Your credit card must be open, active, and in good standing in order to be used for purchases and other transactions. In certain circumstances, your credit card may become inactive and thus unusable. There are several ways for a card to become inactive. The credit card company may deactivate if you haven't used your credit card in several months or even years. Alternatively, your purchasing privileges may be revoked if you fall behind on your payments. The credit card may also become inactive upon expiration if no new card is issued. When you try to use an inactive credit card, it will be declined. Check to see if it is active before using it to save yourself some embarrassment and the hassle of finding a backup payment option.
Contact Customer Service
The simplest way to determine whether your credit card is still active is to contact the issuer. Inquire about the status of your account by calling the number on the back of your card. If the account becomes inactive, customer service will most likely reactivate it.Consider Using It
If you don't want to call customer service, you can test the status of your credit card by making a purchase. A declined card indicates that it is no longer active; however, it could also indicate that the cards are expired or that you have reached your credit limit. For these reasons, it is prudent to carry out additional payment methods. What if you misplaced or lost your credit card and don't remember the credit card number? To locate your account, you can obtain the card issuer's number from their website and provide them with your social security number (make sure you're on the correct website before providing your personal information). The card company can send you a replacement credit card if your account is still active.Examine Your Credit History
Finally, your credit report can inform you about the status of your credit cards. Credit card companies typically report credit card status to credit bureaus once a month. If you close your credit card, your credit report will most likely reflect that. It will not, however, explain why your account was terminated. To obtain that information, you must contact your former credit card issuer.What Should You Do If Your Credit Card Is Inactive?
Some inactive credit cards can be reactivated simply by contacting your credit card company. Before you can use your card again, you may need to pay off a past-due balance. Unfortunately, if it is completely closed, reopening it may not be possible, particularly if it was closed due to delinquency.Check your balance as well as your available credit
After you've confirmed that your credit card is still valid, you'll need to know how much you can charge. Ask the issuer or check your account to find out your current balance and available credit before making any purchases. This way, you can be certain that you are not exceeding your credit limit. Even if your credit card is inactive, you must still make regular minimum payments on your balance. Missing credit card payments has serious consequences, including late fees and credit score damage.Questions and Answers (FAQs)
How long will a credit card be active if it is not used?
The amount of time a credit card can sit unused but active varies by issuer. After 12 to 24 months without activity, the majority of credit card companies will close the account. If you have credit cards linked to a specific retail store, it may be open for a longer period of time before closing.Should I keep my credit card balance at zero?
While having a zero balance on your credit card will not harm your score, if the card is unused for a long enough period of time that the credit card issuer closes the account, it may have a negative impact on your credit report. Without recent activity, lenders will lack a recent borrowing history to determine whether or not you are a responsible borrower.