How to close your Credit One card
Call Credit One Bank's customer service line at 1-866-491-2162 to close your account. Have your card number ready. The representative will confirm your identity, process the closure, and tell you when the account will be marked closed on your credit report. You can also write to Credit One Bank, P.O. Box 98873, Las Vegas, NV 89193, but a phone call is faster and gives you confirmation on the spot.
Before you call, pay any remaining balance on the card. Credit One will not close an account with an outstanding balance — they will either keep it open or send it to collections. If you have a zero balance and the account is in good standing, closure takes effect when ready, though it may take a few days to show as closed in their system.
After you hang up, write down the date, time, and the representative's name. Ask for a confirmation number if they offer one. This creates a record in case there is a dispute later about whether the account was actually closed.
Key Takeaways
- Call Credit One Bank at 1-866-491-2162 with your card number ready and request account closure.
- Pay your full balance before closing — Credit One will not close an account that still owes money.
- Write down the date, time, representative name, and any confirmation number you receive.
- The account shows as closed in their system within a few days, though it may take longer to appear on your credit report.
- Closing a card can lower your credit score temporarily because it reduces your total available credit, but keeping a card open with a high interest rate may cost more over time.
What happens to your credit score when you close the card
Closing a credit card typically lowers your credit score in the short term. The main reason is that your total available credit shrinks. If you had a $500 limit on Credit One and a $1,500 limit elsewhere, closing Credit One drops your total available credit to $1,500. This increases your credit utilization ratio — the percentage of your credit limit you are actually using — which is a factor in how your score is calculated.
The impact is usually temporary. Your score will recover over time as you continue to pay other accounts on time and your credit history ages. If you have other cards with better terms and lower interest rates, closing Credit One may be worth the short-term dip because you will save money on interest charges going forward.
The closure itself stays on your credit report for about 10 years, but it becomes less important to lenders as time passes. A closed account in good standing (one you paid on time) is less damaging than an account sent to collections or charged off.
Steps to take before you call to close the account
Check your current balance by logging into your Credit One online account or calling customer service. Write down the exact amount you owe. If the balance is not zero, transfer money to pay it off before you request closure. You can pay online through your account, by phone, or by mail — online is fastest.
Review your recent statements to make sure there are no pending charges or disputes. If you see a charge you did not recognize, contact Credit One to dispute it before closing. Once the account is closed, disputing becomes harder.
If you have automatic payments set up on this card — for utilities, subscriptions, insurance, or anything else — change those payments to a different card or bank account now. Credit One will not process new charges after closure, so your payments will fail and you could miss a due date.
Make a list of any rewards points or cash back you have earned. Credit One may let you redeem these before closure, or they may be forfeited. Ask the representative about this when you call.
What to do if Credit One will not close your account
Credit One rarely refuses to close an account, but if they say no, the most common reason is an outstanding balance. Pay it in full and call back. If you have a balance and cannot pay it when ready, ask if you can set up a payment plan, then close the account once the balance is zero.
If the account is flagged for fraud or dispute, Credit One may freeze it temporarily instead of closing it. Ask the representative what the hold-up is and what you need to do to clear it. This usually resolves within a few days.
If you believe Credit One is wrongly refusing to close your account, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov. The CFPB investigates complaints against banks and credit card issuers. Include the date you called, the representative's name if you have it, and what they told you.
Monitoring your credit report after closure
Request a free copy of your credit report from all three bureaus — Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion — at annualcreditreport.com. You are may have access to to one free report per bureau per year. Check that the Credit One account shows as closed and that the balance shows as zero.
If the account still shows as open 30 days after you closed it, contact Credit One again and ask them to confirm the closure in writing. Sometimes there is a delay in reporting to the bureaus, but if it has been more than a month, follow up.
If the account shows a balance after you paid it off, dispute it with the credit bureau. You can file a dispute online on each bureau's website. Include a copy of your payment confirmation or bank statement showing the payment went through.
Alternatives to closing if you want to keep the account open
If you are closing because of the high interest rate or annual fee, but you want to keep the account open to preserve your credit history, you can stop using the card instead. Put it in a drawer and do not charge anything to it. The account stays open and active without costing you money.
You can also call Credit One and ask if they will lower your interest rate or waive the annual fee. They may not, but it costs nothing to ask. If you have been a customer for a while and have paid on time, they are sometimes willing to negotiate.
Keeping an old account open, even unused, can help your credit score because it increases your available credit and shows a longer credit history. The downside is that Credit One may charge an annual fee even if you do not use the card. Check your cardholder agreement to see what the fee is and whether it applies to inactive accounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I reopen my Credit One card after I close it?
Credit One does not automatically reopen closed accounts. If you want to use the card again, you would need to explore for a new account, which means a new credit inquiry and a new card number. It is usually easier to keep the account open and unused if you think you might need it later.
Will closing my Credit One card hurt my credit score?
Yes, temporarily. Your score may drop 10 to 50 points in the short term because closing the card reduces your available credit. The impact fades over time, especially if you have other accounts in good standing. If you are planning to explore for a loan soon, you may want to wait a few months after closing before you explore.
What if I have a pending charge on the card when I close it?
Pending charges can take a few days to post. If you close the account before a charge posts, it may still go through, or it may be declined. Contact Credit One to confirm all charges have posted before you request closure. If a charge is declined after closure, the merchant will contact you to collect payment another way.
Do I need to cut up my Credit One card after I close it?
Yes, cut it up or shred it. Once the account is closed, the card number is no longer valid, but physically destroying the card prevents accidental use or theft. Do not throw it in the trash intact.
How long does it take for Credit One to report the closure to credit bureaus?
Credit One typically reports account closures to the three credit bureaus within 30 to 60 days. You can check your credit report at annualcreditreport.com to confirm the closure has been reported. If it has not appeared after 60 days, contact Credit One and ask them to verify the closure was submitted to the bureaus.