'Empty' credit cards

[Carthage]

I've got two CC with nothing on them, and upper limits of £16k and £8k.
(I do have another, which I owe money to).

My question - is it better for my credit rating to keep these at £0 balance, or should I close the accounts?

[Myc]

Definitely better to keep them. One of the things checked on your credit score is how much of your available credit is being used. The lower the percentage the better your credit score.

[SlidingSideways]

When I spoke to HSBC about closing my CC with them, the lady suggested it was probably better to keep it as if I had to re-apply for it, I was unlikely to be offered anywhere near the same credit limit due to them tightening up their criteria.

So - Do you think you may ever need them in the future?

[Centurion07]

If you're bothered about your credit rating it's better to put a little on each card each month and pay it off each month. That way you will have a history of paying off your debts regularly without missing payments, whilst keeping those cards with their huge limits, that as the poster above says, you're unlikely to be offered again if you close them.

[Carthage]

I'm hoping never to need them. My crystal ball is cloudy though.

The third one has a limit of around £13k I think (I'm never at the limits so am not that sure) if that makes any difference?

ETA I have always paid on time, every month, and always more than the minimum.

[Funk]

Paradoxically 'empty' cards with high limits can adversely affect you as other lenders may feel that you could very quickly and easily run up a large amount of credit that may be unaffordable.

Who the fk knows what goes through their heads...

[Carthage]

Oh, don't confuse me any further!

[smckeown]

When I recently applied for a new cc,the provider had reservations about my acceww to credit. I have since closed 2 unused cc accounts

[Carthage]

Maybe the answer is that I keep them, empty, until I need credit for something, then ask the potential creditor.

[Alex]

Myc said:

Definitely better to keep them. One of the things checked on your credit score is how much of your available credit is being used. The lower the percentage the better your credit score.

Your credit score also checks how much credit you have available. If it is a lot, it counts against you as you could secure a new loan and then run up additional debt by borrowing up to your credit card limits.