5 Min Read | Updated December 15, 2023

Originally Published: January 29, 2021

How Long Does a Closed Account Stay on Your Credit Report?

Closed accounts remain visible on your credit report for seven to 10 years, depending on whether they were in poor or good standing when closed.

how long do closed accounts stay on your credit report

This article contains general information and is not intended to provide information that is specific to American Express products and services. Similar products and services offered by different companies will have different features and you should always read about product details before acquiring any financial product.

At-A-Glance

When you close a credit card account or a loan, it’ll continue to show up on your credit report for years.

A closed account can have positive and negative impacts on your credit score – even if it was closed under the best of circumstances.

In the long run, keeping an account open for longer may help boost your credit score.


Many people are surprised to learn that a closed credit card account remains on your credit report for up to 10 years if the account was in good standing when you canceled it, but only seven years if it wasn’t – if, say, it was closed for missed payments. Over the long run, having a closed account on your credit report may or may not be good for your credit score, depending on the status of the account when it was closed.

 

But there’s something else to know. There are other implications that you might face when closing a credit card or installment loan account that are more immediate and might temporarily lower your credit score at the time the account is canceled – no matter how it was canceled. For example, you may see an increase in your credit utilization rate – that is, how much you’re using of the total credit available to you – and a higher utilization rate usually means a lower credit score.

Why Do Closed Accounts Stay on Your Credit Report So Long?

Credit card companies and other lenders are interested in your closed accounts as part of your credit history. In the typical course of business, lenders supply information on your spending and payments to credit reporting agencies, which summarize it all into credit reports that are used to calculate your credit score. Then, lenders refer back to these reports and scores to assess the risk of approving your application for a new credit card, or other type of loan, and to set the interest rate in line with that risk. Information from closed accounts may help lenders get deeper insight into a person’s past payment history. 

What Does a Closed Account Mean on Your Credit Report?

A closed account on your credit report shouldn’t worry you if the account was well-managed and in good standing at the time it was closed. Having it remain there as a positive reflection on your credit history and a track record of on-time payments generally helps your credit score. It stays on your credit report for up to 10 years.1

 

However, any negative information about a closed account on your credit report could lower your score. This can be the case if you made late payments on the account, for instance, or it was referred to a debt collector.

Impact of Closing Your Account

Even if you’re closing an account that’s in good standing, though, it can temporarily increase your credit utilization rate, as described above, which counts for 30% of your credit score. There are two other possible implications of closing an account:

  • Length of credit history: If you’re closing one of your oldest cards, you could lose several years from your history as an active and responsible borrower. The age of your credit history accounts for 15% of your FICO credit score.
  • Mix of credit types: Lenders prefer borrowers with a mix of revolving credit, such as credit cards, and installment credit, such as personal loans. Closing one type might affect your mix of credit, which determines 10% of a FICO score.

The good news in most of these situations is that your score should rebound in a few months as long as your payments continue on time.2

Can You Remove a Closed Account from Your Credit Report?

IIt’s not easy to get a closed account off your credit report, unless the information is inaccurate. According to the National Consumer Law Center, one error that comes up from time to time is a change in the actual age of a debt that has gone to a collection agency, or multiple reports of the same debt going to collection.3 If you find information on your report that you believe is inaccurate, you can send a letter to both your lender and to the credit reporting agency – the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau provides sample letters to help.4

 

You may also consider pursuing a “goodwill” deletion. You could send a written request to the creditor that reported the information, asking them to remove the account since it is no longer open.

 

However, the lender is under no obligation to do so. Additionally, credit bureaus aren’t obligated to remove closed accounts. However, it may be an option worth pursuing if you have a positive relationship with the creditor.

How to Close a Credit Card Account or Loan

Sometimes, it just makes sense to close an account, even if you face a temporary dip in your credit score. Maybe closing the account will help you control spending, for example, or maybe the card or loan in question is costing you fees or interest that you’d rather not pay. Credit reporting agencies suggest taking a thoughtful approach to closing accounts. For instance, if you’re about to seek a mortgage for a new home, you might not want to close any accounts just beforehand. Canceling multiple accounts should be done in a gradual, planned fashion to avoid sending negative signals to potential lenders.

 

To close a credit card account, you’ll want to pay off your account balance, redeem or transfer any rewards, and contact your card issuer’s customer service department to request account closure – either by phone or in writing – rather than simply cutting your card in half. Usually, you should receive a confirmation letter in about 10 days.5 To close a loan account, all you have to do is pay off the loan in full. Your lender will generally contact you via mail or email to confirm the loan has been paid off.

FAQs on How Long Does a Closed Account Stay on a Credit Report?

How do I remove cancelled debt from my credit report?
Debt cancellation occurs when a lender forgives or discharges your debt. Typically, this does not affect your credit score, unless it is due to a bankruptcy.6

 

How do I build credit if I have closed accounts on my credit report?

There are plenty of ways to build credit. Paying your monthly credit card bill on time and in full every time, paying down existing debt, and keeping accounts open can all help build credit.7


The Takeaway

Because closed accounts remain on your credit report for so long, that seemingly minor detail can take on greater significance if it’s not approached thoughtfully. Credit reports and credit scores don’t only play a big role in your ability to borrow money affordably. Insurance companies, landlords, and even potential employers often consult them, as well.


Karen Lynch

Karen Lynch is a journalist who has covered global business, technology, finance, and related public policy issues for more than 30 years.

 

All Credit Intel content is written by freelance authors and commissioned and paid for by American Express. 

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