What should I do with two useless Commenity SCT cards?

[Anonymous]

So I got a little over-eager and got two SCT cards that I haven't used: BrylaneHome (who is that?!) and Victoria's Secret.

I've looked on both websites several times and just cannot find anything to buy, even just to use the card. Twice I have put something in my cart on BrylaneHome, but their coupon code they just emailed me was already expired. They are SUCH a pain.    And I just plain don't like VS.  It was a mistake to get both of these.  

My AAoA already took the hit, so for damage control, what is the best thing for my credit to do at this point?

Do I close them both without ever using them?

Do I sock drawer them without ever using them?

Should I try harder to find a way to use them once then close or sock drawer?

[dragontears]

I have never been a fan of spending money just to use a card. If you were going to buy something specific anyways that is one thing but to buy junk you don't need/want is a waste of money (at least to me). If I was you I would either SD the card for a year then close it or let them close it, which ever comes first (a year is my own personal time frame)

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

So I got a little over-eager and got two SCT cards that I haven't used: BrylaneHome (who is that?!) and Victoria's Secret.

I've looked on both websites several times and just cannot find anything to buy, even just to use the card. Twice I have put something in my cart on BrylaneHome, but their coupon code they just emailed me was already expired. They are SUCH a pain.    And I just plain don't like VS.  It was a mistake to get both of these.  

My AAoA already took the hit, so for damage control, what is the best thing for my credit to do at this point?

Do I close them both without ever using them?

Do I sock drawer them without ever using them?

Should I try harder to find a way to use them once then close or sock drawer?

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Well, you've got two options really and it depends on what your long term credit goals are.  Your first option is to close them.  By closing them now, they can potentially drag your AAoA down for the next 10 years, but they'll fall off 10 years from now.  If you leave them open the AAoA will grow and could be closed for non usage.  People generally don't track SD'd cards and fraud could bite you in the butt.  Also when they finally are closed, they'll linger for 10 years from that date.

[UncleB]

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@dragontears wrote:
I have never been a fan of spending money just to use a card. If you were going to buy something specific anyways that is one thing but to buy junk you don't need/want is a waste of money (at least to me). If I was you I would either SD the card for a year then close it or let them close it, which ever comes first (a year is my own personal time frame)

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+1

If you just leave it alone eventually Comenity will close it out, or you could close it yourself.  (There's no way I would make myself spend just to keep a card alive in any case.)

I'll add that if you close them yourself your credit reports will say "Closed at Consumer's Request", and if you let Comenity close them it will say "Closed by Credit Grantor". 

Both of those are treated the same by FICO, but some people prefer to close cards themselves so that if their reports are manually reviewed in the future it might "look better"... that's subjective, though. 

[UncleB]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

So I got a little over-eager and got two SCT cards that I haven't used: BrylaneHome (who is that?!) and Victoria's Secret.

I've looked on both websites several times and just cannot find anything to buy, even just to use the card. Twice I have put something in my cart on BrylaneHome, but their coupon code they just emailed me was already expired. They are SUCH a pain.    And I just plain don't like VS.  It was a mistake to get both of these.  

My AAoA already took the hit, so for damage control, what is the best thing for my credit to do at this point?

Do I close them both without ever using them?

Do I sock drawer them without ever using them?

Should I try harder to find a way to use them once then close or sock drawer?

---

Well, you've got two options really and it depends on what your long term credit goals are.  Your first option is to close them.  By closing them now, they can potentially drag your AAoA down for the next 10 years, but they'll fall off 10 years from now.  If you leave them open the AAoA will grow and could be closed for non usage.  People generally don't track SD'd cards and fraud could bite you in the butt.  Also when they finally are closed, they'll linger for 10 years from that date.

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I agree, but I'll just add that closing them won't drag down AAoA... the closed accounts will continue to report (as closed) for up to 10 years, and FICO will include them in the AAoA calculation for as long as they continue to report. 

When the accounts finally quit reporting years from now there will be an impact, but for most folks it is only very minor (and depending on the age of the other accounts, can even be positive).

Note that Vantage doesn't include closed accounts in the AAoA calculation, so your AAoA as reported on the FAKO sites will be impacted immediately when an account is closed, but very few lenders use the Vantage model so there's generally little to worry about.

[Anonymous]

So I'm getting the gist that using them one time before choosing to sock-drawer or close will do absolutely no good.

My huband uses Sportsman's Guide Visa for lunch a couple times a month,

I can find something I need at Overstock, JCrew and Eddie Bauer often enough to keep them a little active. 

I'd hate to have non-use of the VS or BH card cause Commenity to take AA on one of the above cards, so I think I'll close VS and BH.

[SunriseEarth]

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@Anonymous wrote:

So I got a little over-eager and got two SCT cards that I haven't used: BrylaneHome (who is that?!) and Victoria's Secret.

I've looked on both websites several times and just cannot find anything to buy, even just to use the card. Twice I have put something in my cart on BrylaneHome, but their coupon code they just emailed me was already expired. They are SUCH a pain.    And I just plain don't like VS.  It was a mistake to get both of these.  

My AAoA already took the hit, so for damage control, what is the best thing for my credit to do at this point?

Do I close them both without ever using them?

Do I sock drawer them without ever using them?

Should I try harder to find a way to use them once then close or sock drawer?

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If you're looking for ways to use the cards, BrylaneHome can be used at any of the Full Beauty stores (Roaman's, Jessica London, King Size, FullBeauty.com).  VS can be used inside Bath & Body Works.   However, if you don't need them as zero balances or otherwise or for UTIL purposes, you could consider either closing them yourself or let them sit dormant and Comenity will eventually close them.  

[Anonymous]

Since they are Comenity cards in particular, and you say they are useless to you, the following comes to mind:

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

Since they are Comenity cards in particular, and you say they are useless to you, the following comes to mind:

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Love it.

[MrsCHX]

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@SunriseEarth wrote:

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If you're looking for ways to use the cards, BrylaneHome can be used at any of the Full Beauty stores (Roaman's, Jessica London, King Size, FullBeauty.com).  VS can be used inside Bath & Body Works.   However, if you don't need them as zero balances or otherwise or for UTIL purposes, you could consider either closing them yourself or let them sit dormant and Comenity will eventually close them.  

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+1 I used my VS once so far, since getting it in February, and that was for a gift card for my niece's birthday. I spend $50 on the kids for their bday so I ordered the card, it went out, and then I paid off the $50. 

Again, that's *if* you're looking to just use the cards periodically. 

I too was over eager in my initial rebuilding app spree and got New York and Company. Now while I DO like their clothes, ordering online was a complete PITA and I later found out that the stores in the two malls I frequent are gone. And I know I'm not traveling 20 miles for a NYCO store, so I closed it after 2 months.