Once you have completely paid off credit card debt should you throw away your credit cards or will this mess with your credit?

Answer

Foremost, never destroy a cc without first closing the account. And for those of you who are literalists, never "throw away" a cc, even if it has expired. They should be shredded or at least cut into tiny, tiny pieces. The fact that you paid off your debt is what is significant. You will not be penalized for closing accounts. Although keeping one or two cards that you can manage responsibly is always a good idea.

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