What constitutes keeping an account active?

[Dennis007]

So I have a discover card. I keep it open for the decent CL to help toward keeping %UT in check and it's a card I've had open a long time 9+ yrs. To keep the account active and to facilitate the reward from the 'luv' button, what counts as activity toward helping with credit line increases? Do I put a purchase on it and let it post a balance during the billing cycle and then PIF, or do I simply just place a purchase on it and PIF as soon as possible before the statement posts?

Edited June 12, 2018 by Dennis007

[Kat58]

It doesn't matter.

[Zanshiro]

By not mattering, pay before due to avoid interest, is how I'd translate that. Use at least once every 3-6 months to show activity and 'regular' use...Which Discover card is it? No useful rewards? Could consider opening a better one and having them combine limits possibly or whatnot.

[Moriarty]

Make a purchase, then preferably PIF it. (Pay In Full right when the balance posts)

 

This would be "activity" and once per month should be sufficient ?

[Dennis007]

Thanks, everyone. It is the Discover "More Platinum" has roaming 5% categories which I always forget to keep track of. I have no plans on carrying a balance and would absolutely PIF way before the grace period on interest accrual begins. Am I correct that letting the balance post would then also show up on my credit report as well. This would also indicate account activity/use on there as well.

[shifter]

you only need to make a purchase every 6 months or so to keep a card active.

[Konrad2012]

Just make a $1.50 purchase every month. You won't even have to worry about paying the bill.

[Moriarty]

The more you use it, the more active it will be.

[Burgerwars]

Pencilman speaking. You need to make purchases. Just paying down a balance or paying an annual fee may not count as card activity.

 

To keep a bank type credit card active, I suggest a purchase at least once every four to six months. Store cards you can probably get by using once a year. It's not the amount of the purchase, just that you made a purchase. Buying a pencil is enough to reset the inactivity clock. You can pay off your pencil as quick as you want. No need to wait for the statement to cut.

Edited June 12, 2018 by Burgerwars

[bigpoppa09]

Just make a $1.50 purchase every month. You won't even have to worry about paying the bill.

+6000

[Moriarty]

 

Just make a $1.50 purchase every month. You won't even have to worry about paying the bill.

+6000

... but he should pay that bill.

[bigpoppa09]

 

 

Just make a $1.50 purchase every month. You won't even have to worry about paying the bill.

+6000

... but he should pay that bill.

U don't know how discover works anything under $2.00 they give a credit. That's why K-Man said only spend $1.50 and forget it.

[Dennis007]

 

 

 

Just make a $1.50 purchase every month. You won't even have to worry about paying the bill.

+6000

... but he should pay that bill.

U don't know how discover works anything under $2.00 they give a credit. That's why K-Man said only spend $1.50 and forget it.

 

I am not sure after all these years I did not learn about this detail.

[Allkindabroke]

 

I am not sure after all these years I did not learn about this detail.

 

$2 arbitrage, can't believe I missed that gem either. Don't beat yourself up too much. There's 6800+ pages of threads in the credit forum, you were bound to miss at least one topic. I use my Discover card a hand full of times per year for category purchases, let the statement balance post, PIF and call it a day. I soft pull every 6 months or so and the last 3-4 have been $5K each. Started at $2K-> $22K.

[cv91915]

I just put a $19 in-flight wifi purchase on my Discovery and pushed a $17 payment.

[Participatoe]

 

 

 

Just make a $1.50 purchase every month. You won't even have to worry about paying the bill.

+6000

... but he should pay that bill.

U don't know how discover works anything under $2.00 they give a credit. That's why K-Man said only spend $1.50 and forget it.

That doesn't make it right. How can they give a credit on an outstanding balance?

[bradk14]

time to buy $10,000 in amazon gift cards. in $1.50 increments.

[shifter]

We'll see you back here in the year 2573 with your 10k.

[cv91915]

It's $2.00.

 

Not $1.50.

[Konrad2012]

 

That doesn't make it right. How can they give a credit on an outstanding balance?

 

 

Joseph you're an salamander. Please stay out of the adult threads.

[whipster]

 

 

 

 

Just make a $1.50 purchase every month. You won't even have to worry about paying the bill.

+6000

... but he should pay that bill.

U don't know how discover works anything under $2.00 they give a credit. That's why K-Man said only spend $1.50 and forget it.

That doesn't make it right. How can they give a credit on an outstanding balance?

 

Because they do.