@Anonymous wrote:I have the following CC's:
@card#1 - opened 1991: $28k balance (24k at 0% for a yr and 4k @5%). rate 7.90% fixed, limit $30k
Card#2 - opened 2001: $0 balance. rate 7.99% fixed. limit $23k
Card#3 - opened 2007: $0 balance (just paid off this mo). rate 8.99% fixed. limit $21k
EDIT TO ADD: forgot card #4:
Card#4 - opened 2003?: $0 balance (paid off since May08). rate 7.9 fixed. limit $15k
Should I close one of the unused cards? Was thinking to close #3, but not sure if increasing my debt ratio would outweigh the benefit of one less acct as well as possible increase in average age. Any help would be appreciated, thanks in advance
Welcome to the forums, BigAl! 
While your overall util across the 4 cards isn't too bad at ~32%, FICO scoring also takes into account the utilization on individual tradelines as well, and that one card being at ~93% util is certainly hurting your scores, and it may also scare your other creditors into rate-jacking you, lowering your credit limits, or closing your accounts with them (if you've had that card that high for a while and nobody's said 'boo' about it, then you may be okay a while longer).
From a money standpoint only, just paying that 28K down steadily within the0% window is best, but from a scoring standpoint, having 93% util on a card could be deadly.
Definitely DO NOT close any of these accounts until you get that $28K paid way down or paid in full, and even then, be sure to read this thread about Closing Credit Cards The Right Way http://ficoforums.myfico.com/fico/board/message?board.id=creditcard&thread.id=117125&jump=true before you act.
Also, please read Credit Scoring 101, found here http://ficoforums.myfico.com/fico/board/message?board.id=ficoscoring&thread.id=29793. It's loaded with great info.
Conventional wisdom on here is that one generally doesn't have to sweat FICO scores too much unless in the run-up to buying a house or some other major purchase, but the current economic climate HAS seen - and will continue to see - creditors lowering limits, raising APR's, etc., if a customer's behavior with ANY accounts makes them nervous, so think long and hard about whether you need to focus on the money angle by sticking with the 0% card on all of that 28K despite the negative score effects, or need to do more for your FICO scores and overall credit picture as seen from all your creditors' point of view by moving some of that off to the other cards to get rid of that individual super-high util.
Hope this helps! Good luck.
Edited by llecs to fix the CS101 link
Great info, thanks!