Best Buy MC - I have an account that I got in June 08 with a CL of $450, it was increased to $550 in January. I applied for the regular BB card and they gave me another MC with a $500 limit. I called to combine the 2 accounts to get 1 $1050 CL and they had me fill out a paper to update my info and I had to send it back. I called to check on the status and the woman said that the consolidation was denied. She said I would get a letter in the mail. Has anyone had this happen when trying to combine 2 Best Buy MC accounts? The supervisor did not know why it was not combined either. I really don't want 2 of the same account, but I do not want to cancel it either since I took the hit for the inquiry. Let me know if anyone has ever had this happen. HSBC is weird at times!

Pending charges, I wish Chase would do away with this pracitce, I didnt know that BofA was like that with pending. I have no problem with gas purchases holding but it gets annoying seeing $300 for example in the pending and it doesnt break it down to what that amount it spent for until it comes over to the main transaction charges and then you see who the transaction was for. I have asked Chase about this and they dont even seem to know why they do this.

I use all my cards at least once a month to avoid it.

how long does it take for a credit card company to close your account due to inactiveness?

I agree with ColoNative, I know Target will and others have followed their lead. The actual timeframe, I don't know either, but I've been reading that more creditors have been closing inactive accounts lately and refusing to reopen them without a hard pull or new application.

how long does it take for a credit card company to close your account due to inactiveness?

Depends on each creditor. Some after 1 year others 2 years. With the economy the way it is now though, I wouldn't be surprised if they start to shut things down in 6 months as an excuse to prevent further losses-imagined or real.

Best advise is to use all of your cards on a rolling pattern. Some might suggest every two to three months.

how long does it take for a credit card company to close your account due to inactiveness?

I agree with ColoNative and I don't mind BoA withdrawing the funds the same day I make the payment because I want funds to available on my card ASAP because you never know how much you will need the next day.

I pay my BOA card through their Bill Pay feature and the funds are available the next business day.

Me too, it is really fast. Another thing I like about BofA is that they show the pending purchases the same day you make them. With other creditors you can see that your availlable credit line has decreased but you have to wait days to see them online.

But Mr. Bear, this does seem to be a good solution to your question. You kill two birds with one stone; you make BofA happy by using your card (which should show you some love when you get a credit line increase) and by paying right away your account reports to the bureaus as active, but with good utilization.

I've done it that way in the past too, but I just prefer the other, because it withdraws the money from my account immediately.

I pay my BOA card through their Bill Pay feature and the funds are available the next business day.

I agree with ColoNative mrbear and that's exactly what I try to do with my BOA card. Sometimes I take it all the way to the limit, but as soon as the charges post to the account, I make a payment, which is really simple especially if you have a checking account with them. I just select the transfer button, located at the top of the webpage, select the account I want to transfer the money from (checking) then select the account I want to transfer to (credit card) and, enter the amount I want to transfer, press the transfer funds button and that's basically it, they'll ask you to confirm your request, and you're all done. The funds are immediately debited from your checking and they usually make the funds available on your credit card within two business days. I find this method of paying to be the best for me and the only way I found out about it was through a representative I'd become friendly with.

once you get to $150 pay the card in full even if before your account cycles. This way, you are making BofA happy by using the card but on your bureau you are only showing as using 50% (really should keep it at or under 30%) of your utilization.

Cool, thxz ColoNative
Gonna deposit $200 tomorrow, will just use that to increase credit limit to $500 (so 30% will be $150). Hopefully will increase credit limit to $1,000 in the spring.

finally went through this 50 page thread with search but didn't find my answer. Sorry if there's another thread about this.

I'm a total noob, got my 1st credit card and 1st statement (BofA Secured w/ $300 credit limit). I hear people talking about low util and available credit and stuff. I put on like $100-$200 on the card each month (limit $300) and i pay in full the day after the billing cycle statement is avaliable online. Should I charge less on the card or is what i'm doing ok?

So this is your only credit card? BofA will like to see a lot of usage. My advice would be to continue using the card a lot; but sign up for online payments and once you get to $150 pay the card in full even if before your account cycles. This way, you are making BofA happy by using the card but on your bureau you are only showing as using 50% (really should keep it at or under 30%) of your utilization. Within a few months BofA will likely make your card unsecured and will likely increase your credit line so you shouldn't have to worry about this soon.
Now, this really only works if BofA reports to the bureaus on your cycle date. Citi reports your account on your cycle date, but other creditors report at the begining of the month, some in the middle and other towards the end. So for my advice to work we will need someone to answer when BofA reports to the bureaus.

I wouldn't go for any Amex right now. They are handing out F/R's, CLD's and putting caps on charge cards like it is candy. Even if you are never late with them or you PIF. It's not a good company to do buisness with right now. I am watching to see what happens in the next year or so to see what is going on with the credit climate.

Honestly, I wouldn't go for any new credit cards right now. Just sit tight and hopefully things will improve by late year or early next year.

finally went through this 50 page thread with search but didn't find my answer. Sorry if there's another thread about this.

I'm a total noob, got my 1st credit card and 1st statement (BofA Secured w/ $300 credit limit). I hear people talking about low util and available credit and stuff. I put on like $100-$200 on the card each month (limit $300) and i pay in full the day after the billing cycle statement is avaliable online. Should I charge less on the card or is what i'm doing ok? (I charge 1-2 of parents bills on my CC and get the $$ from them so i know i can pay off each cycle)

Thanks in advance.