is this a good idea?

[tictacsir]

I have a ton of credit cards showing on my credit report that have either been closed out by me or by the cc company. I don't even recognize alot of them and they've never been used. I know that sometimes these companies will issue you a card w/o your permission and send them to you. (I move alot, which would explain why I never received any of them). My question is, would it help the appearance of my report if I have them removed? Is it even possible to have them removed? And how would I go about doing this? Will it increase my FICO? If you have any experience with this sort of issue or know someone who has I'd love to hear what you have to say. Thanks. (Okay, that sounded a little much like an outreach commerical... )

[pink_amulet]

You can dispute anything you want on your report....some can be taken off, or some can be updated. It all depends.

It can only help you!!

As for those credit card that they "send" without you knowing , you usally have to agree or activate them somehow. So unless you have expreienced identiy theft, I don't know how that is handled. I have never seen one of those cards send so don't know how that is handles. I'm sure if someone was using a card with your name on it, and you didnt authorize it, it would be a matter for the local authorities.

[pink_amulet]

You can dispute online or mail. Mail is better cause you have proof that you sent the dispute.
There are links here on the board, that can help you prepare letters.

Good luck

[tictacsir]

can you remove credit cards that you did apply for and activated but never used and then closed? or is that no-no?

[SinkingFast]

I would think you would want to leave the ones you were issued and closed yourself in good standing. That speaks well to future prospective Creditors. Much better than the CC's that were closed by Credit Grantor and/or included in BK.

It will show that you were "responsible" with at least some unsecured debt in your credit history.

[anonymuse]

Thank goodness cc companies can no longer issue cards without your consent. I know someone who's son got in big financial trouble (and wound by in BK) that had cognitive issues (borderline IQ for "retarded"--hate the word) that really didn't understand credit cards and thought he got them so he could spend on them and never pay back the money.

I can't identify several credit cards on my report and when I called the cc companies to find out what they were they say they're too old to pull up in their records.