While closing an account may seem like a good idea, it could negatively affect your credit score. You can limit the damage of a closed account by paying off the balance. This can help even if you have to do so over time. Any account in good standing is better than one which isn't.
If you close a credit card with a balance, you'll still be responsible for paying the remaining balance, any interest incurred and any monthly or annual fees. You'll get your security deposit back when you close a secured credit card.
The closure of a credit card or credit cards in and of itself has no impact on a credit score. The only exception to that is if you close ALL of your credit cards and move to a credit profile without any available revolving credit.
It's generally recommended to pay off any outstanding balances, even on closed accounts, to avoid negative consequences on your credit score and overall financial health.
A closed credit card or loan that was in good standing when it was closed will stay in your credit file for 10 years. In other words, you were current on your payments and either paid off the loan or the credit card was closed and you paid the balance.
Paying off collections could increase scores from the latest credit scoring models, but if your lender uses an older version, your score might not change. Regardless of whether it will raise your score quickly, paying off collection accounts is usually a good idea.
While closing a credit card can affect your credit scores, it's hard to say by how much. That's because there are other factors—such as the length of your credit history and whether you have a record of making payments on time—that also play a role in your scores.
Closing an account also does not mean you no longer owe the balance, though a card issuer may transfer a past-due account to a collection agency.
Keeping a low credit utilization ratio is good, but having too many credit cards with zero balance may negatively impact your credit score. If your credit cards have zero balance for several years due to inactivity, your credit card issuer might stop sending account updates to credit bureaus.
By closing a credit card account with zero balance, you're removing all of that card's available balance from the ratio, in turn, increasing your utilization percentage. The higher your balance-to-limit ratio, the more it can hurt your credit.
It may be possible to reopen a closed credit card. In general, it's more likely to be an option if the card was closed for a minor reason, such as an inactivity, or if you closed it yourself. If your card was closed due to missed payments, on the other hand, your lender may not be willing to reinstate it.
Carrying a balance does not help your credit score, so it's always best to pay your balance in full each month. The impact of not paying in full each month depends on how large of a balance you're carrying compared to your credit limit.
If you still have a balance when you close your account, you are required to pay off any balance on schedule. The card company is allowed to charge interest on the amount you still owe. Your cardholder agreement may give you any other details on how to close your account.
There is no fixed amount of points that your score will drop by. The impact of closing an account depends in large part on how many other credit card accounts you have open, and what the balances and limits on those cards are.
Most negative items should automatically fall off your credit reports seven years from the date of your first missed payment, at which point your credit score may start rising. But if you are otherwise using credit responsibly, your score may rebound to its starting point within three months to six years.
Closing a credit card can hurt your credit, especially if it's a card you've had for years. An account closure can cause a temporary hit to your credit by increasing your credit utilization, lowering your average age of accounts and possibly limiting your credit mix.
When you close a credit card and you still owe a balance, the debt you owe doesn't go away. The card agreement still applies, and you are still legally responsible for repayment.
While it makes sense that a credit report would include all active accounts, many people are surprised to see that it also includes accounts that have been closed for years. If you've made all your payments on time, these accounts aren't hurting anything — they may even improve your credit.
If you pay off all your credit card accounts (not just the one you're canceling) to $0 before canceling your card, you can avoid a decrease in your credit score. Typically, leaving your credit card accounts open is the best option, even if you're not using them.
Key takeaways
If you don't use your card, your credit card issuer may lower your credit limit or close your account due to inactivity. Closing a credit card account can affect your credit scores by decreasing your available credit and increasing your credit utilization ratio.
Card issuers pull your credit report when you apply for a new credit card because they want to see how much of a risk you pose before lending you a line of credit. This credit check is called a hard inquiry, or "hard pull," and temporarily lowers your credit score a few points.
If you continue not to pay, you'll hurt your credit score and you risk losing your property or having your wages or bank account garnished.
For instance, if you've managed to achieve a commendable score of 700, brace yourself. The introduction of just one debt collection entry can plummet your score by over 100 points. Conversely, for those with already lower scores, the drop might be less pronounced but still significant.
Repay the debt
If you can repay the full amount of debt, that's most likely the best option. You'll be able to stop persistent debt collectors, and your credit score won't continue to fall from nonpayment. Get the agreement in writing and keep proof that you've paid it off.