The credit company can keep the account open as long as they like. They may or may not  know that you are destitute; but more importantly, they don't have to care. Furthermore, even if the account were closed in that no new charges could be made, you would still owe the balance of the account--and it would keep accruing interest. Your being destitute does not, by itself, let you out of the obligations which you assumed when you took out the credit card and agreed to its terms.If you are in truly bad financial shape and cannot repay your debts, you should consider bankruptcy as an option. Bankruptcy is designed to let people have a fresh start by discharging their debts. Ideally, you should consult with a bankruptcy attorney, since filing bankruptcy, and even deciding which kind (chapter 7 or chapter 13) is best for you can be complex; however, you can file yourself, and here's a link to a U.S. government website with helpful information--good luck: http://www.uscourts.gov/FederalCourts/Bankruptcy/BankruptcyBasics.aspx