How to cancel cards I don't have?

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Aug 23rd, 2020 12:07 pm

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Aug 19th, 2020 2:54 pm

Feneant [OP]: Deal Guru; Mar 20, 2003; 10469 posts; 651 upvotes; New-Brunswick

Aug 19th, 2020 2:54 pm

How to cancel cards I don't have?

According to Credit Karma I have 5 credit cards active that I don't use and also don't have the card as they were shredded.

If they didn't keep sending me credit cards every few years I wouldn't mind but every 4 years like clockwork they send them in the mail, including a student card that still goes to my parents even if I'm 40. I've also recently moved and I don't plan on telling these companies because I don't do business with them and I've no doubt they'll keep mailing me a new card to my old address.

So that said what is the best way to cancel the cards or close the accounts? I couldn't care less if this impacts my credit, better that than sending cards to random strangers living in a place I once owned.

Thank you for reading.

19 replies

Aug 19th, 2020 2:59 pm

titaniumtux: Deal Expert; May 8, 2009; 15553 posts; 14112 upvotes; Going to the Moon

Aug 19th, 2020 2:59 pm

Call those issuers. They should be able to look you up by phone number or other information (name, email, etc.). Definitely cancel them if you're certain that you'll never use them.

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+6

Aug 19th, 2020 4:38 pm

Feneant [OP]: Deal Guru; Mar 20, 2003; 10469 posts; 651 upvotes; New-Brunswick

Aug 19th, 2020 4:38 pm

Easy enough but I hate dealing with the wait and also the 'what can we do to keep you?' lines.

Would I also be able to send a letter requesting cancellation? It's actually 6 cards since I will also cancel my Capital One World Elite that got downgraded.

Aug 19th, 2020 4:48 pm

CNeufeld: Deal Guru; Mar 23, 2008; 13006 posts; 9978 upvotes; Edmonton

Aug 19th, 2020 4:48 pm

Feneant wrote: ↑ Easy enough but I hate dealing with the wait and also the 'what can we do to keep you?' lines.

Would I also be able to send a letter requesting cancellation? It's actually 6 cards since I will also cancel my Capital One World Elite that got downgraded.

So you've put up with this for years because you can't be bothered to spend an afternoon with your headset on? Just call them, tell them you want to cancel, and any time they deviate from that script, keep pushing them back to the cancel process. You can do work, watch YouTube videos, play games while you're on hold. Trying to get all the information together to send letters for 6 cards will be more trouble than making the calls. Especially if you don't have the credit card numbers.

C

+1

Aug 19th, 2020 4:52 pm

cashinstinct: Deal Fanatic; Apr 29, 2008; 7976 posts; 4716 upvotes; Montreal

Aug 19th, 2020 4:52 pm

Don't bother with letters, call them, it will be easier.

I would look if the issuers have useful cards for you if they allow product switching, such as TD with 10% cashback offer.

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Aug 19th, 2020 5:21 pm

lmcjipo: Deal Addict; Sep 14, 2012; 2458 posts; 1834 upvotes; Montreal, QC

Aug 19th, 2020 5:21 pm

I'm surprised they haven't cancelled your cards automatically which has happened to me a few times when I just stopped using one of my "no annual fee" credit cards.

I only found out these cards were cancelled when going in my desk drawer and seeing my card was expired and I never received a renewal card. When I called the financial institution to see if it was lost in the mail, I was informed they cancelled it due to non-use and I don't remember if they said I could get it re-opened or whether I would need to apply again to get the card again but since I didn't really have any plans on using the card if I received it, I didn't do anything about it.

Aug 19th, 2020 5:44 pm

CondoMan98: Deal Addict; Nov 5, 2018; 2916 posts; 5209 upvotes; Toronto

Aug 19th, 2020 5:44 pm

titaniumtux wrote: ↑Call those issuers. They should be able to look you up by phone number or other information (name, email, etc.). Definitely cancel them if you're certain that you'll never use them.

This.

I had to do this when I saw I had a credit card I forgot about years ago. Wanted to get rid of it because there could have been fraudulent transactions on it that I may never have known about. Canceled and all was good.

Called the bottom.

+1

Aug 19th, 2020 11:18 pm

shylok: Deal Addict; Feb 26, 2006; 4347 posts; 2923 upvotes; Ottawa

Aug 19th, 2020 11:18 pm

Feneant wrote: ↑ Easy enough but I hate dealing with the wait and also the 'what can we do to keep you?' lines.

Would I also be able to send a letter requesting cancellation? It's actually 6 cards since I will also cancel my Capital One World Elite that got downgraded.

Bud you've wasted more of your time, and everyone else's on this forum.. With this post than you would have cancelling the damn cards like a normal person

+2

Aug 19th, 2020 11:27 pm

jtfrogger: Sr. Member; May 26, 2009; 580 posts; 779 upvotes; Calgary

Aug 19th, 2020 11:27 pm

Feneant wrote: ↑ Easy enough but I hate dealing with the wait and also the 'what can we do to keep you?' lines.

Would I also be able to send a letter requesting cancellation? It's actually 6 cards since I will also cancel my Capital One World Elite that got downgraded.

In the end, it's your risk to take, and your liability if anyone intercepts up one of those cards and start using it. So, do what you want.

I personally have cancelled three cards since Saturday. One was through online chat, one through messaging and one by calling. It really isn't that hard. Just say "no, thank you" if they offer you something you don't want.

