Question about keeping cards active...

[RobertEG]

As smallfry has said, some lenders are doing strange things now.

Things that they may do are hard to predict.  So at least keep cards active as a first line of anticipation.

I have, for example, an AT&T/CITI Universal Platinum Master Card.  I have had it for close to 20 years. CL of over $20K.  I have never had one single late on this account, and have maintained a % util of under 10% for at least the past decade.  Low risk to them.  I routinely charge at least $300 or so a month on the card, so it is very active.

Well, two monhts ago, I get a letter from them advising me that they are going to now charge me an annual fee of $30 on this card!

So I agree that just keeping a card active wont preclude changes in account terms.  But it is at least a precautionary step.

[Anonymous]

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@RobertEG wrote:

I would make at least one charge every month or two, forcing a regualr billing statement with balance from them, and then just PIF before the statement due date.

No interest due, and activity is then shown on the account.

I speculate that their account review software looks for accounts with no balance and no billing activity, say, for around three months, and then flags that account as a no-profit account. 

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Wait a minute.  You fear that they will close the account because they aren't making any money, so your plan is to do something that will not only fail to make them money but also cost them even more money.  That's too funny.  It assumes that they are ignorant, and you know what, your plan just might work.  Good post!!!  I love it.