS2982 wrote:

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@sandsanta wrote:

I've got a better idea: open cards from stores you actually use.

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I believe the OP did use it at one time but got too expensive down the road.

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Correct.  I used to shop there pretty frequently when my parents were supporting me (typical, right? haha).  Now that I'm on my own, J.Crew is a little pricey.

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@Walt_K wrote:

I wouldn't worry about it.  If you don't shop there very much anymore, no big deal if they reduce your credit line.  Was it a large portion of your overall CL such that it is really affecting your utilization?

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I wasn't worrying about it until a few weeks ago when I noticed my previous CL was about 30% lower than the original CL.  Currently it's about 13% of my total CL.

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@haulingthescoreup wrote:

I very rarely use my J.Crew. Not only have they not CLD'd me, they have actually increased my limit.

I buy gloves and scarves once a year for holiday presents.

I'm not really thrilled with the idea of buying something with the sole intent of showing activity on the card and returning it. Some poor 8-bucks-an-hour employee has to go through all the doo-dah of ringing it up in the first place and then managing the return, tying them up and costing the store money in exchange for nothing at all.

I seriously doubt that you'll get CLD'd. Store cards often lie around gathering dust for years and are never noticed by the issuer.

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 That's what I'm going to do this year.  They usually have pretty good sales so I should be able to find something relatively affordable.

I'm hoping they won't CLD me again. 

Thanks for all the input everyone!

[haulingthescoreup]

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@Anonymous wrote:

That's what I'm going to do this year.  They usually have pretty good sales so I should be able to find something relatively affordable.

I'm hoping they won't CLD me again. 

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Whoa, I'd better go check my card! Sorry about that.