capital One closed 15k account for no use. Help.

[Superduper2014]

Trying to see if this can be reverted. 

My girl friends' capital one card was closed due to no being used in 3yrs. 

She received a letter stating the account can't be reopened, but I wonder if others have had luck calling them to get it reopened. 

She now has 2 other cards with them. All in good standing and zero balance. 

If this requires a hard pull, would it be better to just leave closed?

Thanks

[Anonymous]

If yoou don't use it then you lose it.

I had this happen with Chase for a card I parked for future PC ability.  Once it's done it's done.

[AverageJoesCredit]

3 years of no use is 2 years too many in todays credit environment. Most likely that account is closed for good. Sorry to hear , but credit cards must be used to keep them open and active.

[gdale6]

There is no re opening with Cap-1. If she needs the utilization padding I suggest an app with someone else to replace it.

[hawkins]

I will put this as gently as possible. Your GF clearly did not need that card if she left it idle for 3 years. What’s done is done.

[Superduper2014]

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@gdale6 wrote:
There is no re opening with Cap-1. If she needs the utilization padding I suggest an app with someone else to replace it.

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Thanks everyone. 

She needed this card for the utilization padding as you well put it. 

Amex reduced avail credit from 20k to 11k a few months ago (apparently can call to get it back to what it was)

Will have to start charging unused cards at least every 6 months for little things and paying right off? Does that work to prevent this?

[Anonymous]

I tend to toss a coffee or something similar on my unused cards every other month or so. Probably more frequent than need be but better safe than sorry.

[Anonymous]

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@Anonymous wrote:
I tend to toss a coffee or something similar on my unused cards every other month or so. Probably more frequent than need be but better safe than sorry.

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Another good way is to put small recurring bills on a padding card - Netflix, Amazon Prime (if paying monthly).

[Anonymous]

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@Superduper2014 wrote:

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@gdale6 wrote:
There is no re opening with Cap-1. If she needs the utilization padding I suggest an app with someone else to replace it.

---

Thanks everyone. 

She needed this card for the utilization padding as you well put it.  

Amex reduced avail credit from 20k to 11k a few months ago (apparently can call to get it back to what it was)

Will have to start charging unused cards at least every 6 months for little things and paying right off? Does that work to prevent this?

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This use every few seems enough for most cards.   One possible caveat: With Capital One, with higher limits (above $30K) a few of us had the limit cut dramatically despite a little bit of spend.   In that case Cap One was looking for spend that justifies the CL, not just "activity"

[Andypanda]

The way I make sure nothing happens to my card with I am using the disco first year cash back match is once a week I buy a $1.50 Costco hotdog.