A Reader Asks…

I have recently checked my credit report and I realized I had several credit card accounts which were unused for several years running with a zero balance for some time.
I would like to close them to resolve my accounts and improve my overall credit.
I have to admit that some of the credit companies are quite odd (not cititbank or MBNA) but smaller credit houses from obscure stores I once purchased something to earn the 10% off etc.
How do I go about contacting the credit card companies to close these empty accounts?

A Reader Asks…

I received a letter in the mail from Juniper (iTunes Rewards) stating that they have closed my credit card account due to inactivity. I opened the account about 18 months ago and have never actually used it. Can they close my account just like that without any warning? How should I handle the situation? (Is there anything I can even do?)
Also, …

A Reader Asks…

I have a few store credit cards (Macy’s, Banana Republic, etc) in addition to a major credit card. I want to cancel some of the store credit card, but I don’t know how that effects my credit rating. I think closing credit cards in general lowers credit scores, but what about those store cards?