Vanquis - keep it ticking over.

williewonder

I have an Vanquis credit card which I hardly use. Only for emergencies. I set up for 79p to be taken out by direct debit every month for my Apple Cloud. Do you think this transaction would keep the account ticking over for some months until the time I get around to using the account? I only have the account to improve my credit score. Never been overdrawn or missed a payment. 

[Deleted User]

It will prevent your account going dormant.

But don't use it to manipulate your credit score. Look to build some decent history to impress lenders, not CRAs. Use your cards for all your regular spend and clear each in full each month.

williewonder

Deleted_User said:

It will prevent your account going dormant.

But don't use it to manipulate your credit score. Look to build some decent history to impress lenders, not CRAs. Use your cards for all your regular spend and clear each in full each month.

I will be using my new Post Office (Capital One) credit card for everyday spends, even though this is lower amount, the card has extra benefits like freezing card on app and its vanity I don't like the look of the Vanquis card.

JamesPeter

williewonder said:

I have an Vanquis credit card which I hardly use. Only for emergencies. I set up for 79p to be taken out by direct debit every month for my Apple Cloud. Do you think this transaction would keep the account ticking over for some months until the time I get around to using the account? I only have the account to improve my credit score. Never been overdrawn or missed a payment. 

I did exactly that with the 79p Apple Cloud payment on my Natwest credit card. It was the only transaction on the card.

However, as the statement balance was so small, it was written off by Natwest as a 'trivial balance' and my credit reports on Experian/Equifax and Noddle all showed a nil balance as if I hadn't used the card at all.

If you want to keep it alive, perhaps put the odd more expensive item through the card.

jay1804

You may get minimum payment markers on your credit report. As the balance is below the minimum payment. This can be seen negatively by lenders. Try to put spend above the minimum payment threshold and obviously pay in full.