What Happens to My Credit Score If I Close a Card Account?

Your credit scores can be compared to your highyour credit history.
school GPA and your credit reports can be comparedSometimes your credit card company may start
to your high school transcripts. Keep on reading to findcharging an annual fee if you do not use a card, an
out what happens to your credit score if you close ainactivity fee. Your remedy against this is to charge a
card account.tank of gas a month and then pay it off when you get
In many cases it is not a good idea to close your oldthe bill so you do not have to pay any interest
credit card account just because you're not using itcharges. You may also be able to rack up cash
anymore.rewards or rebates as well depending on your card
Your payment history and account length history areoffer.
two important factors in your FICO credit scores.So keep your old card accounts open so you can
When you close an account, you are basically wipingshow potential lenders that you are a good borrower
out your good payment history, shrinking your totaland can handle money well and they will be more likely
available credit, and shortening your credit history whichto approve you with a favorable interest rate. The
can all lower your credit score.older your accounts the better. Just like fine wine, they
You can compare this to erasing your freshman andget better with age. And hopefully some of your high
sophomore years of high school off your transcriptsschool friends do too.
which can lower your overall GPA. Although youNow you should have a better understanding of what
would probably like to erase some of those memorieshappens to your credit score if you close a card
from your mind anyways, you don't want to do it withaccount.