What happens if you open a store credit card and never use it?

Ugh, tell me about it! It’s so frustrating! I did the exact same thing with a Macy’s card a few years back. Thought I’d get a discount, use it for Christmas shopping, you know the drill. Then, life happened. Totally spaced on it. Didn’t even remember I had the thing until I was cleaning out a drawer and found the little plastic menace. So, naturally, I freaked out. Like, what happens now? Does it just sit there gathering dust on my credit report? Will they just… decide they don’t like me anymore and slam the door on my account?

It’s so weird, right? You’d think not using a credit card would be a good thing. Like, hey, I’m being responsible! Look at me, all adult and not racking up debt! But noooo, apparently that can also be bad. I remember reading somewhere – maybe it was a NerdWallet article? – that having a store card closed can ding your credit score because it lowers your overall available credit. Which, let’s be real, makes absolutely no sense to me. Why am I being penalized when I didn’t even use the card?! Shouldn’t they be the ones with the issue if they’re not making any money off of me? It’s like being punished for being… what? Frugal? Prepared? I don’t even know anymore! It’s just a big, confusing mess. Hopefully, someone sees this and can offer some reassurance… because I’m still low-key stressed about that Macy’s card. Even though it’s been years!