How To Activate a New Credit Card
What is Credit Card?
A credit card is a payment card, usually issued by a bank, allowing its users to purchase goods or services or withdraw cash on credit. Using the card thus accrues debt that has to be repaid later. Credit cards are one of the most widely used forms of payment across the world.
How To Activate a New Credit Card
Activating a new credit card can be done with a simple phone call. Typically, a sticker on the front of your new card will feature a phone number to call. You may be required to speak to a representative or the phone activation process may involve an automated phone tree.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I activate my new card?
New debit cards often have a sticker on the front that provides you with a number to call to activate the card. If your card doesn’t have this, call the customer service number provided on the back of the card. Follow the prompts to enter the required information.
How do I activate my first credit card?
If you prefer to activate your credit card via phone, call the number on the activation sticker attached to your card — or, if the credit card issuer doesn’t provide a separate activation phone number, call the number on the back of your card.
How do I know if my new credit card is activated?
Call customer service: You can call the phone number on the back of your credit card to reach customer service. You’ll be able to check the status of your card and, if it is deactivated, you can ask about reactivation. Make a purchase: Another way to check if a card is active is to try and use it to make a purchase.
Do credit cards activate immediately?
How Long After I Activate My Credit Card Do I Have to Wait Before Using It? In most cases, after a new credit card has been activated it will be ready to use for purchases immediately.
How long does it take for credit cards to activate?
Activation is generally the same no matter which credit card you have and only takes a few minutes. Instant credit cards—which some card issuers provide for use before your physical credit card arrives—have some slightly different steps but they’re fairly straightforward to figure out.
What happens if new credit card is not activated?
If you do not activate your credit card within 37 days, then your credit card will be closed by your card issuer. Hence, there will be no fees and charges applicable to your card. So, you don’t have to worry about paying the charges even if you are not using your card.
How can I activate my credit card without calling?
Activating credit cards online is a convenient option that doesn’t require dialing any numbers or listening to any automated menus. Some card issuers allow you to complete card activation through a mobile app. Other credit card issuers have online banking options to easily activate your credit card online.
How do I activate my new credit card through ATM?
To protect the credit card’s security and to ensure that the PIN is being issued to the right customer, the ATM will ask for details such as the account number, registered mobile number and date of birth of cardholder. A one-time password is sent to your registered mobile number. Enter the OTP in the machine.
Can I activate my credit card by swiping it?
It is not the same for all credit cards. Thus, it is very important that you follow the card-specific instructions that you receive when you get your credit card. Some banks may require you to activate the card online, and some might require you to visit an ATM and get the card activated by swiping it.
What happens when you activate a new credit card?
A credit card account opens from the moment of approval, not activation; activation lets the issuer know that the rightful card owner received the card. If a card has an annual fee, that charge will be on the billing statement regardless of whether you activate the card.