Your Legal Rights in 2026 Credit Repair

Closing old accounts reduces your credit history and can increase your credit utilization. Combined, this might decrease your credit score.

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Closing your oldest account decreases your average account age, increases credit usage and can lower your score when reported to the credit bureaus. It accounts for 10% of your FICO Rating and is not factored into VantageScore at all.

Be careful of taking out new credit simply for the sake of enhancing your credit. Focus on organically mixing up your credit over time.

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The time it takes will depend on the specific factors impacting it and the actions you take to alter them. A credit line increase or ending up being an authorized user can reveal outcomes within a billing cycle.