Impact of Unused Accounts

DavidWFC

Good afternoon,

I'm looking to improve my credit score in order to be more attractive for when my mortgage comes up for renewal in the next couple of months. I've checked my credit score or ClearScore and CreditWise and noticed I have old accounts I don't use with HSBC and Lloyd's.

My HSBC account I haven't used since I was teenager, don't think I even have a card for it anymore. Don't know if it has overdraft available. My Lloyd's account has a current account I had when I got my first job 10 years ago with £50 overdraft limit and a credit card with £500 limit, neither have been used in the last couple of years. Think cards are in an old wallet in a bedroom draw.

I have a joint account, personal account and credit card with Natwest which are my primary accounts... My question is should I close these accounts or leave them and forget them again?

[Deleted User]

Ignore the credit score.

The old accounts won't look bad to lenders.

Ben8282

Presumably your 'credit score' has dropped since you took out the previous mortgage in order for you to be worrying to this extent. You will need to check your credit files for any averse factors which have caused the drop. Having said that, credit scores are simply a marketing tool of the CRA's and will not be seen by the lender who will only see the factual information contained in your credit files..
Closing these accounts will have no impact on your ability to obtain credit except to reduce your average account age. Obviously they were there when you obtained your last mortgage and presumably didn't affect your ability to obtain it so why should they affect anything now?
Strange that you don't know about the availability of an overdraft facility as the credit report should show this.
Actually using the credit card account from time to time and repaying in full each month would be a good idea and possible improve your credit situation. Using two credit cards can help better than just using one credit card.