Credit card reanimation

August 5, 2006 12:48 PM

I have a Mastercard account that I never ended up using, and in fact destroyed the card. I don't even remember who issued the card. Is it possible to retrieve the info needed to use it?
posted by squidlarkin to work & money (5 comments total)

How long has it been?

The account is likely on your credit report (which you can obtain for free, once a year, here, or for money at various places such as here). It might not have the full account number, but it will have the relevant bank. Then you can call the bank. They can find the account.

If the account is still open, just tell them you never got the card, and have them mail a new one. If closed, they can probably reopen it if it's been closed for less than six months or a year (depending on the bank). If it's been longer, then you probably have to apply for a new card.
posted by raf at 12:53 PM on August 5, 2006

I second raf's idea. It will be right there in your credit report, and you can also see how your score is.
posted by hodyoaten at 1:30 PM on August 5, 2006

Has it been a few years? Most credit cards reissue a card every couple of years. Do you live at the same address as you did when the card was issued? If not, this could also be an issue. (In case it's been a few years and they reissued a card because of the other one had expired).

Get a credit report, and use that to track the company down.
posted by 6:1 at 2:10 PM on August 5, 2006

Don't you get a *statement* every month? I would expect you might, even if you're not charging anything...
posted by baylink at 1:27 PM on August 6, 2006

baylink: I don't get statements for cards I didn't use in the preceeding month.

(dupe) answer: it's on your credit report.
posted by devbrain at 8:24 AM on August 7, 2006