#How to Know If Your Credit Card Still Active

By LaToya Irby. Credit/Debt Management Expert

Welcome to About.com s Credit/Debt Management site, led by your guide, LaToya Irby. LaToya has been the credit and debt management guide since 2007. Read more

Credit cards can become inactive for several reasons. If you haven’t used your credit card in several months, or years even, the credit card issuer may deactivate your credit card. Or, if you’ve fallen behind on your payments, your purchasing privileges may be suspended. Your credit card may have expired and you haven t received a new one.

Call Customer Service

Call the number on the back of your credit card to contact customer service and the customer service representative will be able to give you the status of your account.

Try to Use It

If, for some reason, you don’t want to call customer service, you can test your credit card’s status by using it to make a purchase. A declined card would be a sign that your card is no longer active. However, it’s wise to carry a backup payment method in your wallet just in case your suspicions about an inactive credit card are true.

What if you lost or misplaced the credit card a long time ago and you don t remember the credit card number? You can get the card issuer’s number from their website and give them your social security number to locate your account. (Make sure you re at the correct website before giving out your personal information.) The card issuer can send you a replacement credit card if your account is still active.