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You’ve paid off your credit card and put a stop to your direct debit payments. But closing your account isn’t as simple as cutting up your card.
Calling to cancel your account can take time. Representatives are trained to convince you to stay by offering perks and gifts, requiring you to decline three or more times before you’re free.
Before cancelling your HSBC UK credit card by phone, here’s an alternative to get the ball rolling in minutes.
How to cancel your HSBC credit card without calling
As a HSBC customer, you have several options for cancelling your credit card.
- Online. Log into your HSBC account with online banking. Send HSBC a secure e-message telling it what card you would like to cancel. HSBC will then reply to inform you of the next steps.
- In branch. Visit your local branch with your credit card and valid identification (eg passport, driving licence).
- Write to HSBC. Its website said customers wishing to cancel accounts can write to their PO Box 6201 address (see below) with the card in question cut up into at least six pieces.
Alternatively, call HSBC’s customer service line on 03457 404 404 (open daily 8am-8pm).
What to expect when you call to cancel your card
Whether it’s to clean out your wallet or gain control of your finances, know your reason for cancelling before you call. Any representative you speak to will try to convince you to stay and could even forward you to HSBC’s customer retention division for more persuading.
Credit card companies don’t want to lose you, and so they make it difficult to cut ties.
Have a game plan
Before you pick up the phone, know if more perks or a lower APR could entice you to stay.
Above all: if you’re sure you want to close you account, strongly refuse any enticing deals the rep throws your way.
Will cancelling my HSBC credit card affect my credit score?
It could, but it all depends on your lender. Credit bureaux determine your creditworthiness by looking at your payment history and the age of your credit. But they also look at how much credit is available to you compared to how much you’re using; this is known as a credit utilisation ratio.
Credit utilisation is the percentage you use of your credit limit. For example, if you have an overall credit limit of £3,000 and you use £1,500 of it, your credit utilisation is 50%. But if you cancel a card and your limit is reduced to £2,250, you’ll be using 75% of it. Closing a card with a high spending limit and £0 balance can temporarily increase your ratio, resulting in potential creditors seeing you as a higher risk.
In general, credit bureaux like to see a credit utilisation ratio below 25% after you’ve cancelled your credit card. If you’re looking to get control of your finances, it may help you to keep your £0 balance card open and just stop using it. Just make sure there are no annual or dormancy fees.
After you’ve cancelled your credit card
After you’ve cancelled your card online or by phone, send a written letter to HSBC with your cancellation request. Include your credit card number and account number.
Send your signed letter to:
HSBC
PO Box 6201,
Coventry,
CV3 9HW
Compare credit cards
If you want to close your credit card because it doesn’t offer what you want, you may want to find a new credit card that better suits you. The chart below allows to to compare cards and find one that has the features you want. Click the Compare buttons to get a side-by-side comparison of the cards you select.
Table: sorted by representative APR, promoted deals first
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