Why does closing a credit card account negatively affect your credit report
Posted By: Why? on 2009-05-31
In Reply to:
Especially when I never use it anyway, and really never wanted it?
With all the bank rearranging going on in the past few months, one of my accounts was tranferred to Bank of America. I was sent new cards and a new agreement, new interest rate etc...
So I called them up and cancelled but before they did, I had to listen to a spiel about how this would negatively affect my credit report.
Huh?? Why is that?
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Credit cards with 0 balance can also negatively affect you -
If you have too much credit line available to you and you apply for a mortgage, they can turn you down because they know you can get your hands on that money quickly and therefore put your debt to income ratio way out of whack and jeopardize your ability to pay your bills. That happened to me once many years ago. I had 2 credit cards with large credit lines, but both had 0 balances. The mortgage company made me close them before they would approve my loan.
Credit Score will hardly be touched by closing them
xx
Have U renogiated credit card debt when minimum payment got too high? Do they take your card away,
s
Credit Card Reform Can Cost Good Card Users
Part of article:
Credit cards have long been a very good deal for people who pay their bills on time and in full. Even as card companies imposed punitive fees and penalties on those late with their payments, the best customers racked up cash-back rewards, frequent-flier miles and other perks in recent years.
Now Congress is moving to limit the penalties on riskier borrowers, who have become a prime source of billions of dollars in fee revenue for the industry. And to make up for lost income, the card companies are going after those people with sterling credit.
We pay off our balance every month. If they do this (punish those who have sterling credit) Ridiculous!! I'll stop using my CC and pay by cash or check.
So much for reform.
they can be put on your credit report...
I know for sure b/c I have one on mine. :(
if it does show up on your credit report sm
You could try to get it removed. Tell the credit agency to remove it because you don't owe the money, that you sent a certified letter within 7 days to cancel this and that legally you don't owe it. Check out the state attorney general's office. If it were me, I would not pay it. If it does end up on your credit report, i don't know if paying it will get it removed.
F.R.E.E. credit report.com baby. LOL.
That guy rapping with his little rice burner is HILARIOUS.. I find myself singing that song in the car.
I don't think medical bills can go on your credit report
Even though they referred you to a collection agency, I don't think medical bills can be reported on credit report.
free credit report.com commercial....it
xx
Credit card (SM)
There was information about credit cards and interest rates going around late last year/early this year. Basically, from what I understand with the new bankruptcy law this was attached to it. The credit card companies can and will charge you and me whatever interest rate they want to, and the only thing we can do is cancel the card and pay off the balance. There were these little inserts with your statements that many of us just throw away and never think about it. But I did read the ones that were sent with several of my statements, and I kindly told them to keep my rate where it was and I canceled the card. Sad but true. 
About my credit card
I owed close to $10,000.00 about 2 months ago on my credit card and called to make sure I sent the right amount as paying it off. After I paid in full, they also sent a "finance charge" for around 35 to 40 dollars. I paid that but have discontinued using that card. I have another card, used during Christmas, interest about half of the other one and getting that paid off before long also, just sent $500.00 towards that yesterday. I on the first had asked for payoff amount but the finance not there when I asked.
credit card
I've not had personal experience, but I know to be wary of some of those companies that advertise. I saw a financial advisor on the Today Show and she said to make sure you go with Consumer Credit Counseling; maybe there's a link on the Today Show website. Good luck!
Pay off our credit card
And with the little we'd have left just put it in the bank
Just got my yearly free credit report this week and -
Every one of my closed accounts from the last couple of years is listed under my positive credit file as having been paid on time/never late/closed by subscriber.
It does still count as good credit.
credit card debt
Not sure what will happen, but I do wish you luck. Credit card debt is an unsecured type of debt. I don't know what more they can do to you other than a judgement. Not sure you can put that under a bankruptcy either once the judgement has been placed. I know a lawyer that handles a lot of bankruptcies -- did some work for him. He always asked his clients if late payments had gone to judgements. If they had not gone that far he was pleased about it. I guess it made things easier legally. Not really sure.
I use my credit card!!!! Priceless!
