Keeping it live

Costabit

I have a Halifax Clarity card and a Santander Zero card that I only ever use on overseas trips and holidays.
Things being as they are at the moment , I haven't used these cards since Feb and proberably wont use them in the foreseeable future either.
How important is it, for me to use them to keep them live ? 
How often do banks usually require some activity on credit cards ?
Or do they ignore long periods of inactivity ?
What would you do in this case ?
TIA

bradders1983

I mean they are just normal cards, just buy a pint of milk on them next time you go to the shops and pay it off if you are that worried about inactivity, job done.

floppydisk1

I have Halifax Clarity and put one grocery shopping on it every 3 months as this year travelling plans have been somewhat compromised...
Pay  for something , anything ( in shop or online - it does not matter ) ,with it once  every few months - just make sure you have full amount direct debit set, or pay in full manually.  

phillw

if you hook it up to account that gives you money for DD (barclays, coop, rbs, natwest) then you'll be more motivated to use it once a month

PRAISETHESUN

If you don't use them then they may close the accounts, or reduce their limits. I usually just make a purchase every month or two on my cards - groceries, fuel, etc. Not sure how long you could leave it, but I'd rather keep them alive and ticking along so you have them available in case you ever need them

D3xt3r5L4b

Costabit said:

I have a Halifax Clarity card and a Santander Zero card that I only ever use on overseas trips and holidays.
Things being as they are at the moment , I haven't used these cards since Feb and proberably wont use them in the foreseeable future either.
How important is it, for me to use them to keep them live ? 
How often do banks usually require some activity on credit cards ?
Or do they ignore long periods of inactivity ?
What would you do in this case ?
TIA

And don't forget the Direct Debit to pay them will become inactive after 13 months of inactivity if you do decide to start using the card

JES_F1

I've got a Barclaycard that I no longer use but want to keep active so set up an auto top-up of £5 a month to my Amazon account.

Wellard_Mann

The T&C of my Santander Zero card state that they may close my account (by providing two months’ written notice), cancel or suspend my right to use the account or reduce my credit limit if it has been dormant, meaning there have been no transactions or a zero balance for a period of six months or more. Before they do that, they will contact me to determine whether I intend to make any further transactions on the card.

I mostly used it for foreign travel, which isn't happening for me right now. I agree with the suggestions to put the occasional transaction on it. I'm paying a monthly pay TV subscription on mine.

Costabit

D3xt3r5L4b said:

Costabit said:

I have a Halifax Clarity card and a Santander Zero card that I only ever use on overseas trips and holidays.
Things being as they are at the moment , I haven't used these cards since Feb and proberably wont use them in the foreseeable future either.
How important is it, for me to use them to keep them live ? 
How often do banks usually require some activity on credit cards ?
Or do they ignore long periods of inactivity ?
What would you do in this case ?
TIA

And don't forget the Direct Debit to pay them will become inactive after 13 months of inactivity if you do decide to start using the card

Great point.
Didn't think of that, so will now make small regular purchases on each to keep them alive
Thanks all

J_B

JES_F1 said:

I've got a Barclaycard that I no longer use but want to keep active so set up an auto top-up of £5 a month to my Amazon account.

We had a Goldfish card - Google tells me that they were bought out by Barclays in 2008.

I don't really remember, but we didn't use it after the buy out .....  but have now started using it on a regular basis!

Asghar

JES_F1 said:

I've got a Barclaycard that I no longer use but want to keep active so set up an auto top-up of £5 a month to my Amazon account.

Is that the gift card balance?