Call your card issuer and ask to close the account
The simplest way to cancel a credit card is to call the customer service number on the back of your card and tell them you want to close the account. Have your card in front of you when you call. The representative will confirm your identity, answer any questions about why you're closing it, and process the cancellation on the spot.
Most issuers will try to keep you as a customer by offering a lower interest rate or waiving an annual fee. You can accept their offer or decline and proceed with closing the account. Either way, the call usually takes fewer than ten minutes.
After you hang up, the account is closed. You'll receive a confirmation letter in the mail within a week or two. Keep this letter for your records.
Key Takeaways
- Closing a credit card by phone takes one call to the number on the back of your card, and the account closes when ready.
- Paying off your balance before you close the account prevents interest charges and makes the process cleaner.
- Closing a card can lower your credit score temporarily because it reduces the total credit available to you, but the effect usually fades within a few months.
- If you have a balance you cannot pay off, closing the account does not erase the debt — you still owe it and will still receive bills.
- Waiting to close older cards helps your credit score more than closing newer ones, because older accounts show a longer history of responsible use.
Pay off your balance before you call
Before closing the account, pay the full balance on the card. If you close an account with an outstanding balance, you still owe the money. The issuer will continue to send you bills, and interest will keep accruing until you pay it off.
Paying the balance first also simplifies the closing process. When you call, you can confirm the balance is zero, and there's no confusion about what happens next. If you cannot pay the full balance right now, you can still close the account, but understand that you're responsible for the remaining debt.
Cancel any automatic payments linked to the card
Before you close the account, check whether any bills are set to charge to this card. Common examples include subscriptions, insurance premiums, utility bills, or gym memberships. Log into your online accounts or check your email for recent billing confirmations to find them.
Contact each company and update your payment method to a different card or bank account. Do this before you close the card, not after. If a payment tries to go through after the account is closed, it will be declined, and you may face late fees or service interruptions.
Understand how closing a card affects your credit score
Closing a credit card can lower your credit score in the short term, usually by 5 to 15 points, though the exact impact varies by person and by scoring model. The score drop happens because closing the account reduces your total available credit. If you had a $5,000 limit on this card and a $10,000 limit on another card, closing it drops your total available credit from $15,000 to $10,000.
This effect is temporary. Most people see their score recover within a few months as the closed account ages and other factors in their credit history become more prominent. The impact is smaller if you have other cards with good payment history and low balances.
If you're planning to explore for a mortgage, car loan, or other major credit in the next few months, you may want to wait to close the card until after you've been approved. If you're not borrowing soon, the temporary dip is usually not a reason to keep a card open.
Close older cards last if you're canceling multiple cards
If you're closing more than one card, close the newer ones first and keep the older ones open longer. Credit scoring models reward a long history of responsible credit use. An older account shows that you've managed credit successfully over time, even if you're not using the card regularly.
You don't have to use an older card to keep it open. You can charge a small purchase to it once or twice a year and pay it off when ready. This keeps the account active without costing you anything.
What happens after you close the account
Once the account is closed, you cannot use the card to make new purchases. The card itself may still have a magnetic stripe or chip, but transactions will be declined. You can cut up the card or throw it away.
The closed account will remain on your credit report for up to seven years. This is normal and does not hurt your score — in fact, a closed account with a clean payment history helps your score because it shows you paid on time. What matters is that the account is closed, not that it disappears from your report when ready.
You'll continue to receive statements for a few months if there are any remaining charges or credits being processed. Once everything is settled, the statements will stop. If you don't receive a final confirmation letter within a month, call back to confirm the account is fully closed.
Alternatives if you want to keep the card active but unused
If you're not sure whether you want to close the card permanently, you have other options. You can straightforward stop using the card and leave the account open. This keeps your available credit intact and preserves the account's age on your credit report.
The downside is that some issuers close accounts automatically if they haven't been used for a long time — usually 12 months or more. If you want to keep the account open without using it, charge something small to it occasionally (a dollar or two) and pay it off right away. This keeps the account active without accumulating a balance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will closing a credit card hurt my credit score?
Closing a card usually lowers your score temporarily because it reduces your total available credit. The drop is typically small and fades within a few months. The long-term effect depends on how many other cards you have and how old this card is compared to your other accounts.
What if I have a balance I can't pay off right now?
You can still close the account, but you remain responsible for the balance. The issuer will continue to charge interest and send you bills until you pay it off. Closing the account does not erase the debt or stop interest from accruing.
Can I reopen a closed credit card account?
Some issuers will reopen a recently closed account if you call and ask within a short window, usually 30 to 60 days. After that, the account is permanently closed. If you want the card back, you would need to explore for a new account, which triggers a hard inquiry on your credit report.
Do I need to close the account in writing, or is a phone call enough?
A phone call is sufficient and is actually the fastest method. The representative documents the request in the system, and you receive written confirmation in the mail. If you prefer written documentation before you call, you can send a letter, but calling is standard practice and works just as well.
What should I do with the physical card after I close the account?
Cut the card in half or shred it so it cannot be used. You can also throw it away once the account is closed, since the card will no longer work for any transactions. There's no requirement to return it to the issuer.