Actually it was an expired one. Hubby laughed. I use Dawn Power Disolver in the blue bottle. Works wonders. Then IF I have to scrape I have used the credit card of course, but fine metal spatula or a razor, but I use one of those like you scrape paint with that has the handle like an ice scraper.
Did anyone's credit card payment any go up
seems chase is changing policies on their credit card holders. charging 10 service fees if you want to keep your promotional rate. also doubling minimum payments. Didn't they have financial problems in 2008?
The credit card companies are going
to be do everything they can get away with in the next year because of the new rules that will go into effect in 2010. Keep an eye on your interest rates. I have a couple that went up for no apparent reason. I called them immediately. One company lowered my interest rate below what it had previously been. The other did not, and I paid it off and did not use it for a while. They sent me a notice a recently that my credit limit had been increased and the rate had been reduced (back to what it had been previously, of course).
The link below has a synopsis of the new rules that will take effect next year.
Nope. Usually, we use the credit card...
just because it keeps my husband and myself from seeing how much was spent and where until after Christmas (we both frequently check the bank account online). This year, though, the one positive thing about my husband being in Iraq is that I did not go crazy with Christmas like I usually do and I explained to all the extended family that I was not buying much for anyone except my son. Thus, no debt this year, although we always pay it off fairly quickly. I think the highest my credit card has ever been is $700.
Not so much by unknowns but by my own credit card companies,
all foreign people, trying to sell me the credit protection. The last one called me for around 10 days straight (unknown # on the ID)until I finally answered! I told them all to put me on THEIR "do not call list" or I'd cancel the card. Seems to have worked. ;)
To restore credit, get a card that is pre-paid and use that
s
best cash-back credit card?
We've been using the GM card to get new cars for less, but i'm open to a different card that rewards general purchases, food, gas, apparel etc, with cash back. Any recommendations? thanks!
Be very careful about credit card payments
I just paid off my Visa to the tune of over 7,000.00. This was what was posted but did not take into consideration the interest charges put on- I got a bill for $1.50 so I thought ok will send that in, I was a day late- (no excuse, just overlooked) and they had put my interest- get this from a low 10 to 117.16 for that month- now what would happen if I owed a REALLY BIG amount- I would never get that paid- how it worked out was I owe them now $15.59 which I think will pay before time. Just be aware, folks! These folks are ruthless....
credit card debt relief
Does anyone have any experience with those companies claiming to reduce debt by up to 70%, etc. ?? I'm drowning in debt. :(
Credit Card Debt Counseling
http://www.cccsatl.org/index.asp?_method=view&sc=43&cn=486&md=debtmanagement
Here's what you want to use... It is called Consumer Credit Counseling Services. They are legit. Now back when hubs and I did it about 15 years ago, there were no computers, per se, so we went on site to an office. I don't know what state you're in or if there is an office local to you, but it looks like you can do this online.
We did it, completed it, and it was great. However, they cut your credit cards up in front of you and put them in a huge jar (at least they did back then). Once you join, there are no more credit cards. What CCCS does is works with your creditors to reduce interest rates, payment size, etc. because they are networked. You then make one lump payment to CCCS and they disburse the money. They also take into consideration your income. I think that's what makes it all work. Also, this is what tells them how long it will take to pay off the debt. Just beware though that if you are "behind" on payments, sometimes certain creditors do not accept CCCS, so they may hassle you still and some just plain won't accept CCCS's offer.
Believe me, even though we are not late on payments, we had in the past 3 years so much personal stuff go on (sickness, death, etc.) that we have racked up some debt ourselves and may try CCCS again, as one card we have raised the rate to 33% interest because we have a high balance. We make regular payments.
All in all, it's a great plan and it does work, but you no longer have credit cards (they close the accounts), and you will have a "bad mark" but yet a good mark on your credit report for using CCCS. Check with them about that though, as I do not know the specifics. It is way better than bankruptcy...
Hope you find some relief soon! My thoughts are with you... I'm not judgemental because I've been there and done that. 
Credit card Washington Mutual/Providian
Get this, I haven't used my Providian/Washington Mutual credit card in quite awhile. I got the new credit card in the mail to take over for the old one, and I thought I would give the company a call to find out what the interest rate was on it. So after reaching India of course, I asked for someone in the United States, was put on hold for 4 1/2 minutes and then disconnected. So I call back, go through the 15 prompts and get someone from the Phillipines. The interest rate on my card is 31.8% Yep you are reading that correctly - 31.8%.
