Crappy cards after BK discharge

[Mikey]

I have a question concerning three cards I obtained shortly after discharge to start quickly re-establishing my credit.  It's been a little over a year since discharge and I have been able to elevate my scores enough to finally start obtaining CC's with decent rates and no annual fees/monthly maintenance fees.  I have paid off my crappy First Premier, Orchard, and HSBC cards last month.  I now use my better cards (Juniper and CCCU).  My questions are:

1.  Do I keep the crappy cards open, sock drawer them, and keep paying the $6.00 monthly fee and $59 annual fee?  That adds up to roughly $72/year on monthly fees and the $60 annual fee ($130/yr just to keep them open!).  They all have perfect payments and are between 12-18 months old.

2.  Or do I close them and cut them up, sacrificing the good payment history and taking away from my credit length in FICO's scoring model?

Thank you, Mike

[Anonymous]

Okay its only a year since you got them and closing them will not remove them from your CR as long as they are in good standing.  thy will continue to help your score for up to 10 years from closing date.  Why keep paying money on something decorating your socks.  Ditch em.  Just make sure after closing you urtilization would still remain low.

[Mikey]

Thanks, Brammy.  I need to consider how their limits are helping my utilization.  Great response. 

Mike

[Cory]

I would get rid of them as well. Your score would eventually rise after a history of on time payments and CL increases.

Unless you are trying to get a mortgage or something within the next six months. Then maybe you should think a little longer about doing that.

But, seriously I would get rid of them quickly.

Cory