Many a times an unsolicited credit card is issued, even without any application request. While some of these cards are issued on opening a savings or a salary account with a bank, others are issued under the pretext of pre-approved card offers (based on your relationship value with the bank or the provider). Often we tend to ignore the issuance and delivery of such cards under our name, and thus, never take them out of the kit. However, have you ever thought of how such inactivated credit cards are impacting your credit score and your finances. If not, read on and understand what happens if you don’t activate your credit card?
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Impact on credit score by a credit card you never activated
Earlier, as soon as you get approved for a card, the first thing that the issuers did was to create your new credit card account. Based on this new account, your physical card was created and then linked to it. Now, credit card issuers can create your credit card account only after the activation of your credit card, which is only authenticated via an OTP based process. Thus, now the card issuer cannot create a credit card account, on the issuance of a credit card, unless a card is activated. Thus, in-activated credit cards have no impact on your credit score.
Additionally, the issuers cannot share your information with the credit bureaus if you don’t activate your card. Even if they do, the issuers need to inform the cardholders about any information that is being shared with the credit bureaus regarding repayment records, credit history, etc. That ways, cardholders can keep a check on what is being reported to the bureau, and if any false credit card account is part of the report. You are not liable for a maintaining a card account for a credit card you never activated.
Credit Card Activation Guidelines as per RBI- In activated Credit Cards to be closed after 30 days
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| You are required to activate your credit card within 30 days, if you fail to do so, you will get a grace period of 7 days. After 37 days, your credit card will be closed by your issuer if you don’t activate it through an OTP-based process. Thus, if you do not activate your credit card, within the required time period, the issued credit card will be closed. |
Will closing an inactive credit card affect your credit score?
As we have mentioned above that you are required to activate your credit card within 37 days of card issuance, including a grace period of 7 days. If you do not activate your card, your credit card will be closed by your issuer and you cannot use it for any kind of transactions. Therefore, even if your card comes with an annual fee, you do not have to pay it as your account will be closed. Hence, closing your inactive credit cards will not harm your credit score as no charges will be levied on it.
Fees and charges on your inactive credit card
You would be annoyed at the thought of paying fees on a card you have never used. If you do not activate your credit card within 37 days, then your credit card will be closed by your card issuer. Hence, there will be no fees and charges applicable to your card. So, you don’t have to worry about paying the charges even if you are not using your card.
How to activate your credit card?
The procedure for card activation may differ from one card issuer to another. You are required to activate your credit card through an OTP-based process which will allow you to use your card for online as well as offline transactions. Here are ways to activate top credit cards by popular banks:
| HDFC Credit Card Activation | SBI Credit Card Activation |
| Axis Credit Card Activation | ICICI Credit Card Activation |
| Kotak Credit Card Activation | RBL Credit Card Activation |
34 Comments
I am no more using credit card from 90 days
But bank sending me annual fees
It will impact on my cibil?
Once the credit card is activated after its issuance, the bank will charge annual fee, even if you do not use the card. Also, if you are charged with an annual fee and do not pay it within the due date, then it will start accruing finance charges which will add up and lead to debt. This will also negatively impact your CIBIL score. However, if you do not want to continue using the card, then you must request the bank to close that credit card account.
Hi
i have receieved a different Standard chartered bank credit card than the one they explained and i have never activated the card.
But every month im getting the statement .
Kindly help
If you have not activated your credit card then you should not be charged for it either. You may contact Standard Chartered credit card customer care and inquire about the same.
I’ve received SBI Elite credit card as an auto upgrade to PULSE card, but not opened the envelope as I don’t want to use it. The activation fee for the same is Rs 5000+taxes, will I have to pay this amount if I don’t activate my card
If you do not activate your credit card, then as per RBI rules, the issuer cannot charge you with any joining/annual fee. However, if you have upgraded your card to SBI ELITE and there were any dues remaining on the previously owned SBI PULSE card, then you will have to clear those even if you don’t activate the new card variant.
I had a credit card delivered to me and I have not activated it and I don’t plan to. Should I close it myself or wait for the issuer to auto-close it after 30 days? In which case will me credit score not get affected?
As per the RBI guidelines, if you do not activate your credit card within the first 30 days of card issuance, then the card-issuer would contact you for an OTP based activation. On not receiving your consent and OTP for the same, the issuer will close your credit card account within 7 working days from the date on which they attempted to get activation confirmation. Also, the card issuer cannot share your credit details to the credit information companies before the credit card activation is completed, so this would not impact your credit score.
Hi,
I just received a Yes bank credit card but now I do not want it . It has Rs 399 as joining charge (can be waived off by spending ₹10000). Will I be charged if I don’t activate the card at all? (Considering the bank would close the card after 37 days)
No, if you do not activate your credit card then the bank will not charge you with the card joining fee. As per the latest RBI rules, if the card is not activated within the first 30 days of card issuance, the issuer asks the customer for consent to OTP based activation and if you deny it then your credit card account will be closed free of cost within the next 7 working days.