Can You Cancel a Credit Card Application? | Capital One (2024)

January 25, 2024 |4 min read

    Applying for a new credit card can be an exciting step in your personal finance journey. Maybe you’re aiming to take advantage of a credit card offer, earn rewards or simply get a different card. But what if you realize you don’t want the card you applied for? Can you cancel your credit card application?

    It may be possible to cancel a credit card application. But you’ll probably have to act fast.

    Key takeaways

    • You may be able to cancel a credit card application if it’s still pending. But some credit card issuers review online applications in minutes or seconds, so it can be difficult to cancel an application in time.

    • Canceling an application won’t affect your credit scores. But most credit card applications require a hard inquiry to your credit, which can impact your scores.

    • If you’re unable to cancel your application, there may be options to keep, swap or cancel the card, but it’s important to understand how doing so might affect your credit scores.

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    How to cancel a credit card application

    You can only cancel a credit card application if the credit card issuer hasn’t processed the application yet. But keep in mind that card issuers often approve or deny applications within minutes or seconds.

    If you applied in person or by mail or otherwise haven’t been notified about your application yet, there may still be time to contact the issuer and cancel the application.

    How does canceling a credit card application affect your credit score?

    Canceling a credit card application doesn’t directly affect your credit scores.

    However, the credit card application itself will trigger a hard credit inquiry, which is when a lender checks your credit reports after you apply for credit. A hard inquiry will typically cause your credit scores to drop by a few points. Your FICO® score, for example, will typically drop by fewer than five points as the result of a credit check when opening a new credit card.

    But multiple hard inquiries over a short period of time can have a bigger impact on your credit scores, so it’s worth considering when to apply for a credit card.

    What to do if you can’t cancel your credit card application

    If you can’t cancel your credit card application, there may be other options.

    For example, you could decide to keep the card. And if you use the credit card responsibly, it could help you improve your credit scores, build credit or maintain good credit.

    If your new credit card isn’t the one you want, you could check whether there’s an option to upgrade or downgrade it for a different card. For instance, another card may offer rewards that better fit your lifestyle. It also might be possible to downgrade to a card with a lower or no annual fee. Just keep in mind that applying for a different card could lead to another hard inquiry, which can affect your credit scores.

    Can you cancel a credit card if you don’t want the card anymore?

    If you decide that you still don’t want the card, then you could cancel it. And canceling it might be a good idea if using the card could lead to credit card debt. But keep in mind that doing so could negatively affect your credit scores.

    For example, canceling the card will decrease your available credit and increase your credit utilization ratio. It could also affect your credit mix and credit age.

    If you’re approved for the card, you’ll likely have to pay the card’s annual fee if there is one. And if there’s an outstanding balance, it has to be paid off before closing the account.

    Can you cancel a credit card you just applied for?

    If the application hasn’t been approved yet, you may be able to cancel a credit card you just applied for. If the credit card issuer has already approved or declined your application, you can cancel the card in the same way as canceling any credit card. Just be sure to understand the impact on your credit.

    Can you cancel a credit card after approval?

    Yes, it’s possible to cancel a credit card. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau recommends giving the credit card issuer both a call and a written notice. Keep in mind that you’ll have to pay off any outstanding balance.

    Can you cancel a credit card before activating it?

    You can cancel a credit card before activating it, but it will be the same as canceling a card at any other time. And it might still impact your credit scores.

    Canceling a credit card application in a nutshell

    Credit card applications are often processed within minutes or even seconds. If you applied for a credit card you don’t want, you may be able to cancel the application if you act fast. And if you can’t cancel the application, you still have options.

    If you’re considering applying for a Capital One credit card, you could get pre-approved first. Pre-approval can help determine which cards you’re eligible for without harming your credit.

    Explore more from Capital One

    Are you new to credit or searching for your next credit card? Capital One can help:

    • Check for pre-approval offers with no risk to your credit scores.
    • Earn unlimited 1.5% cash back on every purchase, every day with Quicksilver or other cash back rewards cards.
    • Explore credit cards you can use to build credit responsibly and earn rewards.
    • Monitor your credit score with CreditWise from Capital One. It won’t hurt your credit, and it’s free for everyone.
    Can You Cancel a Credit Card Application? | Capital One (2024)

    FAQs

    Can You Cancel a Credit Card Application? | Capital One? ›

    You may be able to cancel a credit card application if it's still pending. But some credit card issuers review online applications in minutes or seconds, so it can be difficult to cancel an application in time. Canceling an application won't affect your credit scores.

