Your Card Remains Inactive Until You Activate It
If you don't activate a credit card, the card simply stays inactive. You cannot use it to make purchases, and the card issuer will not begin charging you interest or annual fees. The account exists in your name, but it is dormant — the credit line is reserved for you, but no transactions can occur until you take the step to activate it.
Activation is usually a one-time requirement that takes a few minutes. Most issuers let you activate online through their website or mobile app, by calling the number on the back of the card, or by making a purchase (which some issuers treat as automatic activation). Until one of these happens, the card cannot be used.
Key Takeaways
- An unactivated card will not accrue interest, annual fees, or any charges — the account sits open but unused.
- Your credit line remains available to you, but you cannot access it until you activate the card.
- Most issuers will eventually close an inactive account if no activation or activity occurs within 6 to 12 months, though policies vary by card.
- Closing an old card account can lower your credit score if it reduces your total available credit or changes the age of your oldest account.
- You can activate a card at any time before the issuer closes it, with no penalty or additional cost.
When the Issuer Closes an Inactive Account
Card issuers have no obligation to keep an account open indefinitely if you never use it. Most issuers will close an account for inactivity after a period of time — typically 6 to 12 months, though some may wait longer. The exact timeline depends on the card issuer's policy, which you can find in your cardholder agreement or by calling customer service.
When an issuer closes an account for inactivity, they will usually send you a notice in the mail before or shortly after the closure. The account will no longer be available to you, and your credit line will disappear. This closure will appear on your credit report as a closed account.
How Inactivity Affects Your Credit Score
An unactivated card that remains open does not directly harm your credit score — it simply sits there. However, once the issuer closes the account for inactivity, the closure can affect your score in two ways.
First, closing an account reduces your total available credit. If you have other cards with balances, your credit utilization ratio (the percentage of your total credit limit that you are using) will increase. A higher utilization ratio can lower your score. For example, if you have $5,000 in balances across all cards and $20,000 in total credit limits, your utilization is 25 percent. If an inactive card with a $5,000 limit closes, your total limits drop to $15,000, and your utilization rises to 33 percent.
Second, if the closed card was your oldest account, closing it can lower the average age of your accounts, which factors into your credit score. The impact is usually small, but it is real.
Keeping a Card Active Without Regular Use
If you want to keep a card open but do not plan to use it regularly, you can make small purchases occasionally to show activity. Some people put a recurring charge on an inactive card — a subscription service, a monthly utility, or a small purchase every few months — just to keep the account active in the issuer's system.
Before you do this, check whether the card has an annual fee. If it does, making small purchases to keep it active may not be worth the cost. A card with no annual fee is much easier to justify keeping open, since inactivity costs you nothing.
You can also contact the issuer directly and ask whether they have a policy on inactivity closures. Some issuers are willing to keep an account open even without activity if you request it, though this is not may provide.
Annual Fees on Unactivated Cards
Most credit cards do not charge an annual fee until the card is activated and the account is open for billing. However, some premium cards do charge an annual fee immediately upon account opening, regardless of whether you activate the card.
Check your cardholder agreement or the terms you received when you opened the account to see whether an annual fee applies. If the card charges an annual fee and you do not plan to use it, you can close the account to stop the fee from being charged. If you close the account within the issuer's grace period (often 30 days), some issuers will refund the annual fee, though this is not may provide.
If you are unsure whether a fee will be charged, call the issuer's customer service line before activating the card. They can tell you exactly when and how much you will be charged.
Reactivating a Card After Inactivity
If your card has been closed for inactivity, you cannot reactivate it. A closed account is closed — the issuer will not reopen it. You would need to apply for a new card from that issuer if you want another account with them.
However, if your card is still open but simply inactive, you can activate it at any time. There is no deadline or penalty for activating late. Call the issuer, log into your online account, or use the mobile app to activate whenever you decide to use the card.
Closing an Unactivated Card Yourself
If you have decided you do not want the card, you can close it yourself at any time. Call the issuer's customer service number (on the back of the card or on your statement) and ask to close the account. The representative will process the closure, and the account will be marked as closed on your credit report.
Closing an account you never used has the same credit score impact as the issuer closing it for inactivity — your available credit decreases and your utilization ratio may rise. However, closing it yourself gives you control over the timing and means you do not have to wait for the issuer to make the decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I be charged interest on an unactivated card?
No. Interest only accrues on balances you carry, and you cannot carry a balance on a card you have not activated. Once you activate the card and make a purchase, interest will begin to accrue on any balance you do not pay in full by the due date.
Can I activate a card months or years after I receive it?
Yes, as long as the issuer has not closed the account for inactivity. There is no time limit on activation. However, if the account has been closed, you cannot reactivate it — you would need to apply for a new card.
Does an unactivated card show up on my credit report?
Yes. The account appears on your credit report as an open account with a zero balance. Once the issuer closes it for inactivity, it will show as a closed account. Closed accounts remain on your credit report for up to seven years.
What should I do if I received a card I did not order?
Do not activate it. Call the issuer immediately and ask them to close the account. If you did not authorize the account opening, you may also want to place a fraud alert with the credit bureaus. Keep the card in a safe place in case you need to reference the account number when speaking with the issuer.
If I activate a card and then never use it, will the issuer close it?
Possibly. Issuers monitor accounts for activity, and some will close accounts that remain inactive even after activation. The timeline and policy vary by issuer. If you want to keep the account open, make a small purchase or payment every few months to show activity.