I am passing this information along because I am livid at the fact that the interest is 31.8% (which, by the way, neither person on the other end of the phone said "let's see what we can do to lower this.), and because TWO countries have this credit card's business and people in the US are working 2-3 jobs to make ends meet. I know this has been an ongoing discussion about offshoring, but I was more angry at the fact that it is 31.8% and that no one offered to lower the rate, even after inquiring about it.
OMG! I worked at a hospital where the ID badge was credit card
Yes, I totally understand! It is easy to get caught up in the moment and you think, oh, it is only a few dollars. Lunch would be more than I really could afford because I'd charge it. And the bargains at the gift shop (yeah, right!!!).
Could you get a loan from a low interest credit card perhaps to pay off the 2500?
credit card debt lawsuit question
If there is anyone out there who has been sued and had a judgment placed for credit card debt....
What happens when you go to court?? I don't own a house and live week to week (part-time IC, not very supportive husband) so they can't get blood from a stone so to speak. But I was wondering if anyone has gone to court and what actually happens.
credit card debt lawsuit question
Anyway you can declare bankruptcy, chpt 7? I am going that route. :(
Do you have a lot of monies owed where bankruptcy is a real possibility?
I'm going through a similar time......talk about stress!!!!!!!
DH paid off credit card. Now I'm paying him back. No
nm
I hope you got her arrested for credit-card theft
*
There is a free version of Efax that does not require a credit card. sm
Are you needing to fax out, in, or both? You didn't clearly state, but said you needed a number. I receive faxes for free through efax, but haven't sent any that way. Never have I given them credit card info. Check out myfax.com.
This happened to me with a credit card, bought a printer and they never charged me for it on my stat
All of a sudden my card was canceled and the amount sent to the collection agency. They said I knew I bought it and should have sent in payments, even though it never appeared on the statement.
Closing an account affects your score because
if you carry balances on other cards, by closing an account you instantly increase the percentage of available credit that you are using. An assessement of the percentage of use is a significant element in your credit score.
If you have other cards with high limits and low or no balances, closing an account will have only a small, probably temporary, effect, unless you are closing the account with the longest history. As another poster mentioned, length of credit history is another significant element of your credit score.
If you have high balances on other cards, leaving open an unused account will make those balances a lower percentage of your available credit, which can boost your credit score. However, in that case, paying down the balances will have a much larger positive effect on your score.
If you are set on closing, do not close the old ones, close a newer account first.
Your credit is based on a mix of things like history, types of accounts, mix of credit (revolving vs installment), usage/utilization of credit available, and payment history. Where closing could hurt your score is the part of the score that averages history of accounts/length of credit. If you decide to close, close out a newer account first.
The best way to protect from ID theft as far as credit is to freeze your credit reports. It's around $10 per agency to freeze them. Each credit reporting agency tries to sell your their own monitoring plan when you get to the how to freeze information, so make
sure you are freezing it.
You can't freeze it over the net they each require a letter by registered mail. It takes about 1 month to freeze it.
Right now you can place a fraud alert on your reports for free. The credit *should* not extend credit or do a credit line increase without calling the phone # on your credit report first. You only need to do it at one credit reporting agency and the other ones will be notfied. The number for equifax fraud alert 1-888-766-0008. It's automated.
If you are concerned about ID theft try one of the monitoring plans. I've tried a few of them and Equifax has the best one. Their Score Watch is great, you set the limits to be notified and any change they send an email literaly the next day. I used it after I discovered ID theft. It might be a waste of money for you. I would place the fraud alerts, then the freeze, and check your reports 2x per year.