+3

Aug 20th, 2020 4:31 am

Delight: Sr. Member; Dec 20, 2017; 829 posts; 997 upvotes

Aug 20th, 2020 4:31 am

Why would one keep cards at another address is beyond me. This just causes issues with new card applications when every month after statement cut off, each card is reporting a different address.

Ie: 4 cards at your parent's address, 2 cards are updated to current one. Every month each card reports activity and current address to your credit file. You'll just get conflicting addresses being reported every week.

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+3

Aug 20th, 2020 11:30 pm

boyoflondon: Deal Fanatic; Nov 23, 2005; 8946 posts; 5608 upvotes

Aug 20th, 2020 11:30 pm

I have an old HSBC future shop card that is somehow showing up as open,evemthough I cancelled the card. No idea which aspect of HSBC to even begin now to get it sorted out.

Aug 20th, 2020 11:51 pm

Kneader: Member; Apr 16, 2020; 372 posts; 480 upvotes

Aug 20th, 2020 11:51 pm

boyoflondon wrote: ↑ I have an old HSBC future shop card that is somehow showing up as open,evemthough I cancelled the card. No idea which aspect of HSBC to even begin now to get it sorted out.

Your consumer disclosure should include a contact number for each account.

Aug 22nd, 2020 8:00 am

apnayloags: Penalty Box; Nov 13, 2010; 7810 posts; 1848 upvotes; Scarborough

Aug 22nd, 2020 8:00 am

For cancelling these cards, best excuse is

Tell them you’re leaving the country for a while or for good.....this excuse used to work years ago like a charm....(not sure now)

Or tell em your lost employment and cant afford anymore credit cards etc and to cancel it

Aug 22nd, 2020 12:06 pm

jtfrogger: Sr. Member; May 26, 2009; 580 posts; 779 upvotes; Calgary

Aug 22nd, 2020 12:06 pm

apnayloags wrote: ↑ For cancelling these cards, best excuse is

Tell them you’re leaving the country for a while or for good.....this excuse used to work years ago like a charm....(not sure now)

Or tell em your lost employment and cant afford anymore credit cards etc and to cancel it

Really? Are you really that intimidated by declining an offer? They really don't try hard to keep a customer that hasn't used a card for years.

I usually say I find I don't use it, or it does not meets my needs. They sometimes make an offer, and I say, "No, thank you." In the rare circumstance that they still push (and it is rare), one final "No, thank you" has always worked.

+3

Aug 22nd, 2020 12:15 pm

rhw123: Deal Addict; Feb 4, 2019; 2687 posts; 4399 upvotes; BC

Aug 22nd, 2020 12:15 pm

You don't even need to give a reason. Simply repeat "thanks but I just want to cancel, please" until they do.

+3

Aug 22nd, 2020 12:31 pm

smartie: Deal Guru; Dec 5, 2006; 14204 posts; 9576 upvotes; Markham

Aug 22nd, 2020 12:31 pm

jtfrogger wrote: ↑ Really? Are you really that intimidated by declining an offer? They really don't try hard to keep a customer that hasn't used a card for years.

I usually say I find I don't use it, or it does not meets my needs. They sometimes make an offer, and I say, "No, thank you." In the rare circumstance that they still push (and it is rare), one final "No, thank you" has always worked.

Believe it or not, a lot people don't know how to say no. That's why so many inactive cards there or why people continue to use the cards with limited benefits

If there is an online button that you can just click it then card will be canceled, you will see a lot people cancel their existing card

And companies know this. That's why you can apply new card and request limit increases online, but you cannot cancel card online. Some companies don't even allow you decrease limit online

Aug 22nd, 2020 6:46 pm

KatieH580351: Newbie; Oct 3, 2017; 23 posts; 5 upvotes

Aug 22nd, 2020 6:46 pm

jtfrogger wrote: ↑ In the end, it's your risk to take, and your liability if anyone intercepts up one of those cards and start using it. So, do what you want.

I personally have cancelled three cards since Saturday. One was through online chat, one through messaging and one by calling. It really isn't that hard. Just say "no, thank you" if they offer you something you don't want.

So from your experience, which banks allowed people to cancel their credit cards throng online chat or online messaging?

Aug 22nd, 2020 7:53 pm

rhw123: Deal Addict; Feb 4, 2019; 2687 posts; 4399 upvotes; BC

Aug 22nd, 2020 7:53 pm

KatieH580351 wrote: ↑ So from your experience, which banks allowed people to cancel their credit cards throng online chat or online messaging?

There's a thread for that: credit-card-cancellation-via-secure-mes ... t-2375108/

Aug 22nd, 2020 10:44 pm

jtfrogger: Sr. Member; May 26, 2009; 580 posts; 779 upvotes; Calgary

Aug 22nd, 2020 10:44 pm

KatieH580351 wrote: ↑ So from your experience, which banks allowed people to cancel their credit cards throng online chat or online messaging?

The link from @rhw123 shows the key ones. I did TD through message & Amex through chat last over the last week. I call for CIBC & BMO.

Aug 23rd, 2020 12:07 pm

Webhead: Deal Fanatic; Sep 7, 2004; 8407 posts; 5708 upvotes; West GTEH!

Aug 23rd, 2020 12:07 pm

titaniumtux wrote: ↑Call those issuers. They should be able to look you up by phone number or other information (name, email, etc.). Definitely cancel them if you're certain that you'll never use them.

cashinstinct wrote: ↑ Don't bother with letters, call them, it will be easier.

I would look if the issuers have useful cards for you if they allow product switching, such as TD with 10% cashback offer.

Contact Card Issuer. It'll be faster and easier than sending snail mail.

+1

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