Question about AAoA scoring

[newmomnewme]

I started a paydown plan last month.

I PIF my VS card 815/900 on 1/8 and they closed the account 2/6.

I opened the card in 2003 and was wondering how the closure will impact my AAoA. 

Are closed cc ages included in the AAoA or only opened ones?

This took the wind out of my sails a bit....but I understand that this will all be over soon. 

[Caardvark]

FICO still counts the account in your AAoA for 10 years after it was closed. So... you are ten years away from any impact, if at all. (By then, your other accounts will have continued to age)

[newmomnewme]

Thank you. This isn't as bad as I thought then. 

The worst I will get is a hit to my overall UTIL. 

[Anonymous]

I doubt you'll see any "hit" to your utilization, as you effectively dropped a maxed out tradeline from your report, so you're no longer factoring in a maxed out account.  Whether or not you have others would matter, though.

While it's an incredible long shot, I'd give the creditor a call that just closed down your account and see if they'll reopen it.  Since it has significant age, 10 years from now it would benefit you if it were still open rather than having that then 26 year old account drop off your CR.  It was probably a computer system that closed your account down, so I'd call and talk to a human being and see if there's an off-chance that they can reopen it.  Explain that you just paid it off and that you're in a great place financially now and would really like to continue using that account (whether you do or not is irrelevant).  The worst they can say is now, but at best you'll have a nice old AoOA and AAoA aid a decade from now.

[newmomnewme]

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@Anonymous wrote:

I doubt you'll see any "hit" to your utilization, as you effectively dropped a maxed out tradeline from your report, so you're no longer factoring in a maxed out account.  Whether or not you have others would matter, though.

While it's an incredible long shot, I'd give the creditor a call that just closed down your account and see if they'll reopen it.  Since it has significant age, 10 years from now it would benefit you if it were still open rather than having that then 26 year old account drop off your CR.  It was probably a computer system that closed your account down, so I'd call and talk to a human being and see if there's an off-chance that they can reopen it.  Explain that you just paid it off and that you're in a great place financially now and would really like to continue using that account (whether you do or not is irrelevant).  The worst they can say is now, but at best you'll have a nice old AoOA and AAoA aid a decade from now.

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I called to inquire why it was closed and request re-open. The rep told me that it was closed due to inactivity and current credit score....I didn't push it though. Maybe I should try to call back to see if I can at least get a chance to tell my story. On another note, my oldest account Amex is next in line to be PIF, I am thinking about holding off and using the snowball for my already closed NFCU Visa (18k/20k). Sheesh.

[Anonymous]

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@newmomnewme wrote:

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I called to inquire why it was closed and request re-open. The rep told me that it was closed due to inactivity and current credit score....I didn't push it though. Maybe I should try to call back to see if I can at least get a chance to tell my story. On another note, my oldest account Amex is next in line to be PIF, I am thinking about holding off and using the snowball for my already closed NFCU Visa (18k/20k). Sheesh.

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It can't hurt to ask.  It seems odd to me that they waited to close your account until you paid it off in full.  Also it sounds like you were carrying a balance on there for some time, meaning you were likely paying interest and that your reported balance on the account each month was likely changing.  Is this correct?  If so, all of that constitutes "usage" on the account.  As far as purchases go, that's a different story.  What was the last time you made a purchase with the card prior to closure?  If it was a long time, I'd simply call and tell CS that the reason you weren't making purchases was that you were being responsible and wanted to first pay off the card... which you just did and now you're upset because you can't go ahead and make the purchases that you were planning on.  Depending on who you talk to and what their policies/power is, you may get lucky and get the account reopened.  Again, it can't hurt to try a few times.

[newmomnewme]

The last time I used it for a purchase was 10/18 (online), 7/18 and 5/18 before that, it sat at zero since 2016. 

[newmomnewme]

Ok...now I am pissed.

I called a 2nd time and asked for reconsideration explained that I've had the card for 16 years and couldn't understand why the account was closed right after I paid it in full. I asked if she could escalate my call - no, I asked if she knew what specifically on my CR caused the auto closure, - she would resend the 2/6 closure letter. I asked if Comenity ever reopens closed accounts - no. 

I give up on it. I will just be happy that the 16 years will still be averaged in for the next 10 years...best news I heard all day. 

It just sucks because I am paying bills right now and this closure makes me want to say screw it all. 

[Anonymous]

It definitely wasn't closed due to inactivity, as you stated you made a purchase back in 10/18, which was only 4 months ago.

[Anonymous]

I agree with BBS I would continue to pursue it it cannot hurt