How often does one need to use a Sears Card

[cobaltnv]

Hi all,

  I have had a Citi issued Sears card since 2003 (when I bought my first house). I got it for the 0% financing on lawn furniture, lawnmowers, washer/dryer etc. I know that cards should be used every few months to keep them active and that co-branded store cards can go a bit longer between use. However, I have not used my Sears card in almost two years and it appears to still be open. Any thoughts on how long one could go before it is closed for inactivity?

I would like to keep it open so I am going to charge something small on it this weekend. If it does close or already is closed no big deal. 

Thanks in advance for your help.

Cheers 

[smallfry]

I don't know. Buy socks whatever. Is it your only store card?

[cobaltnv]

It is not a true store card as it has a MC logo. I do have a store card from Bailey, Banks, and Biddle so I have than covered. 

I guess it is kind of pointless to try and figure out how often one has to use a card. The banks are changing policy so frequently that the information would be obsolete immediately.  I guess I should just use that card every so often. The only reason I would like to keep it open is to take advantage of the 0% offers when I need to purchase appliances (which I plan on needing in a year or so)

[Anonymous]

I would just charge something that I was going to get anyway and pay cash for. That way you would be using it and throwing them a little bone.  Do they have an auto service center? need an oil change or anything?

[smallfry]

Cobalt you're right. Who knows what they want anymore. Glad I culled my stack. Down to 4 credit cards and a Walmart.

[haulingthescoreup]

I put my ScoreWatch charge on my Sears MC, and I didn't use it for anything else for a year. That made me pretty darn happy.

I recently did a bunch of online shopping with Lands' End, a Sears partner, and I put it on the Sears MC. But after doing so, I realized that this didn't do me any good, while I could have gotten 3 points per dollar if I had put it on my BofA MC.

Mine is one of my older TL's (not much competition), and I'm still trying to GW a late, otherwise I'd say to heck with it and close it. I love the sparkly gold card, but otherwise, it ain't much.

[cobaltnv]

I agree hauling. I would really not care that much if they closed the card. It is younger than my AAoA and I have plenty of available credit so could handle losing the $7600 line.

 Then I remember that they have these nifty 0% for 12 months offers on appliances. I would hate to close this card only to reopen a new one in 6 months to get the good financing. Then again, I recently bought a refrigerator at Sears and the offer was not good enough to justify using my Sears card. So I put the charge on one of my rewards cards and paid in full at the end of the month. Maybe I don't need this card after-all!