Should I let my Amazon Prime card expire? Using Amazon Prime Chase Visa

[RunningBum]

I got an email this morning that my Amazon Store card will be closed if I don't use it by May 1. I opened that card in 2015, and switched to the Prime Visa in 2023. Should I just let it close, or make a purchase in the next month to keep it active?

I know I might take a credit score ding for closing an old card. My other revolving credit cards were opened in 2009, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2017 and 2021 so it's not the oldest, and maybe having one less card open will help? And I don't think I care about a minor hit, anyway. My FICO score has hovered around 800.

One reason to keep might be if my Amazon Visa is compromised. I could switch to the store card until I get a new prime visa. But one less account open is a step toward simplification, for me and my eventual executor.

Opinions? Any others facing this since switching to the Visa?

 

[Koolau]

It sounds like you've explored the reasons to keep or let lapse. I think I'd keep it if just for a back up, but it wouldn't bother me if it lapsed. (How's that for definitive!?)

 

[Walt34]

I have one of my older credit cards I use about twice a year just so they know I'm still alive. But it's the last one that doesn't have any rewards to it so unless they "get with the program" it'll be limited to use for renewing the truck and car registrations.

 

[braumeister]

The Prime Visa is a good card, better than that old store card. I believe in simplifying where it's useful, and it shouldn't make any substantial change to your credit. If it does, it will be very temporary. So I would close it.

 

[audreyh1]

I never worry about letting unused credit cards expire - good riddance. I switched to the Amazon Store card many years ago (for a while it had better cash rewards) and let our Amazon Chase Visas expire. We each had one.

 

[CaptTom]

My Amazon Chase Visa only gives me 3% cash back at Amazon. The Store Card gives me 5%, so well worth keeping. The Amazon Chase gives me 0% foreign transaction fees, so that's a keeper, too.

But, it's good to do a review and drop a card every now and then. It sounds like it might be time for the OP to consider whether the Store Card is worth it any more.

 

[badatmath]

I'd close it but I seem to remember store cards are counted differently in your score than "regular" cards. Like they like it if you have more "types" of credit I think.

 

[audreyh1]

My Amazon Chase Visa only gives me 3% cash back at Amazon. The Store Card gives me 5%, so well worth keeping. The Amazon Chase gives me 0% foreign transaction fees, so that's a keeper, too.

But, it's good to do a review and drop a card every now and then. It sounds like it might be time for the OP to consider whether the Store Card is worth it any more.

I’m believe many years ago Chase matched the Amazon Store Card 5% rewards for Prime Members. But we had already stopped using our Chase Amazon cards by then as we had better rewards on others.

 

[RunningBum]

Chase gives 5% back for their Amazon Visa, same as the Store Card.
Maybe I'll keep the store card just in case chase shuts down that Visa or drops the reward %.