Closed For Non-Use vs. Requested Close

[ficostef]

I have two Capital One cards that they will be closing in October for non-use. No turning back at this point. I could let this occur, or I could request, from my end and prior to this, that the accounts be closed.

From a score standpoint on how the closings are reported, is there any difference or preference.

(I am aware of the other ramifications of loosing these accounts such as utilization, age-of-accounts down the road, etc.)

[Remedios]

No, there is no difference. 

[Anonymous]

Rem is correct that it doesn't matter and scoring is the same either way.  My question though is how do you know the cards are being closed down in October?  Did they contact you saying such?  If so, that's sort of odd that they'd give a 3 months notice and not just close them down now... and if they aren't closing them down immediately and were willing to reach out I don't see why there wouldn't be any turning back, as in you telling them that you'd like to keep them open and use them or whatever.

[ficostef]

Answer to your questions:

Received emails from them that they would be closing Oct 11, and that both were frozen. Both have reward balances that they stated I would need to work with them to redeem. (Suspect that's why the 3 mo. advance warning.) I called CS and spoke to a representative and her supervisor. Although I offered to start using them, they stated they could not reverse the decision unless I could provide them with some sort of evidence that the cards had indeed been used within the last 3+ years. (Ironically, we use multiple Cap1 cards in the house that are in my wife's name, and could easily send regular use through my cards.)

[SouthJamaica]

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@ficostef wrote:

I have two Capital One cards that they will be closing in October for non-use. No turning back at this point. I could let this occur, or I could request, from my end and prior to this, that the accounts be closed.

From a score standpoint on how the closings are reported, is there any difference or preference.

(I am aware of the other ramifications of loosing these accounts such as utilization, age-of-accounts down the road, etc.)

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It makes no difference in terms of score.

Me, I have an aesthetic preference for being the one to close it.

[Anonymous]

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@ficostef wrote:

Answer to your questions:

Received emails from them that they would be closing Oct 11, and that both were frozen. Both have reward balances that they stated I would need to work with them to redeem. (Suspect that's why the 3 mo. advance warning.) I called CS and spoke to a representative and her supervisor. Although I offered to start using them, they stated they could not reverse the decision unless I could provide them with some sort of evidence that the cards had indeed been used within the last 3+ years.

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Strange stuff.  If they're going to close the accounts, just close them is my take on it.  As far as "working" with them to redeem rewards, Capital One could just send you a check and it's a done deal.  That's what they do if you overpay your account balance, for example.  3+ years of not using the cards is definitely a long time and no doubt it's understood why they made the decision to close them... but as for the advanced notice of them being open for 3 more months it just seems silly.

[codimom]

Wish I would have found this on my search before posting for the same reason.  yeah 5 years, in the sock drawer, and now they send me a letter.  Oh well... i never used it anyway

[Anonymous]

5 years.  That's a long time for them to keep a card open without any use.  I think you made out pretty well considering.

[Anonymous]

Yeah that’s well longer than the average I’m surprised it wasn’t closed sooner.