A small charge that keeps unused cards open
Banks close credit cards that go unused, often after 12 to 24 months and usually without notice. ActiveCred runs a small charge on each card you link, on a schedule you set. Each charge posts like any purchase, so the bank sees the card in use.
- No card number stored. Stripe holds it; ActiveCred keeps a token. How cards are handled
- Every charge reads ACTIVECRED.IT on your statement.
- Cancel in Settings with one click, at any time.
- Not a bank or lender. No promise of any change in a credit score.
Why an unused card matters
A closure removes the card's limit from your available credit. That raises utilization, which counts for 30% of a FICO score, and can cost any unspent rewards.
The fix is free if you do it yourself: buy a coffee with each card every few months, or move a small subscription onto it. ActiveCred is for people with several cards who would rather not track which one is due. The Journal explains every method, including the free ones.
What it costs
Plans are priced by the number of cards and billed once a year. The activity charge comes on top. By default it runs once every three months; once subscribed, you can change the amount and the schedule. Current prices are on the pricing table.
How cards are stored
Card details go straight to Stripe, the payment processor, which returns a token. ActiveCred stores that token and never sees or stores a full card number.
Every activity charge appears on your statement as ACTIVECRED.IT, so it is easy to recognize, and to dispute if it is ever wrong. The security page sets out what is stored and how changes are verified.
Canceling
You can cancel at any time in Settings, with one click. A cancellation within one hour of signing up is refunded in full.
After the first hour, the plan stays active until the end of the year already paid for, and then does not renew. Fees and activity charges already paid are not refunded. The full rules are in the Terms of Service.
Who runs it
ActiveCred is operated by an individual doing business as ActiveCred under an assumed-name filing in the State of Texas. It serves holders of US-issued credit cards only.
It is not a bank, a lender, a credit bureau or a financial adviser, and it does not promise any change in a credit score. The disclaimer sets out what it does not do. The editorial policy explains how the Journal sources its figures.
Questions go through the contact form. The demo shows the dashboard with sample cards and needs no sign-up.