I've had ID theft as far as my name/social but what concerns me more than credit ID theft is bank account theft. I don't know how we can fight that. It seems like consumers get the raw end of the deal as far rights when deposit accounts are stolen.
credit
My girlfriend did use the service. It worked great for them. It also put all their payments in one. The only thing is you need to watch what "items" you put under the service because it will keep you from purchasing items for so many years.
credit
I have used Consumer's Credit Counseling Services locally. They were wonderful to me. Put me on a generous budget, put all my bills under one payment (had to cut up all credit cards - which was a blessing and freedom after I got used to it), cut the credit card interests way-way-down or to none, and finally got everything paid. At first there was no charge from them, but later I paid $5 a visit, but I imagine they have surely put a low charge now. They were pretty strict with me (which I needed), but it worked. They were always accessible to talk with, which I really liked too. Also it was nice to refer callers to them, saying, "I am a client of CCCS and they are helping me" and not have to deal with the callers any more. In fact, after they were notified of intent to pay by CCCS they never called again.
Good luck. It meant freedom to me.
credit
I did hear that credit counseling is reported to the credit bureaus, but so are late payments, over-limits, missed payments, etc., etc. so ultimately I don't imagine it could ding your credit score any worse.
credit
I don't know the answer to that. We have only bought cars and a house on credit since then. Be sure to talk to the credit counselor before signing up and find out. They will know.
NO more credit cards
I had a credit card with a high balance. I got a second mortage to pay it off. I called the credit card and got the payoff balance and my bank sent a check to them. I kept watching on line to make sure they got it and when they did I noticed that there was a $95 credit. So, I called and said how do I get my money back. They sent me a check and when I got it, I called and closed the account. This was about two weeks ago. Today I get a statement from them with a balance due of $45! Huh??? I called and they keep telling me it is a finance charge. I got pretty steamed and finally ended up saying that I would pay it, but no more. Well, I wrote out the check and put in in the mailbox, but I'm still stewing about this. If I still owed them money, why did they send me a credit?? What is the finance charge on if I had a credit balance? I suppose I will just pay it because they will only keep tacking on even more charges, but it is really bugging me. Has anyone else had any experience with this??
I will say one thing - NO MORE CREDIT CARDS EVER EVER EVER. REALLY. I mean it this time.
Our credit was very shakey (sm)
when we bought our house 6 years ago and we have now (both husband and I) been ICs in this biz for 11 years. As an IC you are supposed to work for different companies according to the IRS so you could really jam yourself up if you got a letter like that from your current company. Personally - I would refuse and find another mortgage company. I had a very young and inexperienced mortgage person when we refinanced our house through a credit union - it was literally a nightmare - I don't have the time anymore! If you have good credit move on and find someone who appreciates your business
ruined credit????
Went to work for a company about five years ago. The pay was EXCELLENT, however, they paid me "when they got around to it." Now my credit is so terrible I can hardly qualify for a home loan!!! Has anyone else experienced this problem???? Still suffering after having quit four years ago!!!!!
Sorry to say, but you have proven yourself a bad credit
x
Not the only way, my credit just restored on its own
after years of not having as posted below, went and had a clean slate just as if no credit at all in my life, went from bankruptcy to nothing bad about me, nothing! I did learn how to be responsible after that time though, now have excellent credit rating.
Credit for your daughter
As DW stated, federal loans are given to students - have her go to financial aid office/web site of school and see what she needs to do to apply for them.
Does your daughter have a credit card? Yeah, I know, scary thought, but the sooner they can establish good credit, the better off you all are. My son has a card for college students from Citi Bank. He's had it since senior year of high school and I tell him to use it for EVERYTHING. Gas, pizza, books at school, etc. He keeps track (amazingly) and pays the card off every month so he never gets charged interest. His bill is usually for under $50.
He's been having problems with his cell phone, it's already been fixed once, yet the same problem keeps happening. The contract for the phone was up last week which means he could get a new phone for next to nothing provided he renew for another two years. I told him I'd buy him he new phone for a Christmas present. I've been paying his cell bill of $45/month for years. He wanted text messaging added to his plan. I told him I will only pay the $45, he can pay the difference if he wants to text his friends because NWIHAIPFI so he can ask his BFF what time they can meet for lunch when he could just call the dude and leave a message if he isn't there! Well, a two-year commitment with the phone company would bring us to 6 months AFTER he graduates from college and he could be in Madagascar by then for all I know with the cell bill still coming to me. I asked the cell phone company if the contract can go in my son's name. They told me no, because his credit rating as a student wouldn't qualify him. I asked them to check anyway. They did, the woman was shocked, he was approved, and now he has a new contract with text messaging for $10 more and the bill goes to him! I'll deposit $45 in his checking acct every month and he can write the check.
