Improving the credit search for a mortgage application

steveg001

Hi everyone,

I'm not sure where to post this so I'll put it in a couple of places.
I've got over £10,000 credit card debt, but am in the lucky position of being able to pay all of this off in one lump sum.
As a result, in the near future I am looking to apply for a mortgage and obviously need my credit rating to be as good as possible, so my question relates to the credit cards.
When the debt has been cleared and this clearance reaches through to my credit report, should I close the credit card accounts, which is what I want to do eventually anyway, or should I just leave them with £0.00 balance?
I just wondered if anyone knows if it would harm my credit report to close the accounts?
Thanks in advance.

Wh05apk

Whether they are open or closed will have minimal impact, concentrate on the bigger things:

Voters roll
Deposit
ensure all other credit paid on time
Don't change jobs/address's/bank accounts
Don't apply for any more credit cards/loans etc - even if interest free
Get an AIP done in plenty of time so you know you can get the mortgage, then forget about rates/lenders until you find a property (they change daily, so don't waste time at the moment fussing over deals which may not be there when you need to pply)

Thrugelmir

steveg001 wrote: »

When the debt has been cleared and this clearance reaches through to my credit report, should I close the credit card accounts, which is what I want to do eventually anyway, or should I just leave them with £0.00 balance?

How many cards do have and what credit do you have available?