Question about number of accounts on FICO Reports

[ChrisDeL]

I have a question on the number of accounts my three reports are showing. On all three reports it identifies "Too many accounts" as an area that is hurting me.

For TU, EQ, and EX I am showing 35, 35, and 39 accounts respectively. However only about 13 of these accounts are actually active with roughly 7 or 8 having a balance. None (open or closed) are showing any history of late payments, etc. Some of these closed accounts date back to the early to mid 90's

I can understand that my report will reflect accounts I have had in the past, but after they are closed and paid why should they still be counted as an account?

I read where the reports claim the majority of people have only 6 to 7 accounts. If the FICO reports continue to track and count your past accounts essentially for ever, how can anyone only accumulate 6 or 7 accounts in a lifetime? I mean, most of us take out several auto loans in a life time, we change credit cards throughout our lives, mortgages get closed, sold, etc..  How does this all work.

I guess my question is, is there anything I can do to have the reports only reflective of the number of open accounts I have or will it always be inclusive of past accounts and always hurt my score?

[Junejer]

That is not a comment that I would put much credence in. Those old accounts are helping your AAoA. I wouldn't mess with them, nor would I try to have them deleted in any fashion. I think that's one of those comments that don't have much power.