closing store cc help and advice please

[odd_dog]

serioulsy i have way too many credit cards and really want to cut down...do not want my score to suffer but the ones I want to close are relatively new and my CC age on my score is taking a hit...would like to close my "bowflex" Bob's furniture store and sleepys cc accounts, I got them for the interest free and all paid off will not buy again for many years. Would deleting these help or hurt my credit? I just think killing them would bring up my "age" score...but you all know better than me....HELP! thanks.....

[dodfire]

It will not hurt your score or your AAoA...it will only decrease your UTL if you are the type to carry balances. So, go for it...!!

[odd_dog]

awesome, my util is only 4% and that is with a 0% apr with 8 months left so cool with that....THANKS! dodfire

[Kwyjibo]

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@odd_dog wrote:

 I just think killing them would bring up my "age" score...but you all know better than me....HELP! thanks.....

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I was under the impression that closing accounts won't affect your AAoA at all, until they drop off of your reports ~10 from closing date. Unless I'm mistaken, age of all accounts, open and closed, are factored.

[odd_dog]

this is where I get confused Kwyjibo, I have heard that here too, BUT I closed a WF card (just dislike that bank so closed the card) and in checking Credit Karma today, it said I have one closed card, my score actually went up 3 points and my age of accounts went from a D to a C (grade wise)

Now new to all this credit stuff but was guessing that was cause and effect??

(the WF card was only a little over a year old) so that is why I was wondering about getting rid of the useless store cards, thinking it will help my score by droping them? 

[jamesdwi]

Please read the "Closing Credit Cards Thread" it is stickied in this forum for a reason its very good and covers all these details.

[7PM789]

If they don't have annual fees I would either sd or shred them and allow the card issuers to close them for inactivity this way your utilization stays low, and you can milk them for the lasting effect on your aaoa.

I don't see how that could hurt.

[dodfire]

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@odd_dog wrote:

this is where I get confused Kwyjibo, I have heard that here too, BUT I closed a WF card (just dislike that bank so closed the card) and in checking Credit Karma today, it said I have one closed card, my score actually went up 3 points and my age of accounts went from a D to a C (grade wise)

Now new to all this credit stuff but was guessing that was cause and effect??

(the WF card was only a little over a year old) so that is why I was wondering about getting rid of the useless store cards, thinking it will help my score by droping them? 

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You cannot rely on what you are pulling from Credit Karma for your score it is not a FICO score.

[odd_dog]

thank you all, this is most helpful!