View Full Version : Closing credit card
deelady
Jul 19, 2009, 07:10 AM
Honestly, its for a friend but it did rise some questions that I couldn't find answers - even on the internet until I cam across this site. Anyway, a friend of mine opened a credit card 2 years ago as a pimary cardholder for a friend. Her friend is listed as secondary cardholder. The friend is unable to get a credit card due to poor history. She has been faithfully paying the crredit cards faithfully. Now my friend wants to close the card/account. She was told not to because it will affect her credit history which at this time is outstanding. We wondered if its best to close since it isn't a old card, or if its best to remove her 'secondary cardholder" from the credit card but my friend is to conitnue as primary cardholder.
Which is the best way to go in order not to affect her credit score, close or remove her friend the 'secondary' cardholder?
N0help4u
Jul 19, 2009, 07:16 AM
I was told by the credit card company that I could not close or even put a hold or any kind of suspension on the card as long as there is an outstanding balance. They even terminated my card and put it in collections where it continued to accumulate fees, late charges and so other charges.
The only thing you can do is pay it up and then close it.
Since she is willing to 'close' the account she should be willing to quit using the card. I would hope that is what she has done so far.
You may be able to remove her from the card I'm not sure.
Fr_Chuck
Jul 19, 2009, 07:26 AM
Closing a credit card can effect your credit score. ( never understood it, but here this on the radio show "Clark Howard" all the time)
The real issue here is that she opened an account for someone that never should have gotten one. So what they need to do, is take the other person off the account, pay off the balance of the card and merely use it once or twice a year to keep it from closing)
Now if they have a very great credit score, closing one card will not effect it that badly
The balances will have to be paid off to close.
s_cianci
Jul 19, 2009, 09:27 AM
It's hard to predict how closing the card would affect her credit score. It could affect it positively or negatively, depending on the particular circumstances. But the balance would have to be paid off before it can be officially "closed." She does have the option of not using it anymore while paying off the balance.