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Applying for a credit card and submitting your application may seem like a good idea in the moment, but you may change your mind. If you experience this kind of instant regret, you might wonder if you can cancel your credit card application.
This may be possible, but it depends on whether your provider has approved the application yet.
If you haven’t received approval yet, you may be able to cancel your application after it’s been submitted. Call your provider’s customer service line, then ask the representative to cancel your application.
However, you’ll need to be quick. Sometimes, you have just minutes from when you submitted your application to cancel. And with major banks, decisions are often automated — which means you might not even get a chance to call before you’re approved.
Technically, yes — once you’re approved for a card, you’ve basically already accepted it. Your provider will create your card account shortly after approval, and it will report the new account to the credit bureaus.
Beware: You can’t decline acceptance of the card by not activating it or not signing the back of it. Neither of these stop your card account from being opened.
If you’re approved for a credit card, your issuer has already initiated a hard inquiry on your credit report. This will likely have caused your credit score to drop by a few points. Cancelling your card won’t stop the hit to your credit score.
If you’re sure you don’t want your new card, you can reject it. This means you’ll need to cancel your card account. Simply call the number on the back of your card and ask a representative to close your account.
When you call in to cancel your card, oftentimes a representative will try to talk you out of doing it. If you’d rather avoid a potentially uncomfortable conversation, you may be able to cancel your card online. However, this isn’t always an option.
Canceling your credit card will probably have a negative impact on your credit score. The severity depends on whether you already have strong credit, or if your credit is shakier.
Ultimately, you have more leeway to close your card if you have strong credit. But if you have weaker credit, you might not want to do it just yet.
Instead of canceling your card, consider these options:
You’re welcome to submit a card application whenever you like. But before you do, think about where your credit score is at this moment. If it changed significantly, your odds of approval may have been affected too.
Once you know where your new credit score stands, look for a card that fits your credit profile. This increases the likelihood you’ll be approved. Strongly consider applying for cards one at a time, and aim only for the ones you think you’ll be approved for. That’s because each time you submit an application, the hard inquiry will negatively impact your credit score. Multiple applications in quick succession can take a significant chunk from your score.Avoid applying for multiple cards quickly
In some cases, you can cancel your credit card application — if you’re quick, that is. However, you’ll typically receive a decision on your application immediately.
If you don’t want your card, you can reject it. However, this is technically an account cancellation.
Consider keeping the card to protect your credit. If you really don’t want the card, check your credit score again and apply for another credit card that interests you.
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