If I return an item I buy on my credit card, does that lower my FICO score?

Question

If I return an item I buy on my credit card, does that lower my FICO score?

Also, if I set a single credit card aside so that all purchases on it are purchases that I plan to return, will that hurt my FICO score, or my relationship with the issuer of that particular credit card?

Answer 1

Does not affect your FICO score.

It might affect your relationship with the issuer of the credit card.

It will affect your relationship with the retailer, especially if many/most items come from the same store.

Good luck!

Answer 2

The only thing credit cards report to the credit bureau is if you pay on time or late. The credit card company doesn't care about your returned purchases.

However, how in the world would you be able to use one credit card for all purchases you return? Do you buy things knowing you will return them? And just how much returning are you doing?

Many stores have instituted stricter return policies due to people who return so much stuff. It cost the merchant to deal with returned items. Costs that they pass on to the rest of us thru higher prices. Some stores have even gone so far as to ban people who return so much stuff.

Answer 3

Returning a purchase does not affect your credit record as long as you keep up payments. When you return a purchase, the seller normally will credit back your card account.

Answer 4

I bet you are the sort of person that buys a suit for an interview and returns it afterwards. Or maybe a camcorder for a holiday, or a chainsaw to fell a tree, or a tin of paint to touch up a wall, then tops it up with water before returning it to the store! I'm glad stores don't take underwear back.