 TITLE: Why Credit Card Companies Close Accounts Without Telling You CONTENT: Why Credit Card Issuers Close Accounts Without Notice\n-----------------------------------------------------\nHere are some of the more common reasons why a credit card company may close your account without telling you:\n*   **You've stopped using your card.** Credit card issuers often close accounts that haven't been used in a while. Unfortunately, there's no hard-and-fast rule for how often you need to use your card to avoid having it closed, and that timeframe can vary from issuer to issuer. Using an account to pay a small recurring bill, and paying it off immediately, can help prevent this from happening.\n*   **Your account is in default.** If you've stopped making payments on your credit card, closing it may be the card issuer's way of keeping you from making any more purchases. This can also occur if you simply have too many late payments on your account, even if you catch up in time to avoid default.\n*   **You've consistently exceeded your credit limit.** If you're constantly going over your credit limit, the card issuer may view it as a risk that you're unable to manage your debts well. It's unlikely to be a problem if you do it once or twice, but regularly stretching your credit accounts beyond the limit could result in an account closure.\n*   **Your credit score dropped significantly.** Credit card issuers run routine credit checks on existing account holders to make sure they're still managing all of their debts well. If you've missed payments on other accounts, your credit score may have dropped below the cardholder's minimum credit score requirement.\n*   **You've breached the terms of the card agreement.** Each credit card comes with an agreement, and if you do anything that breaches that agreement, your account may be shut down. This typically occurs among credit card rewards enthusiasts who use questionable practices to maximize their rewards.\n*   **The card has been discontinued.** Credit card companies periodically discontinue certain cards. Depending on the situation, you may be able to continue using your card even if it's closed to new applications, or you may be offered a different card as a replacement. In some cases, though, the card issuer may simply close the account.\nCredit card companies may notify account holders before closing their accounts. They aren't required to, however, which means closure could come as a complete surprise to the cardholder. Thankfully, there are steps you can take to avoid closure in the first place. END