Credit Card Expiration Dates

[jeffmem]

Can someone tell me why credit card companies are now expiring the cards earlier than year ago? Something about the financial crisis and worrying banks? I used to get four years for each renewal and now it is down to three and sometimes even two. I have a great credit rating and it annoys me greatly that they do this. I am overseas so it makes it difficult to get new cards sometimes.

[disneysteve]

I've actually seen just the opposite in recent years. Cards always used to be good for 2 years, now they are good for 3. The problem is, the cards don't last that long and I usually end up having to call for a replacement card because mine wears out or cracks. I figured they did that to save money.

[zakity]

Mine is good for two years, but I wear mine out in a year usually.

[jeffmem]

I don't use my cards all that much, actually very seldom swiping them, I only use them online, so they are practically still new when they expire. All of my cards used to have a four or even five year expiration, now its like 2-3. Guess it is time to write the credit card company.

[disneysteve]

All of my cards used to have a four or even five year expiration

Strange. What companies? Mine were always 2 years and the past couple were extended to 3, which was a pain as I said because they wear out. I've never had one good for 4 or 5 years.

[jeffmem]

Chase, AMEX, Discover, Capital One, they are all doing it

[HistoryChick]

Mine are all 3 years for expiration. As for the cracking/breaking - maybe that's a "man-I-sit-on-my-wallet-everyday" thing? The only card that didn't physically survive was one I had in college when I carried a wallet most days instead of a purse.

[disneysteve]

Chase, AMEX, Discover, Capital One, they are all doing it

We have 2 Chase cards and they are both good for 3 years. One of them was new this year. I'm positive that the previous ones were also 3 years, so that hasn't changed.

I just checked my Discover card which I got earlier this year and it is good until 2014. I didn't realize it was that long because I hardly ever use it.

I wonder if the time until expiration varies from person to person based on some details of your personal history. Does anyone here know?

[marvholly]

I had 2 cards renew this month and both were renewed for the same period that they were initially issued (3 years) as did a couple others that renewed this year. Issuers were Chase, BOA & Discover.