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Home > Guides > Close a credit card by mail
Yes, most card issuers accept a written closure request by mail, and a letter gives you proof of the request. Pay the balance first, redeem rewards before you send it, and ask for written confirmation of closure.
Start with the balance. Pay it in full, then wait for the payment to post and for any pending interest or charges to clear. A card with a remaining balance usually cannot be closed cleanly, and interest can keep accruing on a small leftover amount for months. Check for recurring charges too: streaming services, subscriptions, and app stores tied to the card will fail once it closes, so move them to another card first.
Next, deal with rewards. Points, cash back, and miles tied to a card often vanish when the account closes, and issuers rarely restore them afterward. Redeem what you can before you mail the letter, even if the redemption value is not ideal. If the card is part of a larger rewards program shared across several cards, check whether closing one card affects the pool before you act.
Think about the credit effect before you close. Closing a card reduces your total available credit, which can raise your credit utilization, and it can shorten your average account age over time. For an old card with a high limit and no annual fee, keeping it open and unused is sometimes the better move. For a card with a high annual fee you no longer want, or a card you opened only for a bonus, closure usually makes sense despite the small credit effect.
| Step | Action | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Pay in full | Pay the balance and wait for it to post | Closing with pending interest still owed |
| Move recurring charges | Shift subscriptions to another card | Missed payments when charges fail |
| Redeem rewards | Cash out points, miles, or cash back | Losing rewards at closure |
| Send by tracked mail | Use certified mail in the US or registered mail in Canada | No proof the issuer received it |
| Confirm and check credit | Get written confirmation, then check your credit report | Assuming closure without checking |
Do not include the full card security code, your online banking password, or a photo of the card. The issuer does not need them to close the account, and mailing them adds risk for no benefit. Cutting up the card after closure is good practice, but do not send the pieces in the letter.
Send the letter to the issuer's published mailing address for account correspondence, which is usually on the back of your statement or on the issuer's website. Some issuers have a separate address for disputes and a different one for general correspondence, so use the one meant for account requests. Send it by tracked mail: certified mail in the United States, registered mail in Canada. Keep the receipt with your copy of the letter. If charges continue after closure, that receipt is the first document you will reach for.
Watch for the confirmation letter, and check your credit report a month or two later. The account should show as closed, with a zero balance, and the closure reason should read as requested by the cardholder where the bureau records that detail. If the report shows the account as still open, or closed by the issuer, dispute it with the bureau using your confirmation letter and mailing receipt. Also watch one final statement for stray interest or a delayed charge, and pay anything legitimate right away so it does not turn into a late mark.
Ready to mail it? Send your letter with LetterAgent: describe it to your AI assistant, approve the exact quoted price, and it is printed and mailed.
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