? about raising or lowering your credit score

I would leave the 0 balance credit accounts open. At least for the time being, or for a while. Also, Do not carry those cards around. Put them somewhere safe at home. Or even perhaps ask someone else you trust to hold on to them for you. Key there is not to have them readily available. The card companies will monitor those accounts for a while to see how frugal you have become. Your credit score should rise after a while depending of course on your spending habits.