Cancel Your Credit Card - Comments Page 2

I always cancel by letter. I specify the reason, ask that they do NOT call me, but to confirm the cancellation "at my request" in writing and add me to their do not call list. Keep the letter in case there is a reason to disput on your credit report (i.e. they state it was closed at their request, instead of yours.) DO NOT send in cut up credit cards, someone could steal them. I have cancelled several cards this way and never had a problem. It helps to make sure your "reason" for cancelling is one they can't argue with. I told them "I am cutting back on non-essentials so I can quit working to stay home and raise my son, instead of letting day-care do it for me". I even got a couple "atta boys" from female CSR's.

It's not enough to cancel by mail, particularly for AOL. I use certified mail. And I have my letter witnessed. So far a notary has been unnecessary. However, I agree about the warnings on credit ratings. Mine were lowered because I had too few credit cards.

"I JUST FOUND THAT I HAVE TERMINAL CANCER.... and I only have a few days left to get my affairs in order. Please cancel my card now." That is usually enough to get quick action from anyone on the phone.

If you have a credit card you no longer have a use for and it costs you nothing DON'T CANCEL IT! Cut it up, lock it up but keep it if you can. Here's why. Even if you don't use it or use it just a little keeping cards any cards will add to you credit rating which is how ALL americans are judged these days. Here is a wonderful newletter (http://www.lifeafterbankruptcy.com/backissues.php?l=top) for free that enlightens those who are ignorant but genuine finance don't be thrown by the bankruptcy word.

EDITOR'S NOTE: There are differing opinions about the wisdom of never cancelling a credit card. If you have only one card, it might be a good idea to get/keep a second. (It makes your debt to available credit ratio look better.) But if you have many cards, and a large amount of untapped credit, that can be a negative factor to a lender. (They might be worried that you'll tap into all that credit, and not be able to pay THEM back.)

Humor always works for me, some girl at aol

kept badgering me with why and what and who and such so I finally asked her if there was a web site I could go to to cancel. She just laughed and finally did give in and cancelled my account.

2 suggestions: 1) Tell them you are currently filing for personal bunkruptancy. 2) Always leave the card balance in 5c credit.

I recently paid off the balance on a MasterCard that had a monthly fee and called them to cancel the account. The very nice man asked me why, and offered to change the account to no fee, but as I already have a Visa card with the same bank (no fee) I repeated that I really didn't need both cards. He tried to tell me that not all places take Visa, but I have never seen a place that took MC that didn't also take Visa. After I listened to his entire script, he agreed to cancel my account, and two months later, the account was finally closed. I wish I had thought of the request to record him. It might have gone faster for me, too.

I went through nearly a year of discussion with AOL after my mother died, and I closed her credit card accounts, and canceled her AOL account before they finally stopped sending "Please come back" notices to HER after I had told them she was deceased. They are incredible!

This is a very funny and simultaneously useful post. We've featured and linked to it, while leaving the goods -- the phone convo and the resulting advice -- where it belongs. See http://bankruptcyblognetwork.com/?p=85

Check us out. You might find some more useful stuff! - The Bankruptcy Blog Network - "Going Broke, Without Being Broken"

I had the same experiance trying to close an account with GE Money. I had a stand up row with the woman on the phone as she persisted to ask me 3 times if id like to keep the account then on the third polite but firm 'NO THANK YOU' she reeled off about 6 or 7 reason as to why i should remain a client! This went on but wont bore you with the details.. The account is still not shut, i wrote a letter of complaint 3 weeks ago and no reply yet... Fingers crossed!

We paid off the card two years ago, I took sissors and destroyed the card. The mail kept coming. I called, after much stalling they said we would have to write a letter to end the torment(i added). Today I get a letter telling us we have a new card on the way!!!!

Well are you sure the card is really canceled? I have just been dealing with Amex. My card was cancelled in 2005. Our company travel agency gave the hotel my old card number. The hotel tried to used the card 12 time and it was rejected the hotel then did a manual transaction. I ask Amex if the merchant got a authorzation # from them for the transaction and Amex told me No. But the charge did go through because I just received a new statement last month(remember this is a cancelled card). My statement said this card is cancelled but please pay this charge immediately. Looks like Amex can only track electronic transaction not manual ones. I asked Amex can you cancel this card for electronic and manual transactions and was told no.

So are you sure your card is really cancelled ?

EDITOR'S NOTE: Wow, that's incredible. I would call them and ask to speak with a supervisor.

I just got a bill from a credit card company on an account closed for over 6 months. The charge was an automatic renewal (they had sent me a note that said my credit card was expired and that they would not renew unless I updated the information.) I had closed the credit card account when it expired in June. The credit card company told me that if a charge is made on a closed account that I am responsible to straighten it out. I have called the company that had the automatic renewal but I will be sending the credit card company a dispute letter. Anyone else had this problem? What can I do about it? Is it true that I am perpetually responsible?

If you use the internet to check credit card balances, etc. it should be easy to verify your account was closed.

I have 5 cards with Chase (that I know about) and only use one of them for ebay business. I am in the process of closing the other 4 with a certified letter, and reminding them 'customer's request' to be noted in credit ratings.

One of the reasons to say you want to cancel (besides the obvious financial ones) is tell them you don't use these cards anymore and have a real concern about the greater security risk if you leave them open and cards get lost, etc.

for those who do want to cancel their aol account you can finally do it online: just go to this url and change it from a paid plan to a FREE plan (you can keep using the account and software on that as long as you dont use dialup)

http://changeplan.aol.com

Well, if you think you've canceled your card, think again. I canceled my Citicard two years ago and they still charge against it. They are saying that any recurring agreemens can be charged even if the card is canceled. The probelm is that I never bought the product they claim I did and here is the best part, the product they claim I purchased is owned by citi itself called "Citishoppers". I asked for the proof of purchase which they claim is the signed agreement but they kept giving me the run-around. This is beyond evil, they are charging me for a product which never bought and charging to an account which i canceled two years ago.

Hi,

When canceling a card you should be aware of its terms and conditions about charges. I think this is the better way to cancel a card. I still don't understand why you should cancel a card?

Daniel, are you kidding me? Are you saying that forever I'm stuck with AMEX charging me over and over again by a company that I authorized but no longer want to come from my AMEX (which was canceled in FEB). They say they have to accept recurring charges no matter what. That is INSANE!!! And by the way, talking to a Supervisor does not help.

Cancel my AOL Chase Credit Card

EDITOR'S NOTE: Pretty sure you're in the wrong place...

Now that I read all these comments I'm kind of nervous about canceling my macys card =(

Some hacker is using my compromised cancelled amex card as well. the hacker is smart and charged only less than $20 but luckily I checked my statement and saw this and called amex. they were good enough to refund the money but said any electronic transaction will go thru and there is no way to stop that with any credit card...

I am disappointed and cancelling card does not even give you peace of mind...

any idea how to permanantely block all transactions on cancelled cards? is there a way or will this glitch will continue??

EDITOR'S NOTE: That seems totally unacceptable. I'd check with your state attorney general.