What to do with a new card....

[AverageJoe1970]

You are a pot stirrer... I haven't rebutted everything everyone has said. I simply haven't activated the card like some card-junkies would have me do. I also said that $200 bucks doesn't justify activating the card (thought 200 free bucks is sweet); and I that my experience has been that not activating a new card will not have an impact on my AAoA - which may be different than yours.

Do I want or need validation? Maybe. In thinking on it, I'm probably shifting my mindset from "more is better" to "less is more". Asking the question, might have helped me come to that realization.

I think the other question is - does having several cards adversely affect how your credit is viewed. Ultimately its probably about how you manage your credit.

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@tamaralig wrote:

I'm with what everyone else has said so far..You took the inq hit on 3 CRAs when you applied...Ding one...AAoA is going to take a hit whether you activate it or not...Ding Two...Plus Side: Great starting limit your existing UTL is high you need this boost really...the card has no annual fee....Just having a card doesn't mean you have to use it but using it gives you another plus to getting the bonus whether you want it or need it..it's a plus...you've rebutted everything everyone has said but you asked a question for an opinion..IMO you didn't want an answer lol you wanted validation. Sorry just had to throw that out there.

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[UncleB]

I'm definitely in the school of thought that many times less really is more... (especially as it applies to me, since I have limited resources compared to many on here). 

I'm also in complete agreement that what is best for one person isn't necessarily best for someone else, and how you manage your own credit is really the most important thing. 

We're here to support each other, and having a difference in opinion is OK (heck, some of my favorite people on here have very different opinions on some things from my own).  It doesn't matter why somebody is asking questions, if those questions are sincere I'm always willing to help however I can , and most people on here are as well.

I'll reiterate, no matter what you decide to do it will be "right" as long as it works out for you. 

[Anonymous]

I'd love to have the Venture One (that and Marvel are the only cards on my wish list at this point....and maybe some PenFed luv {but nothing specific} and the ST card from NASA....but not for a long time on those two).  0% intro APR, high limits, no FTFs, the $200 bonus, no AF (which to me, makes it a better choice to me than the Venture)

You could definitely have done worse, OP.  $15k on the bottom side of your util percentage can't hurt, either.

Lowering util will definitely outweigh both the HPs and the slight drop to the AAoA.  Both of which recover pretty quickly, anyway.

[Anonymous]

If your major spend card is BCP, and a) you have some spend outside grocery/gas/dept stores, and b) have some travel expenses, the VentureOne would be a better card to use than the BCP.    PCing it to a QS would remove condition b)  

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

If your major spend card is BCP, and a) you have some spend outside grocery/gas/dept stores, and b) have some travel expenses, the VentureOne would be a better card to use than the BCP.    PCing it to a QS would remove condition b)  

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However, the QS does give 1.5% back on everything, so there is that.

If you don't travel a lot, the QS does seem to be a better deal than the Venture cards.  But, YMMV.

[Anonymous]

Based on your priorities that I've seen, I'd call Capital One and check to see if unactivated new cards are still reported to credit bureaus. If they are reported, then you might as well activate the card and get the spending bonus. If not reported, you can just cut up the card and forget it. 

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:

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@Anonymous wrote:

If your major spend card is BCP, and a) you have some spend outside grocery/gas/dept stores, and b) have some travel expenses, the VentureOne would be a better card to use than the BCP.    PCing it to a QS would remove condition b)  

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However, the QS does give 1.5% back on everything, so there is that.

If you don't travel a lot, the QS does seem to be a better deal than the Venture cards.  But, YMMV.

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Yes, part of my point was that the QS is a better choice because it's not restricted to travel (and, as you say, has a higher payout anyway).

Unless you really are into card number minimization, the BCP isn't a good choice for non-category spend, because of the poor rate (and for some, the clunky redemption process)

[Anonymous]

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@AverageJoe1970 wrote:

You are a pot stirrer... I haven't rebutted everything everyone has said. I simply haven't activated the card like some card-junkies would have me do. I also said that $200 bucks doesn't justify activating the card (thought 200 free bucks is sweet); and I that my experience has been that not activating a new card will not have an impact on my AAoA - which may be different than yours.

Do I want or need validation? Maybe. In thinking on it, I'm probably shifting my mindset from "more is better" to "less is more". Asking the question, might have helped me come to that realization.

I think the other question is - does having several cards adversely affect how your credit is viewed. Ultimately its probably about how you manage your credit.

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@tamaralig wrote:

I'm with what everyone else has said so far..You took the inq hit on 3 CRAs when you applied...Ding one...AAoA is going to take a hit whether you activate it or not...Ding Two...Plus Side: Great starting limit your existing UTL is high you need this boost really...the card has no annual fee....Just having a card doesn't mean you have to use it but using it gives you another plus to getting the bonus whether you want it or need it..it's a plus...you've rebutted everything everyone has said but you asked a question for an opinion..IMO you didn't want an answer lol you wanted validation. Sorry just had to throw that out there.

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Just so you know honestly I didn't mean that as a snub or snipe.. it was pure honesty from me reading the whole thread up into my response. I was just being factual about what things has already happened with you from applying. I think Cap One is one that reports the closing if not activated.

[takeshi74]

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@AverageJoe1970 wrote:

I'm primarily concerned about (a. my stupidity for applying for a card I don't need; b. the Venture card's impact on my AoA over the next 3 years).
 
What should I do?

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Your call.  However, your AAoA has already been impacted.  Activation is for the card, not the account.  If you don't want to reduce your AAoA the time to decide is before applying.

[RonM21]

You have to do what is best for you. I think keeping or PCing it would be what I would do, but that is for me. You'll know what is best for what you'd like to accomplish.