Call American Express directly to cancel, but do it the right way to protect your credit score
Canceling an American Express card is straightforward — you call their customer service number, confirm your identity, and ask them to close the account. The call takes about five minutes. But the timing and what you do before that call matters more than the call itself, because closing a credit card can lower your credit score even though you're the one ending the relationship.
American Express customer service is available by phone 24 hours a day. The number is on the back of your card. When you call, have your card in front of you. They'll ask you to verify your identity using your Social Security number or card number, then ask why you're closing the account. You can say anything — too many cards, moving to a different issuer, annual fee you don't want to pay. They may offer you a retention bonus or waived fee to stay. You can accept or decline. Then they'll close the account and send you a confirmation letter in the mail within a few days.
Key Takeaways
- Pay off your full balance before you call to cancel, so American Express doesn't charge interest on a closed account.
- Canceling reduces your available credit, which can raise your credit utilization ratio and lower your credit score temporarily.
- American Express may offer you a retention bonus or waived annual fee during the call — listen to the offer before you decide.
- After cancellation, keep the account open on your credit report for at least seven years, which happens automatically; do not ask them to remove it early.
Pay off your balance completely before calling
Do not cancel a card while you owe money on it. If you have a balance when the account closes, American Express will charge interest on that balance every month until it's paid off, even though you can't use the card anymore. You'll also lose any grace period you had — interest starts accruing when ready.
Log into your American Express account online or call customer service to find out your exact balance. Pay it in full before you make the cancellation call. If you have pending charges that haven't posted yet, wait a few days for them to show up, then pay those too. Once the balance reads zero, you're ready to cancel.
Understand how cancellation affects your credit score
Closing a credit card lowers your credit score in two ways. First, it reduces your total available credit. If you had a $5,000 limit on the American Express card and $15,000 in total limits across all your cards, closing it drops your total to $10,000. Your credit utilization ratio — the percentage of your available credit you're actually using — goes up. If you're carrying a $3,000 balance on other cards, your utilization was 20 percent before. After closing the American Express card, it becomes 30 percent. Higher utilization hurts your score.
Second, closing an account shortens your average account age. Credit scoring models reward you for having older accounts. When you close one, the average age of all your accounts drops slightly, which also lowers your score. The damage is usually temporary — your score typically recovers within a few months — but it's real.
If your credit score is currently low or you're about to explore for a mortgage or car loan, consider waiting to cancel until after the process is approved. If you're canceling because of an annual fee, call first and ask if they'll waive it; many will for long-time customers.
Know what happens to rewards points before you cancel
Check your American Express account for any rewards points you've earned but haven't redeemed. Once the account closes, you typically have a limited window — usually 30 to 90 days — to use those points. After that, they expire and you lose them. Redeem them before you call to cancel, or at minimum before the account officially closes.
Log into your account and go to the rewards section to see your balance. You can usually redeem points for statement credits, gift cards, travel, or merchandise. Pick what you want and process the redemption. Once it's done, you can cancel without worry.
Call American Express customer service to close the account
The phone number for American Express customer service is on the back of your card. Call during business hours (though they're open 24/7, you may reach a representative faster during the day). Have your card and your Social Security number ready.
When you reach a representative, say: "I'd like to close my account." They'll verify your identity and may ask why you're closing it. Be honest but brief — "I'm not using the card" or "I want to reduce the number of cards I have" works fine. They may then offer you a retention bonus, a waived annual fee, or a lower interest rate. Listen to what they offer. You can accept it and keep the account open, or decline and proceed with the cancellation. There's no penalty for declining.
Once you confirm you want to close the account, they'll process it when ready. Ask them to confirm the account is closed and get a reference number for your records. They'll mail you a written confirmation within a few business days.
What happens to your account after cancellation
After you cancel, American Express will send you a final statement showing a zero balance. The closed account will remain on your credit report for seven years from the date it was closed. This is automatic — you don't need to do anything. Having a closed account on your report is normal and doesn't hurt your score the way an open account with a balance does.
Do not ask American Express to remove the account from your credit report early. Closed accounts in good standing actually help your credit score over time because they show a history of responsible credit use. Removing them early can hurt your score more than keeping them.
If you have an automatic payment set up on the card (like a subscription or utility bill), change that payment method before you cancel. American Express will reject any charges after the account closes, and you could miss a payment on something important.
Consider keeping the card open if there's no annual fee
If your American Express card has no annual fee, you might want to keep it open even if you're not using it. An open account with a zero balance helps your credit score by keeping your available credit high and your utilization ratio low. It also gives you access to that credit if you need it in an emergency.
The only downside to keeping it open is the small risk that American Express will close it themselves for inactivity, though this is rare. If you want to keep the account active without using it, make one small purchase every few months and pay it off when ready. This keeps the account in good standing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will canceling my American Express card hurt my credit score?
Yes, but temporarily. Your score will drop because your available credit decreases and your average account age shortens. The damage is usually 5 to 10 points and recovers within a few months. If you're about to explore for a loan, wait until after approval to cancel.
What if I have a balance when I cancel?
American Express will keep the account open to collect the balance. You'll be charged interest every month until it's paid off, even though you can't use the card. Pay off the full balance before you call to cancel.
Can I cancel over email or through the website?
American Express requires you to cancel by phone. You can't do it online or by email. Call the number on the back of your card and speak to a representative.
What happens to my rewards points after I cancel?
You have 30 to 90 days after cancellation to redeem them before they expire. Redeem them before you cancel to make sure you don't lose them. Check your account for your current points balance and choose your redemption option.
Should I cancel if I have an annual fee?
Call American Express first and ask if they'll waive the annual fee. Many will for customers who have held the card for years. If they won't waive it and you don't use the card, then canceling makes sense. If there's no annual fee, keeping the card open helps your credit score.