Skip to main content

Don't Cancel Old Credit Cards

The reason not to cancel a credit card is because the average age of your credit is important. 

If you do not have a loan like a house payment that you have paid for several years your oldest credit history account is probably a credit card.  

If the average age of all of your credit cards is less than six or seven years your score will not be able to build an over 800 Credit Score.


I have acquired a lot of credit cards through the years.  Many of them after I get the bonus I will quit using.  It usually takes a year or two for the company to delete that credit card account. 

Long Term Credit Cards 

However I have four cards that I have had for over ten years.  I make sure I use them some so they do not get cancelled.  A few times a year is enough to keep the cards active.

How to Keep Credit Active

If you do not have a home loan it is a good idea to keep a good credit score to have at least two old credit cards active.  You do not need to ever carry a balance on your cards to keep them active, just make a purchase or two every year. 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

New Account Notification

I have four different Free ways to be notified of a new account being opened in my name on my Social Security number.  This is the critical notification that your Identity is being stolen if you did not just open a new credit line. My Discover card, Credit Karma, Chase Bank, and Credit Sesame accounts all notify me if there has been a new account opened in my name with my Social Security number.   New Credit Account I recently opened a new Home Depot* credit card.  You know those Black Friday tool sales sucked me in again.  I do it almost every year.   Anyway right on time the next day and the day after I opened a new account I was notified by Credit Karma, Discover, Chase Bank, and Credit Sessame. Why This is Important Any time your credit is checked you need to be notified.  If you did not apply for new credit it is likely to mean someone is attempting to STEAL Your Identity.   The first step in Identity Theft is for the thief to apply...
Post a Comment
Read more

Dealing with Customer Service Successfully

Always Be Nice to Customer Service Customer Service Agents are able to help you if you're nice to them and hurt you if you're not. I was never taught how to deal with Customer Service.  However my Mother always taught me to be a Gentleman. Customer Service on the Phone I am always extremely nice and courteous to customer service. They have a very tough job because so many people yell at them and treat them horribly.  So many customers, especially of banks or credit cards, make a mistake but won't accept responsibility for their mistake. The customers want to blame the bank for the missed payment.  My dog ate my statement so I didn’t pay my bill. My rule of thumb is always be extremely nice to customer service. They're just doing their job and it is a tough one. They can certainly help if you are nice to them. Customer Service Tracks You Many Customer Service agents are able to make notes on your account. If you are particularly mean during an interaction they will ...
Post a Comment
Read more

What Caused My Credit Score to Drop?

The most common reasons for a credit score drop is a missed payment, a new line of credit, a credit card removed, or an increased use of your credit.    A missed payment will have a significant and lasting effect on your credit score.  I had an 810 credit score and I missed a payment on my Lowes card.  I did not realize I had a bill with them.  The bill was under $50. I realized I had not made the payment when it showed up as a negative on my Credit Karma credit score.  It dropped my well aged with over 800 credit score by over 90 points.  Check this article on how I was able to get the Lowes negative removed.???** A new line of credit like a new credit card will lower your credit score.  Depending on how much credit history you have, a new line of credit will lower your score by ten to thirty points.  Increasing your debt with a major purchase on your credit card or a new car loan, will also lower your credit score.  A friend of mine ...
Post a Comment
Read more