Your card stays open but your credit score may drop
If you stop using a credit card but keep the account open, the card itself does nothing harmful — it just sits there. But your credit score can actually go down, even though you're not charging anything. This happens because credit scoring looks at how much of your available credit you're using, and when you stop using one card, that ratio changes in a way that hurts you.
The card issuer won't close the account on you for inactivity right away. Most companies give you months or even years before they shut down an unused card. But the longer you leave it untouched, the more likely they are to eventually close it themselves — and that closure can also damage your score.
Key Takeaways
- Your credit utilization ratio (how much credit you're using versus how much you have available) can increase when you stop using a card, which lowers your score even if you pay everything on time.
- Card issuers typically close inactive accounts after 6 to 12 months of no activity, though some wait longer, and a closed account can hurt your credit score.
- If you want to keep a card active without using it regularly, make one small purchase every few months and pay it off immediately.
- Closing a card yourself causes the same credit score damage as the issuer closing it, so inactivity is often the better choice if you might use it later.
Why your credit utilization ratio goes up when you stop charging
Credit utilization is the percentage of your total available credit that you're currently using. If you have three cards with $1,000 limits each ($3,000 total) and you're carrying a $500 balance on one card, your utilization is about 17 percent. Credit scoring models treat lower utilization as a sign you manage credit responsibly.
When you stop using one card but keep it open, your total available credit stays the same, but the balance you're carrying on your other cards doesn't change. So if you were using $500 across three cards and now you're using $500 across two cards, your utilization jumps from 17 percent to 25 percent. That higher percentage can lower your score by a few points, even though you haven't missed a payment or done anything wrong.
This effect is small if you have multiple cards and low overall utilization. It's much more noticeable if you only have one or two cards to begin with.
When card issuers close inactive accounts
Most credit card companies close accounts that show no activity for 6 to 12 months, though the exact timeline varies by issuer. Some cards, especially premium ones with annual fees, may close faster. Others may wait longer. The issuer doesn't usually notify you before closing — you'll find out when you try to use the card or check your account online.
When the issuer closes the account, it shows up on your credit report as a closed account. This can lower your score in two ways: your available credit shrinks (raising your utilization ratio on remaining cards), and the account itself stops helping your credit mix, which is a smaller factor in your score.
The damage is usually temporary. A closed account stays on your report for about 10 years, but its impact on your score fades after a few months as newer accounts and payment history become more important.
How to keep a card active without using it regularly
If you want to prevent the issuer from closing your account, the simplest approach is to charge something small every few months — a coffee, a subscription, a gas purchase — and pay it off immediately. This creates activity on the account without carrying a balance that hurts your utilization ratio.
Set a phone reminder every two or three months if you tend to forget. Some people set up an automatic small recurring charge (like a streaming service) and pay it off each month, which requires almost no effort. The goal is just to show the card company that the account is being used, not abandoned.
You don't need to carry a balance to keep the account healthy. In fact, carrying a balance costs you money in interest and raises your utilization, so paying off each charge immediately is the right move.
The difference between the issuer closing your account and you closing it
If you close the account yourself, the damage to your credit score is essentially the same as if the issuer closed it: your available credit drops, and your utilization ratio rises. The only difference is that you have control over the timing.
If you think you might use the card again someday, it's usually better to let it sit inactive than to close it yourself. That way, if you change your mind, the account is still there and you can use it. If the issuer eventually closes it, you've lost nothing you wouldn't have lost anyway by closing it yourself.
The one exception is if the card has an annual fee and you're certain you'll never use it again. In that case, closing it stops you from paying fees on an account you don't want. But if there's no annual fee, inactivity is the safer choice.
How long a closed account affects your credit score
A closed account continues to appear on your credit report for about 10 years from the date it was closed. During the first few months after closure, the impact on your score is most noticeable. After about six months, the damage usually shrinks significantly as other factors in your credit history become more important.
The older the closed account, the less it matters to your score. An account closed five years ago has almost no impact, even though it's still listed on your report. This is why a single closed card doesn't usually tank your score long-term — it's a temporary dip, not a permanent mark.
What to do if an issuer closes your account without notice
If you discover that a card issuer has closed your account, check your credit report to confirm the closure is reported accurately. You can get a free report from each of the three major bureaus (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) once per year at annualcreditreport.com.
If the account is reported incorrectly — for example, if it shows a balance when you paid it off, or if it's marked as closed by you when the issuer closed it — you can dispute the error with the bureau. The issuer may also have sent a notice to an old address; if you think that happened, you can contact them directly to ask why the account was closed.
There's no way to reopen an account the issuer has closed, but you can open a new card with the same issuer or a different one if you want to rebuild your available credit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will a credit card company close my account if I don't use it?
Most will, but not immediately. The typical timeline is 6 to 12 months of no activity, though some issuers wait longer and others close faster. Premium cards with annual fees may close sooner. Check your account online or call the issuer if you're unsure about their specific policy.
Does not using a credit card hurt my credit score?
Not directly — missing payments and high balances hurt your score, not inactivity. But if the issuer closes your account due to inactivity, that closure can lower your score by raising your utilization ratio on remaining cards. Keeping the account active with occasional small purchases prevents this.
Is it better to close a card or let it sit unused?
Letting it sit unused is usually better if you might want it later. Closing it yourself causes the same credit score damage as the issuer closing it, so you lose nothing by waiting. The only reason to close it yourself is if it has an annual fee you don't want to pay.
How much does a closed credit card account lower my score?
The impact varies depending on your overall credit profile, but typically it's a small to moderate dip — often 5 to 50 points — that fades over a few months. The damage is usually temporary because credit scoring focuses more on recent activity than on accounts closed years ago.
Can I reopen a credit card account after the issuer closes it?
No, once an issuer closes an account, you cannot reopen it. You would need to open a new account with the same issuer or apply for a card from a different company. The closed account will remain on your credit report for about 10 years.