How are you guys showing activity on less frequently used cards?

[HeilFico]

All excellent suggestions. As of right now there is only one card I am contemplating closing. I like having a diverse line from different lenders. You see so many horror stories on here I want to make sure I'm as diverse as possible with my portfolio. Btw I'm sitting at around 12-13. No plans to acquire more. 

[ztnjpv]

OP,

Get serious and stop being so bored. Two months of inactivity?? And you're concerned?? Come on now. My wife has cards that she hasn't used in years....YEARS....and there's no problems. Granted that's a long time but that's YEARS....not  months. Get real. 

As for creativity, there is none. Just use them periodically. What's so hard about that? keep one with you until you use it and then put it back in the sock drawer and grab another. Or, yes, go to a few different stores and buy a pack of gum in each one. 

Either way, it's not worth the trouble to think about it. Just use them maybe once per year and be done with it. sheesh

[CreditScholar]

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@ztnjpv wrote:

OP,

Get serious and stop being so bored. Two months of inactivity?? And you're concerned?? Come on now. My wife has cards that she hasn't used in years....YEARS....and there's no problems. Granted that's a long time but that's YEARS....not  months. Get real. 

As for creativity, there is none. Just use them periodically. What's so hard about that? keep one with you until you use it and then put it back in the sock drawer and grab another. Or, yes, go to a few different stores and buy a pack of gum in each one. 

Either way, it's not worth the trouble to think about it. Just use them maybe once per year and be done with it. sheesh

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On a completely different side-note, I just noticed how colourful your card portfolio is in your sig.

[ztnjpv]

creditscholar,

your post made me seriously chuckle out loud. Thanks. 

[enharu]

Like Creditscholar  said, it depends on the duration of inactivity before they close the account.

I just found out last week my Macy's account has been closed due to inactivity. It's been over 15 months or so since I last used it and they close accounts that are inactive for >12 months. However, on my CR, it still continues to report as open and in good standing for some reason. 

Don't really worry too much about it. If you need the account open for some reason (i.e. util ratio), just put some recurring charges onto it, such as payment for Amazon Prime subscription, and have the account set on autopay.

[HeilFico]

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@ztnjpv wrote:

OP,

Get serious and stop being so bored. Two months of inactivity?? And you're concerned?? Come on now. My wife has cards that she hasn't used in years....YEARS....and there's no problems. Granted that's a long time but that's YEARS....not  months. Get real. 

As for creativity, there is none. Just use them periodically. What's so hard about that? keep one with you until you use it and then put it back in the sock drawer and grab another. Or, yes, go to a few different stores and buy a pack of gum in each one. 

Either way, it's not worth the trouble to think about it. Just use them maybe once per year and be done with it. sheesh

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I appreciate the tough love....lol You make some valid points though. I'm going to just shuffle them around as suggested. Maybe I'll make a spreadsheet to at least track the last date each were used. 

[CreditScholar]

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@ztnjpv wrote:

creditscholar,

your post made me seriously chuckle out loud. Thanks. 

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I'm serious! You've got all kinds of pretty colours - gold, green, blue, silver-grey, maroon...

When I look at my colours they're quite boring. Silver, Black and Blue, not much else.

[FinStar]

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@CreditScholar wrote:

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@DaveSignal wrote:

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@FinStar wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

Or, consider if it is worth the effort.   If you are not using the cards, maybe you don't need to keep them open.

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+1

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+1 again.  I have closed all of my cards that I don't have use for.  I enjoy being so organized, having a real and specific purpose for every open credit line. 

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+3. Way too much effort, and closed accounts still report for 10 years. Every lender has a different threshold with regards to how much inactivity will result in AA.

I haven't charged anything on my BofA card in over 2 years, and they haven't touched me. I'd hate to go through so much hassle for so little benefit, especially for lenders who aren't as quick to AA/CLD you for lack of activity.

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+4 again.  If it only adds dead weight/more effort to maintain, then I would just zap them.  In the end, positive reporting still remains as mentioned above.

[FinStar]

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@ztnjpv wrote:

creditscholar,

your post made me seriously chuckle out loud. Thanks. 

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I agree with CreditScholar... A really nice color spectrum .. plus the method in which you have them lined up is very appealing/easy on the eyes!

[dollar_bill]

It really depends on YOUR situation. If you have a fairly high Util, say over 20%, then an account closing due to inactivity might throw off your % and drop your score as well as make you look worse when apping for new credit. If you keep your balances low and/or paid off, then who cares really? The only people who would care are people with new credit, and if you're in this boat then you probably haven't had a card long enough to become "inactive".  I'm sure there are people out there who fall into the outside edges of the curve and these things could have a temporary impact, but so long as you pay your bills it really is only temporary.

I have a couple of cards I haven't used in well over a year(maybe two?) and nothing has changed.  I did have one deal from GE when I bought a quad back in like 2008. They gave me a 0% for 12 months or something like that (it was some offer at the shop). I paid min payments for a while then paid it off.  It wasn't long after that they closed my account, I mean it was quick like less than 6 months after the payoff. I was inactive the entire time as far as purchases after the initial purchase. Not a big loss as far as I'm concerned, any card with a 20+ APR can kiss my arse. GE is funny though, I recently did a similar deal with LazyBoy and i'm still in my 0% phase. The funny part is once again it's a GE card they sent me, instead of Yamaha it says LazyBoy. I'll pay that balance off sometime before next May and likely not use it again! When I logged in to setup my account I could see my old Yamaha card and the last pmt made. I wonder if they'll be as quick to close it this time?