This is partial payback for the night I had to spend in a battleship with 400+ other Cub Scouts and their fathers when my son was little. Hot dogs and beans was the dinner. Need I say more? Bunks stacked 5 high with me on the top bunk and hot air rises. He will owe me for that for many years to come.
I think its credit cards...
The newspaper had an article the day after Christmas how people are defaulting on their credit cards all over the place. This added to the mortgage companies having problems with people unable to pay their balloon payments and the bad housing market, price of gas is sure to lead (the article said) to a recession.
When I was shopping I saw all the people with tons of things in their carts, DVD players, computers, etc. on Christmas eve. This was regular people at Walmart. I saw a lot of credit cards flashed around. Paying minimum payment will cause Christmas to cost tons more and they will be paying beyond the item's life which they purchased.
We went through this. We tried to sell our house, rented to own another and went broke in 3 months. After we had 2 house, fell back on credit cards the interest piled up and it was terrible! We moved back and are on a budget. So, I shopped without credit this year, and you know what? I had more fun. And I have 3 kids. Their things were simpler than the fancy things they got last year. The most expensive things we got were bikes because they are growing and we got those on sale. The rest were creative items. I am not saying that what we did is so great. What I am saying is that peeople are not looking at the big picture these days and if they do not use cash (as we had not in the past), they may not be able to pay their debt if hard times fall. In the meantime, grandpa sent my son 100 bucks, which I let him spend on a train set (I should not have let him do that he is 7) and he cried that his money was all gone and he did not want the train set anymore. I bet if I had him save some of it and had him buy simpler things, well I bet he would not have been crying. At least at age 7 he is learning that money is not easy to come by. And he is learning the hard way because I will not give him more money to replace what he spent. Sorry such a long message. It is just that we did not even afford an XBox, and I wanted a Wii myself, but we avoided all of that because in the end we learned that Christmas is not about credit cards, the junk it buys. I think the end of the cartoon the Grinch where the Who people did not even care about the presents was correct. Maybe we'd be happy with less things and more love. I don't know. This was not meant to be a sermon forgive me. We all have to learn what Christmas means to us and I say let people do what they want, consequences are always result of actions anyway. Just IMO. Happy New Year everyone!
Can't take credit for the idea.
When I was in my late teens I nannied for a very wealthy family who bought a truck load of stuff from a children's hospital as well as made a huge donation and I spent WEEKS handwriting "A donation has been made in your name" to this hospital and then including a sweatshirt, t-shirt, mug or whatever else they bought.
credit counseling
I did use one, but in retrosepct I don't think I would do it again. It ends up lowering your payments or your interest a little, but they also charge you a monthly fee - mine was 35.00. All they basically do is pay your bills for you with what you send them. It takes a good 2-3 months to get set up and working and by that time your bills are even more overdue. I think your best solution is to talk to all your creditors and be disclipined about paying to the exclusion of having a life until you are caught up. I finally got out of the hole, but it was hard and seemed like it would never happen. Good luck to you. You can do it.
which could damage your credit
x
credit debt
Wow thanks for all the good tips.
As this got off the subject and onto other things, I just wanted to say I have heard Al-Anon is excellent for people dealing with alcoholism in a spouse or other loved one. It might be a great place for support for you and your kids. Just a thought.
Credit Check
For several years now almost all employers have been running background and credit checks on all employees before they are hired. It has nothing to do with "your son". It is now common practice. Most likely if he is behind on his child support as soon as he gets a job they will attach his wages for payment. Alot of employers do not want to deal with the paperwork involved with that kind of stuff. The stigma of not paying your bills may soon change with the state of the economy and employers may start taking a different look at it. Did your son go to court and file to get his child support adjusted given his unemployment status? That would have helped him at least not be so far behind and may keep him from wage attachment when he does get a job.
At any rate don't get so upset, it is common practice for employers to do credit and background checks on every employee now (in fact your son probably signed the paperwork authorizing them to do so) and they use the results to make their hiring decisions.
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