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.
Closing a credit card account can negatively impact your credit, though how much it hurts your score depends on your credit history. Factors like how many other accounts you have open, how long you've had the accounts and the balances can all play a role.
The good news is that closed accounts in good standing stay on your credit reports for 10 years, so the length of your credit history won't be negatively affected for a decade unless you decide to open a new credit card account (which will then reduce your average age of accounts).
It's better to leave it open and let the company close it. If it is one of your oldest credit card it might be beneficial to keep it open since that helps your credit age.
In most cases, however, it's best to keep unused credit cards open so you benefit from longer credit history and lower credit utilization (as a result of more available credit). You can use the card for occasional small purchases or recurring payments to keep it active as opposed to using it regularly.
The short answer is yes. A credit card issuer has the right to close your credit card if you don't use it. Unfortunately, closing an account can have an adverse effect on your credit score.
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.
There's no such thing as “too long” to keep a credit card. If you're happy with your card and getting a lot of value out of the rewards, there's no harm in sticking with it. Likewise, if you've stopped using a card and it doesn't charge an annual fee, in most cases it's preferable to keep the account open.
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.
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.
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.
If you close out your credit card, you're left with just two installment loans on your credit report. Without the credit card account, you don't have a mix of credit. It won't be much of a drop to your score, but if you're on the bubble between fair and good credit, a few points really do matter.
Owning more than two or three credit cards can become unmanageable for many people. However, your credit needs and financial situation are unique, so there's no hard and fast rule about how many credit cards are too many. The important thing is to make sure that you use your credit cards responsibly.
Closing a credit card with a zero balance may increase your credit utilization ratio and potentially drop your credit score. In certain scenarios, it may make sense to keep open a credit card with no balance. Other times, it may be better to close the credit card for your financial well-being.
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.
Making on-time payments to creditors, keeping your credit utilization low, having a long credit history, maintaining a good mix of credit types, and occasionally applying for new credit lines are the factors that can get you into the 800 credit score club.
Your credit utilization ratio goes up
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.
Here's what can happen when you close an inactive card. It may lower your total available credit. This might seem obvious, but closing an account takes away some of your total available credit. And that can have the unintended consequences of lowering your credit score.
There are some differences around how the various data elements on a credit report factor into the score calculations. Although credit scoring models vary, generally, credit scores from 660 to 724 are considered good; 725 to 759 are considered very good; and 760 and up are considered excellent.
Closing a personal line of credit can harm your credit score, primarily by affecting your credit utilization ratio. When you close a line of credit, you reduce your overall available credit, which can also impact the length of your credit history.
If you don't use your credit card, the card issuer may close your account. You are also more susceptible to fraud if you aren't vigilant about checking up on the inactive card, and fraudulent charges can affect your credit rating and finances.
How long do closed accounts stay on your credit report? Negative information typically falls off your credit report 7 years after the original date of delinquency, whereas closed accounts in good standing usually fall off your account after 10 years.
A 700 credit score is considered a good score on the most common credit score range, which runs from 300 to 850. How does your score compare with others? You're within the good credit score range, which runs from 690 to 719.