do you get penalized for not using your credit card too frequently? what if you don't use it at all?

Answer 1

The only thing that would probably happen is eventually the creditor may close the account.

Store cards generally close faster than major credit cards.
Some store cards may close the inactive account at around 4 to 6 months, others around a year.

The best thing to do is to rotate the cards and make a small purchases on one, buy a pack of gum, a hamburger, or some socks. Then put the card at the bottom of the stack and pay when you receive the statement. Then repeat with the next card.

Depending on how many cards you have, at least try to have one (small) charge on them every 6 months or so and pay in full when you receive the statement.

If you only have several cards, you might set a certain time twice a year and make small charges on them at the same time - like every spring and fall at daylight savings time.

That way you won't miss a card, you will know that you are going to make the charge ahead of time so you will be able to have the money saved to pay - though with only several cards and making small charges, you probably won't have to save to hard to make the payments.

That will keep the cards open and reporting, and it would also help with your card history AND your scores.

Answer 2

No penalty. Some stores will deactivate your store credit card account if it has zero balance and has been inactive for a while.

Edit: I disagree with Kim. It is true that a credit card might lead to problems for people who don't need one. But it's good to have one as you can have an emergency some day - like a broken car (repairs and/or towing), running out of money while on vacation, getting out of jail, or a family emergency.

Answer 3

They'll most likely contact you before deactivating it, either by phone or US mail. Some credit card companies keep track of your purchases for your protection (with your permission of course). For example, if all you ever make are small purchases and then you make a really large one, they might require the store you're shopping at to get card approval over the phone. This happens frequently at places like Wal*Mart or Target.

Answer 4

i ended making use of them after i ended having them. I decrease them up. Now I only use my financial corporation debit card and that i'd desire to be careful to easily spend what I even have. in case you particularly will not be able to end bypass on your close by client credit Counseling provider (CCCS). I did that some years in the past and that they helped me smash my habit and helped me with paying off the $27,000 in debt I accrued.

Answer 5

That is sometimes the case. This article I found seems to explain a lot, Great site for all sorts of information on this topic.
http://www.mintcreditrepair.com/understanding-credit-card-penalties-a300.html?PHPSESSID=e443020d87c8e67886e9c8343e01d524

Answer 6

some cards will decrease your credit limit if they see a 0 balance and you have not used i. they figure if you are not using it, why have the higher limit. al.so if inactive for a while, they can deactivate the account

Answer 7

No, but If you don't use it, get rid of it. I mean that, if you don't need a credit card, than you shouldn't have one. And not because you can't handle it, but because you don't have to handle it. If you're not dead, don't bother digging yourself a grave. Its just asking for trouble..