How To Check if Your Credit Card is Active

Introduction

At the risk of stating the obvious — if you want to use a credit card to make purchases, that card needs to be active and in positive standing.

What might be less obvious is that credit cards can become deactivated and unusable for several different reasons. And regardless of how you got there, an inactive card will be declined if you try to use it.

The good news is that you can check your credit card to make sure it’s ready for action before using it.

Ask Customer Support if It’s Active

One of the quickest and easiest ways to check a card’s status is a tried-and-true method — simply call the issuer’s customer service line and ask. The phone number is usually listed on the back of your card.

Sure, you might have to deal with a few seconds of hold time, but you’re going straight to the source. And if it turns out to be inactive, the representative may be able to reactivate it while you’re on the phone.

Check That It Appears Active on Your Credit Reports

You can also check the status of your card by looking to see if it’s listed as active on any of your credit reports.

Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you’re entitled to receive a free copy of your credit report from each of the three major credit bureaus every year. But here’s a fun fact — ever since the COVID-19 pandemic, you can actually get them once a week from the federally authorized AnnualCreditReport.com.

See if You Can Make a Purchase

If you’re a bit of a rebel, you could throw caution to the wind and just go for it. Try to make a purchase and see what happens. But be prepared for the transaction to be declined, which could be a little embarrassing if you’re conducting this experiment in a brick-and-mortar store.

On the other hand, if it’s approved, you’re golden. And now you know that the card can still be a valuable part of your wallet’s payment arsenal.

Log in to Your Credit Card Account Online

Depending on the card issuer, you may be able to log in to your online account and check the status of your card. Even if you forget your password, you can usually reset it with a few clicks (and then set up multi-factor authentication if you haven’t already).

While logged in, you can also see if you have a balance on your account, what your credit limit is, and all those other crucial details.

Make a Branch Visit

Many financial institutions are only online these days. But if your creditor has physical locations near you, checking your card’s status could be as easy as stopping by. Make sure you have the card with you, and then ask a bank representative to check if it’s still active.

Possible Reasons for Card Deactivation

Before we move on, let’s look at a few reasons why a previously active card could end up unusable. This understanding will help you decide to do next.

Default

If you fell behind on payments, you might find that your account has been deactivated or even charged off. The former may be temporary, while the latter often involves permanently closing the account and selling the debt to a collections agency.

The difference is simply a matter of time — accounts usually get charged off around the six-month mark after non-payment starts, but it could be as short as four months. Until that point, the creditor simply wants to prevent you from borrowing any more money until you pay back what you already owe.

To avoid these scenarios, make sure you’re always making at least the minimum payments due on any remaining balance. And that you’re making those payments on time, of course.

Inactivity

Not everyone knows this, but a creditor can close a credit card account for inactivity. You might think it’s OK to just let the card collect dust if you don’t currently need it for purchases, but that only works for a limited time.

The best way to avoid closure for inactivity is to use the card regularly, even if it’s just a small purchase every month or two. For a set-it-and-forget-it option, you can put one recurring subscription on your card, and turn on AutoPay for the full balance each month.

Changes

Change is part of life, but some changes can prompt a creditor to close your card account. Whether your credit score drops significantly, the card terms change, or the issuer phases out that product, they have the right to modify or end your agreement. And if you don’t get the memo for whatever reason, your card could be inactive without you knowing it.

Sometimes you’ll receive a new card as a replacement, like if they switch all cardmembers to a new card instead. For example, a creditor could change the network for a specific card — perhaps from Visa to American Express or Amex to Mastercard. That would require everyone to get new cards with new numbers. But if there’s no migration, the old card could also just be canceled.

What Can You Do if the Card Is Inactive?

Let’s say all this detective work leads to the discovery that your card’s inactive. Here’s the game plan for what you could do next.

• Knowledge is power, so call the issuer’s customer support (if you aren’t already on the phone with them) and ask for verification on why your card has been deactivated. 

• If you’d like to keep the card, ask for it to be reopened. This won’t always be possible in scenarios like a charge-off, but may be an option for other situations, like not using the card for a long time. If you’re behind a few payments but the debt hasn’t been sold, you might be able to solve the issue by paying your delinquent balance. And regardless of the reason for deactivation, you may need to undergo a new credit check. 

• If you decide you don’t want the card reinstated, it’s a good idea to check your credit reports and make sure the card account shows as closed. Again, AnnualCreditReport.com is a reputable source for your free reports and authorized by the federal government.

How Does an Inactive Credit Card Affect My Credit History?

It’s important to clarify that when we talk about a card being “inactive” and a card being closed for “inactivity,” it’s not the same thing. You could have an inactive card that was closed for inactivity, but they don’t always go hand-in-hand.

• An inactive card means you can’t make purchases with it, but you may still be able to make payments if there’s a balance owing.

• An inactive account means you didn’t use the card for an extended period, even though you could have — which may prompt the issuer to close the account (making the card inactive too).

So depending on why the card’s now inactive, a canceled credit card can impact you and your credit in a few ways.

1. It may increase your credit utilization ratio, which is the amount of credit you’re using compared to the amount of credit available to you. Creditors like to see a lower ratio, preferably under 30%. So even though not using all the credit extended to you might seem counterintuitive, a higher credit utilization often means a lower credit score (and vice versa).

2. It may reduce your credit mix, which reflects the different types of credit you have — think installment loans, like auto loans and mortgages, as well as revolving credit, like credit cards. Lenders and creditors like to see that you can manage different types of credit, so if your only credit card gets closed, that could affect the diversity of your mix. And a less robust credit mix can lead to a lower credit score.

3. It could shorten your length of credit history and average account age, because even though the card could stay listed on your credit report for up to 10 years, it will typically show as “closed by the grantor” or “at the creditor’s request.” This might be a red flag to other lenders who assume you defaulted. On top of that, some credit scoring models don’t weigh closed accounts the same as open ones. And if you first opened that card many years ago but didn’t have another until recently, your average account age is significantly reduced by removing the older one from the equation.

FAQs

How long will a credit card remain active without being used?

You can usually go about six months to a year without using your card before the issuer may close the account for inactivity. However, it could be longer or shorter, depending on the creditor.

What happens if I don’t use my credit card for a month?

If you don’t use your card for a month, you won’t have any new purchases to pay for, but you may have fees or other transactions that show up. And you’ll still have to make your minimum payments if you have a balance. But as far as your card getting closed for not using it, that’s highly unlikely in such a short timeframe.

Should I keep a zero balance on my credit card?

You can keep a zero balance if you want to — especially when your due date is looming, because ­paying off your full balance can help you avoid interest charges. But using the card every few months is a good idea, even if you immediately pay it off. And although it’s good to keep your credit utilization ratio under 30%, it doesn’t have to be zero.

How can I activate my credit card online?

If you have a brand-new credit card that’s never been used, you typically need to activate it. Calling a phone number and entering your card number used to be the standard method, but these days you can usually do it online or through a mobile app. The correct instructions will likely be on a sticker fixed to your new card or included in your welcome package. But as far as activating an older card that’s been shut down or canceled by the issuer, it’s not usually possible without involving a customer service agent.

Bottom Line

Credit cards can be a useful tool, but an inactive card isn’t good for much — except maybe standing in as an oversized guitar pick, makeshift ice scraper, or squeegee to remove screen protector bubbles on your phone. OK, it can be used for a lot of things, but not as a financial tool.

Not to worry, though. The next time you’re unsure if a credit card is still active, you can find out its status in several ways. And if it turns out you no longer have use of it, you can always look for a new credit card that may be a better fit for you.