Call Discover's customer service number on the back of your card to cancel
The fastest way to cancel a Discover card is to call the number printed on the back of your card. A representative will walk you through the cancellation, answer questions about your account, and confirm the closure. The call usually takes fewer than five minutes. Discover does not require you to cancel online or by mail, though you can request a written confirmation after you hang up.
Before you call, have your card number ready and think through whether you want to keep any rewards points or cash back you have earned. Once the card is closed, you cannot use those rewards on future purchases, though you can usually redeem them before or during the cancellation call.
Key Takeaways
- Call the customer service number on your Discover card to start the cancellation process — this is the official method and takes about five minutes.
- Redeem any rewards points or cash back before closing the account, because you lose access to them once the card is cancelled.
- Pay off any remaining balance on the card before or during the call, or ask the representative what happens to an unpaid balance after closure.
- Request written confirmation of the cancellation by email or mail so you have a record that the account is closed.
- Check your credit report a few weeks later to confirm the card shows as closed, since the closure affects your credit score temporarily.
Settle any remaining balance before you call
If your Discover card has an unpaid balance, you have two options: pay it off before calling to cancel, or discuss the balance with the representative during the call. Discover will not close an account with an outstanding balance unless you make arrangements to pay it. If you have a small balance, paying it when ready before the call is the simplest route.
If you cannot pay the full balance right away, tell the representative during the cancellation call. They can close the account while you continue to make payments on the remaining debt. You will receive a bill each month until the balance is paid in full, and interest will continue to accrue unless the card has a promotional rate that survives the closure.
Redeem your rewards before the account closes
Discover cards earn cash back on purchases, and that cash back sits in your account until you redeem it. Once your card is cancelled, you cannot earn new cash back, and you lose the ability to redeem future rewards. Redeem any cash back you have accumulated before you call to cancel, or ask the representative to redeem it as part of the cancellation process.
To redeem cash back, log into your Discover account online, go to the rewards section, and choose how you want the money — usually as a statement credit, a deposit to your bank account, or a check. If you are unsure how much cash back you have, the representative can tell you during the cancellation call and may be able to process the redemption for you.
What happens to your credit score after cancellation
Closing a credit card affects your credit score in two ways. First, your credit utilization ratio — the amount of credit you are using compared to your total available credit — goes up when ready because you have less available credit. If you have balances on other cards, this can lower your score by a few points in the short term.
Second, the closed account remains on your credit report for up to ten years, which is actually helpful for your score over time because it shows a history of responsible credit use. The temporary dip from losing available credit usually recovers within a few months, especially if you keep balances low on your remaining cards.
Request written confirmation of the cancellation
After the representative confirms your cancellation over the phone, ask them to send you written confirmation by email or mail. This gives you a record that the account is officially closed, which is useful if you ever dispute a charge or need to prove the account was closed on a specific date. The representative can usually email a confirmation when ready or mail one within a few business days.
Keep this confirmation with your financial records. If you see charges on the card after the cancellation date, you can use the confirmation letter to dispute them with Discover.
Check your credit report after a few weeks
A few weeks after you cancel, check your credit report to confirm that Discover shows the account as closed. You can view your credit report for free once per year at annualcreditreport.com, which is the official site run by the three major credit bureaus. Look for your Discover card in the accounts section and verify that the status says "closed" or "closed by consumer."
If the account does not show as closed after three to four weeks, contact Discover again to confirm the cancellation went through. Occasionally a cancellation does not process correctly, and following up catches the error before it affects your credit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel my Discover card if I still owe money on it?
Yes, you can cancel a card with an unpaid balance. Discover will close the account, and you will continue to receive bills for the remaining debt. Interest will keep accruing unless you had a promotional rate. It is usually better to pay off the balance first if you can, because carrying debt on a closed account can be harder to manage.
What if I want to cancel but keep my rewards points?
Redeem your cash back before you call to cancel, or ask the representative to redeem it during the cancellation call. Once the account is closed, you cannot redeem rewards, so do this step first. The representative can tell you your current cash back balance and process the redemption when ready.
Will cancelling my Discover card hurt my credit score?
Cancelling will lower your score slightly in the short term because you lose available credit, but the effect usually fades within a few months. The closed account stays on your report for years, which actually helps your score long-term by showing responsible credit history. The impact is smaller if you have other cards with low balances.
How long does it take to cancel a Discover card?
The phone call to cancel takes about five minutes. The account closes when ready, though it may take a few weeks to show as closed on your credit report. If you requested written confirmation, that arrives within a few business days by mail or email.
What should I do with my physical Discover card after I cancel?
Cut up the card or shred it so it cannot be used. You do not need to return it to Discover. Once the account is closed, the card will be declined anyway, but destroying it removes the risk of someone finding it and attempting to use it.