Combining Household Bank/Orchard Credit Cards

[MizzB]

I currently have two low balance cards via HSBC (one Household and one Orchard Bank). I"m considering calling up Household and requesting that the cards be combined into one $1000 card versus two $500.00 cards. Has anyone every tried anything like this with either card. I'd hate to call up and have them cancel my account. My payment hx is good minus a 3 month stint while I was unemployed -- I wish I would have paid for the protection program now. I PIF every month and actively use the cards to pay bills to keep activity on the account. Any thoughts? Is it too risky to ask to have the cards combined? Also, what happens to my AAOA if I combine the card? Does it somehow hurt it?

[Anonymous]

I can tell you a lot of people have done this and majority of people end up having 1 card without the limits combined like you would think you would have. Meaning you want to have 1000 limit ( the 2 put together) I would guess you would get them put together with a 500 limit or something very close to it. In my own research I only found 1 or 2 people who had their limits combined but that was back in 2007. The problem also , I think they show the second card as closed which could hurt your credit score if it was the oldest card you have. I have the form they mailed to me to combine them ( HSBC and Orchardbank) however, I’m reluctant to get my combined limit of 620 turned into 300.   

[Anonymous]

I did combined hsbc and orchard last year and got the $1900 CL