Multiple accounts with overdrafts and credit score

Fryy

Hi all,

Many thanks for all the great tips on this website.

I have a few current accounts and a credit card. The reason I have a few current accounts is for the high percentage interest rate saving. I only use one account day to day (the others have standing orders to fulfill the "deposit £x per month to receive interest" requirement, but that's all). I think some have overdrafts of a few hundred each, which I've never had to use. I've also got a credit card which, again, I never use (balance is £0, and limit is like £500 or something). I might have went into the overdraft of the current account I actually use maybe once or twice several years ago when I was a student and not paying attention, but always paid it back promptly. I've not used the overdraft in at least 5 years now. But the point is that the accounts have the option.

My questions are:
1) Is having (the option of) so many overdrafts and a credit card that I never use good or bad for my credit rating? On one hand, having them shows I can get into some debt, but on the other hand, I've shown that I have restraint since I never use them. So is this situation good or bad for me?

2) Should I get rid of my credit card, and reduce my overdraft limits, or does it not matter?

3) Does having lots of accounts open in general affect my credit score?

4) And if I open a few accounts at once, is the affect on my credit score only temporary? eg. I realised the clever multiple current account idea and opened a few at once. Is my credit score permanently affected by this?