Should I bother using unused cards

[Anonymous]

I have 2 credit cards that have very big credit limits, and are my oldest 2 cards.

I haven't used each in over a year.

I'm thinking I want to throw a few charges on them, to keep them active enough to not ever give the company an idea to cancel them due to not being used.

Could there be a problem with some sort of haven't been used in too long ding to my score.  I've read about that msg comine up once in a while for people.

I had a thought on actually PAYING $25 to both cards, giving them both activity, yet no balance.  Eventually they'll just send me a check for the $25.  Do you think that would "fool" them into thinking their activity?

Is it usually a person that decides to close an acct, or some sort of computer that does all the analysis.

[haulingthescoreup]

Oh, wow, yes! --you don't want to lose those, ever.

I'd take a one-time score ding for having them wake up from a coma, any day. Even though they'll stay on your reports for 10 years after closing, at some point you would really miss those years of history.

Are they bank-type cards? If so, I'd say a tank of gas on each. If a store card, I'd try an online order first. If decliined, take it to a store, pick something out, and let the cashier at point of sale work at getting it re-opened.

You can try paying in full before the statement date to see if that avoids the reporting ding. I've heard this both ways --sometimes people say that the ding only comes with a balance reporting, but others say it comes even with $0 showing. If you do lose points, it shouldn't be much, and they'll be back next month.

Don't know about the deliberate overpayment. I'd hate to get closed down because I woke things up this way, yet the overpayment didn't count.

[smallfry]

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@haulingthescoreup wrote:
Oh, wow, yes! --you don't want to lose those, ever.

I'd take a one-time score ding for having them wake up from a coma, any day. Even though they'll stay on your reports for 10 years after closing, at some point you would really miss those years of history.

Are they bank-type cards? If so, I'd say a tank of gas on each. If a store card, I'd try an online order first. If decliined, take it to a store, pick something out, and let the cashier at point of sale work at getting it re-opened.

You can try paying in full before the statement date to see if that avoids the reporting ding. I've heard this both ways --sometimes people say that the ding only comes with a balance reporting, but others say it comes even with $0 showing. If you do lose points, it shouldn't be much, and they'll be back next month.

Don't know about the deliberate overpayment. I'd hate to get closed down because I woke things up this way, yet the overpayment didn't count.

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My oldest credit account is my Walmart card and I never let it report a balance. I haven't seen any point loss when I use it but like everything credit YMMV.

[haulingthescoreup]

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smallfry wrote:

My oldest credit account is my Walmart card and I never let it report a balance. I haven't seen any point loss when I use it but like everything credit YMMV.

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Have you ever gone for months and months without using it at all?

I've read several posts that say that someone didn't use their card at all for a long time, used it and PIF'd before statement, and still got the ding.

(I'd still rather take the one-time ding than risk losing the card.)

[smallfry]

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@haulingthescoreup wrote:

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@smallfry wrote:

My oldest credit account is my Walmart card and I never let it report a balance. I haven't seen any point loss when I use it but like everything credit YMMV.

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Have you ever gone for months and months without using it at all?

I've read several posts that say that someone didn't use their card at all for a long time, used it and PIF'd before statement, and still got the ding.

(I'd still rather take the one-time ding than risk losing the card.)

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Probably never longer than 3-4 months on the outside. 

[Red1Blue]

You should use the card once every 2-3 months with a small charge like buying a gum or some thing and do pif. If you dont use the cards for long time you risk they might close the cards on you.