If you don't use it you lose it?

[MoneyTard]

I just had an interesting convo with suntrust credit card customer service. I called because I knew I had an mbna credit card but the number no longer shows up on my login to the site.

She told me that the account was closed because I hadn't used it for longer than 12 months. She also said that all credit card companies do this. I have a discover card I rarely ever use and that one was never closed.

When I brought it up she nearly got beligerant on me and said "why would you have a card if you're not going to use it. It hurts your fico score".

It hurts my fico score?!! I've never heard such a thing. How can not using a credit card hurt my fico score?

[cheapdoggy]

That's really a wierd policy I haven't had accounts closed by the companies unless its a real long time. To top it off, having a CSR tell you that about a FICO score makes me wonder how many credit card CSRs are in dire financial straits

[Ima saver]

I have about a dozen cards that I never use. They just keep sending me new ones and they never close them.

[sweeps]

No it doesn't hurt your credit score, but yes, companies reserve the right to close your account if you haven't used it for a period of time.

[PrincessPerky]

Man I wish some of ours would close...

[jmjj215]

If the card had a solid history on it, and it was closed, it would probably hurt your credit score.

[sweeps]

Originally Posted by sweeps

No it doesn't hurt your credit score, but yes, companies reserve the right to close your account if you haven't used it for a period of time.

Just to clarify, this was an answer to the OP's original question. Not using your card for an extended period of time does not hurt your credit score.

Closing an account with good credit history (or having such an account closed by the lender) would likely hurt your credit score.