Will closing a charge card (Amex) hurt my FICO score?

[Anonymous]

I have two Amex cards:  one from 1989 and one from 2005.  I want to close the 2005 card because the annual fee is $160 and I can simply use the older card.  I don't believe there is a credit limit so I am thinking that the utilization calculation won't change.  Also, my credit history length should be the same since I have several cards that pre-date the 2005 card. Does this thinking make sense?  I would hate to pay $160 for an unused card just because I am afraid of a FICO score decrease.  Thank you.

[Wolf3]

It should not  hurt, drop the card.

[MarineVietVet]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I have two Amex cards:  one from 1989 and one from 2005.  I want to close the 2005 card because the annual fee is $160 and I can simply use the older card.  I don't believe there is a credit limit so I am thinking that the utilization calculation won't change.  Also, my credit history length should be the same since I have several cards that pre-date the 2005 card. Does this thinking make sense?  I would hate to pay $160 for an unused card just because I am afraid of a FICO score decrease.  Thank you.

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Welcome to the forums.

I agree that it shouldn't affect you at all but you need to read Closing Credit Cards to get a better picture of just how all that works.

From a BK years ago to:
EX - 9/09 pulled by lender 802
EQ - 7/06-663, 3/10-800
TU - 8/10-772
You can do the same thing with hard work

[score_building]

may as well call amex to backdate the '05 card to '89 before closing.

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@Anonymous wrote:

I have two Amex cards:  one from 1989 and one from 2005.  I want to close the 2005 card because the annual fee is $160 and I can simply use the older card.  I don't believe there is a credit limit so I am thinking that the utilization calculation won't change.  Also, my credit history length should be the same since I have several cards that pre-date the 2005 card. Does this thinking make sense?  I would hate to pay $160 for an unused card just because I am afraid of a FICO score decrease.  Thank you.

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