Triggers for Capital One credit steps - obtainable without usage?

[DeeBee78]

I've been searching for an answer, and haven't found one. I've been guiding my younger brother and helping him re-establish credit after he ruined it about 5 years ago.  

We got him a couple of rebuilder cards last November, including a Capital One Platinum card with a $500 limit. He's used it a fair bit, and paid the balance in full each month. Last month, he paid the balance to $0 before the statement cut  because he wanted to get the Chase Freedom Unlimited, and wanted his score optimized. He was able to get the Freedom Unlimited, with a $2500 SL (yay, cheers!).

Now he isn't using the Capital One card at all. I had him go online this week and request a pre-credit-steps CLI on the Capital One card, and he got a tiny bump to $600. 

So my question is this: There are two more statements that need to cut for credit steps, but if he has no balance and no payment due on the card, will he get the bump? I was going to have him buy a $5 Amazon gift card each month, so something reports, but has he already messed up his chances for credit steps CLI by having a statement generate with no balance and no payment due? 

[Anonymous]

I believe the email said you had to use it at least once each month, so he needs to buy something. Iwould think he would be ok if he used it that month, even if he paid it off before the statement.

[rmduhon]

From my mom's credit steps email:

Get more from your new credit card—use your card at least once, pay your bills on time and you’ll gain access to a higher credit line.

So he's covered.

[DeeBee78]

Thanks for the info. I'll make sure he has a small charge on there every month, so there's activity to report, and generate a statement on.