Closing several credit card accounts - best process?

Bossworld

I have a number of CCs that were all based around 0% on purchases, to effectively act as a 'stoozing' mechanism for day-to-day spending while the cash went into company ShareSave schemes.
The time has come to pull the plug, my mortgage is due for renewal next summer and I've got to undergo an enhanced credit check for a new role.

I currently have:

CC1 - £0 balance, has had £0 on it for several months now, probably the oldest of the lot.
CC2 - £0 balance as of Friday, withdrew savings to pay it off.
CC3 - £5k balance, waiting on Premium Bonds draw to withdraw and pay it off in full.
CC4 - £2.5k balance, still has 6 months' 0% on purchases.

I also have two further cards, an Amex which is used for day to day spending and always paid off in full, and a fee-free card for foreign transactions, which I intend to keep but only gets used once a quarter.

A ) Is there any perceivable issue in closing off CC1 and CC2 now?  I would intend to keep CC3 open for a little while so that my utilised credit ratio stays low.
B ) How quickly will these balances being paid off/accounts being closed reflect on a credit check for a new role?

Thank you for any assistance

[Deleted User]

Your credit cards won't play any part in your employment credit check. I would keep them open, or close one at most, and then only if you feel your income is too low to justify them and may spook lenders.

WillPS

A - no, although it's a good idea not to close the card you've had the longest (so long as that costs you nothing). 
B - how long is a piece of string? Issuers all have different arrangements for  frequency and lag on credit reporting, it could be 2 or 3 months.

Bossworld

Deleted_User said:

Your credit cards won't play any part in your employment credit check. I would keep them open, or close one at most, and then only if you feel your income is too low to justify them and may spook lenders.

It was more concern that lenders may see I've got ~33k of credit at my disposal and could go on a spree, though that's interesting it wouldn't affect an employment check? Appreciate it's a generic question but I take it they're more concerned with bankruptcy, CCJs etc? (it's a third party carrying out the check)

WillPS said:

A - no, although it's a good idea not to close the card you've had the longest (so long as that costs you nothing). 
B - how long is a piece of string? Issuers all have different arrangements for  frequency and lag on credit reporting, it could be 2 or 3 months.

I can keep the oldest one open no problems, it's got one of the highest limits too.  I have had the Amex for four years longer than that one though?
B ) OK, that's what I feared, the likes of clearscore/MSE credit club do seem to take a couple of months to update so any 'damage' would already be done.

Thank you both

[Deleted User]

Yes. Employers are looking for CCJ and bankruptcy.

With low to moderate limits across your cards, keep them, at least you're able to build some of them up at least a little.

RG2015

Deleted_User said:

Your credit cards won't play any part in your employment credit check. I would keep them open, or close one at most, and then only if you feel your income is too low to justify them and may spook lenders.

How do you determine if your income is too low to justify your credit cards?

Bossworld

In case it helps anyone else:
* It didn't affect my credit check/clearance
* I closed down CC2 and CC3, I've kept the first one as I've had it a comparatively long time and they're always running 0% money transfer offers (albeit with 2% transfer fees).
* I'm still using CC4 (though with a tiny balance) but will be shutting that once the 0% comes to an end.

CC2 and CC3 took ages to show a 0 balance, though CC2 did show as closed much quicker than CC3 on the report.  As others alluded, different providers seem particularly slow at updating agencies.