How often do you use no-fee cards to avoid cancellation?
#1
Suspended
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 817
How often do you use no-fee cards to avoid cancellation?
I currently have a couple cards I keep around mainly as "backups" in case my main wallet was stolen or something.
Currently I have a few no fee cards I keep mostly for credit score purposes, including my first CC, one from Cap1 because it has no FT fee and 1.5% back, and a Chase Sapphire I kept to keep my utilization low (as well as to help average account age)
How often do you use cards to avoid having them cancelled?
Currently I have a few no fee cards I keep mostly for credit score purposes, including my first CC, one from Cap1 because it has no FT fee and 1.5% back, and a Chase Sapphire I kept to keep my utilization low (as well as to help average account age)
How often do you use cards to avoid having them cancelled?
#2
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: Marriott, AAdvantage, United, Club Carlson
Posts: 1,687
Usually (not always) you'll get a letter or email stating that your account will be closed unless there is activity.
I've gone 3+ years without activity and finally got a letter.
I've gone 3+ years without activity and finally got a letter.
#3
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SEA
Posts: 2,556
#4
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: SF
Programs: UA, VX, QF, EY, VA
Posts: 756
It's worth using cards every once in a while as some issuers don't report anything to CRAs when no transactions occur.
These then get classified as "dormant" by FICO. Not sure if they actually negatively impact scores, though.
These then get classified as "dormant" by FICO. Not sure if they actually negatively impact scores, though.
#5
Join Date: Feb 2012
Posts: 599
I shift to no-fee cards during a lull-time when I don't need to hit any minimum spending. This is typically for 1-2 weeks before I get a new bonus-spending-minimum card, but enough to use the no-fee backup cards.
I suggest you adopt a similar strategy
I suggest you adopt a similar strategy
#6
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: PWM
Programs: AA Plat
Posts: 1,335
#9
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RDU
Programs: DL(PM), UA(Silver), AA(EXP) Marriott(Ti), HH(Gold), Hertz(PC)
Posts: 2,667
I have a BoA Visa Signature card (the AAA version), which I haven't used in exactly 39 months (to the day, I just checked the account activity online) which still shows up as active.
It may or may not matter that I also have a checking account with BoA that sees regular activity, I don't know.
It may or may not matter that I also have a checking account with BoA that sees regular activity, I don't know.
#10
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: HH Gold (again), US/UA/DL non-elite, ZE Presidents Circle, WN reluctant no fee convert.
Posts: 1,449
Oh, brother. Does that mean I need to buy $5 worth of gas to keep my near-worthless Citi AT&T Universal Card that has seniority in my CC portfolio active?
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
I have one of these cards too (one of the two cards I have that I've had for over two decades, the other being a Discover). They just sent me an email saying that I have 20 -- out of 26 or so -- Thank You points that are going to expire soon! I wonder how many years ago I earned those?
#12
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: HH Gold (again), US/UA/DL non-elite, ZE Presidents Circle, WN reluctant no fee convert.
Posts: 1,449
No, you only need to buy $1 worth of gas.
I have one of these cards too (one of the two cards I have that I've had for over two decades, the other being a Discover). They just sent me an email saying that I have 20 -- out of 26 or so -- Thank You points that are going to expire soon! I wonder how many years ago I earned those?
I have one of these cards too (one of the two cards I have that I've had for over two decades, the other being a Discover). They just sent me an email saying that I have 20 -- out of 26 or so -- Thank You points that are going to expire soon! I wonder how many years ago I earned those?
My DS card is the seniority anchor for my credit history, too.
I have to go dig out that Universal card somewhere; out of sight, out of mind.
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
If you're working on a bonus which requires physical swipes, a small online purchase that you need to do anyway, even if a bit more then $1 or even a bit more than $5, but which wouldn't qualify for the physical swipe bonus, might be better.
#14
Join Date: Feb 2006
Programs: HH Gold (again), US/UA/DL non-elite, ZE Presidents Circle, WN reluctant no fee convert.
Posts: 1,449
Actually, given that fuel gives bonuses elsewhere, I'd use it for something small that gives no bonuses.
If you're working on a bonus which requires physical swipes, a small online purchase that you need to do anyway, even if a bit more then $1 or even a bit more than $5, but which wouldn't qualify for the physical swipe bonus, might be better.
If you're working on a bonus which requires physical swipes, a small online purchase that you need to do anyway, even if a bit more then $1 or even a bit more than $5, but which wouldn't qualify for the physical swipe bonus, might be better.
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
I could imagine something like that for multi-swipe bonuses also. I wouldn't assume any under 51 cents would necessarily count. They might, but they might not. And if they don't, it could be something from the internals that the bank uses, and thus they wouldn't have necessarily had to spell that out in the rules. (The bank which didn't count under 50 cents as a "first purchase" didn't spell out any minimum for the purchase.)
Banks aren't creating these promos for people who things to an absurd point. Banks are creating these promos to get you to use the card more. It doesn't mean you have to make a bunch of expensive swips, but I would recommend inexpensive "normal looking" swipes, and lots of sub-dollar fuel swipe do not look "normal" to me, they look someone trying to "manufacture swipes"!
And just like you don't want to attract attention from a bank of overzealous Manufactured Spending, I wouldn't want to attract attention from a bank by overzealous manufactured swipes.