Occasionally there are consumes who have credit cards in their name they have misplaced and forgotten before the card was ever activated. So what do those unactivated cards mean for your credit score?
Well, first we need to define unactivated. An unactivated credit card means your received it in the mail but did not go online or call to confirm you have the card in your possession. This means the card has not been used nor is it available to be used for any reason. Inactive cards mean you do not use them often but they have been properly activated for service. Inactive cards are reported to your credit report.
Whether or not an unactivated credit card affects your credit depends on whether or not the card account has already been reported to the credit bureaus. Once the card account has been reported, the card will indeed affect your credit, whether its active or activated. If you come across a lost card that you do not wish to keep open, you have the right to close the account. However, you need to keep in mind that the closure could have a negative impact on your credit rating. There is a possibility that you might be able to cancel the card before the information can be reported to the credit agencies, usually before one billing cycle in completed.
If you have a credit card that you did not apply for, you should immediately request a copy of your credit report and see if the account is being reported. Do not activate the card. If you did not apply for the account, this could be a big red flag of fraud. Go over your entire credit report and contest any information that is not familiar to you.
Unactivated credit cards can have an impact on your credit. Do yourself a favor and keep good track of what credit cards you have applied for and which you have received. It is very important that you stay organized and know what is going on with your credit report at all times.
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