Reviewing Credit Repair Laws in 2026

Closing old accounts reduces your credit history and can increase your credit utilization. Integrated, this could decrease your credit rating.

apfsc.org

Closing your oldest account minimizes 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 Score and is not factored into VantageScore at all.

Be wary of taking out new credit just for the sake of improving your credit. Focus on organically blending up your credit over time.

apfsc.org

The time it takes will depend on the individual elements impacting it and the steps you take to change them. A credit line increase or becoming an authorized user can reveal outcomes within a billing cycle.