    How do I cancel a credit card application Capital One? ›

    You can cancel your Capital One Platinum card application by calling Capital One's customer service as soon as possible. Note that you may have very little time to cancel an online application before it is processed.

    Can I cancel my credit card application before approval? ›

    How to cancel a credit card application. Canceling a credit card application is possible, but you'll need to act fast. Most credit card issuers conduct a hard check on your credit report within a few minutes of applying. And after the application is approved or denied, it's too late to cancel.

    Can I cancel my Credit One credit card application? ›

    You can cancel your Credit One credit card application by calling (800) 752-5493 from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. Pacific Time, Monday - Friday, and 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

    How to stop credit card applications? ›

    A: You can call 1-888-5-OPTOUT (1-888-567-8688) or go to OptOutPrescreen.com* to remove your name from the lists supplied to credit card companies and the three nationwide credit reporting companies (Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion) and another credit company, Innovis.

    How do I cancel pending credit card application? ›

    How To Cancel a Pending Credit Card Application. The only real way to cancel a pending credit card application is to contact the issuer's customer service and ask if they can cancel or change your application. This may be impossible depending on how far along your application is or who the issuer is.

    Is it bad to apply for a credit card and then cancel it? ›

    Canceling a credit card application doesn't directly affect your credit scores. However, the credit card application itself will trigger a hard credit inquiry, which is when a lender checks your credit reports after you apply for credit. A hard inquiry will typically cause your credit scores to drop by a few points.

    Can I cancel a pre-approval application? ›

    The short answer to your question is that a mortgage pre-approval can be cancelled if your personal or financial circ*mstances change. Your pre-approval is conditional and based on the information you provide the lender. If that information changes, your pre-approval is subject to cancellation.

    How early is too early to cancel a credit card? ›

    “At a bare minimum, wait until the card anniversary since the first year's annual fee is a sunk cost at this point anyway,” he says. “At that point, usually you can negotiate your way out of one or two annual fees, or they may credit you with an additional reward if you pay the fee.”

    What happens if you make a mistake on a credit card application? ›

    It's easy to make mistakes that can cause your application to be denied, like typing in an incorrect address, misreporting your income, or using the wrong social security number. If you see you've made a mistake on the application, contact the lender and discuss how this should be addressed.

    Can you cancel a credit card and reapply? ›

    With most issuers, you can open the card again, but you might not be eligible to earn another welcome bonus. For some credit card issuers, there may be a waiting period before you can receive a bonus on the same card again.

    Should I cancel credit cards before applying for a new one? ›

    Since canceling a credit card can lead to a drop in your score, keep your current accounts open and in good standing until you've successfully secured a loan.

    How do I decline a credit application? ›

    Upon a request for the reason for a declined credit application, a credit provider must provide a reason in writing for deciding not to enter into a credit agreement with the consumer. This communication, as advised by the NCA, must be provided in an official language that you can read and understand.

    How do I close a credit card application letter? ›

    I am writing this letter to close my credit card account for the following reason: __ I haven't used the account for quite some time and don't plan to use it in the future. I'm not carrying a balance on this account. Thank you for closing my account promptly.

    Should you shred credit card applications? ›

    We all know it's important to shred our most sensitive pieces of information—credit card statements or applications, tax-related documents, identity cards, etc. Knowing what to shred is key to keeping your identity protected, your finances secure, and your family safe.

    How long does it take for Capital One to approve a credit card? ›

    We will notify you in writing of our decision within 7 to 10 days of your application. When will I receive my new credit card? If you're approved, you should receive your Capital One card, credit limit information, and welcome materials by mail within approximately 7 to 10 business days.

    How to cancel a Credit One card before activating? ›

    The easiest way to cancel a Credit One card is by calling customer service at (877) 825-3242. Another way to cancel your card is to mail the request. Credit One does not offer an option to cancel online.

    Can I cancel a credit card and reapply? ›

    Technically, you could close a card and apply for another one immediately after. However, it's best to wait at least 90 days between credit card applications, especially if you closed a card and are applying for a card with the same issuer.

    How to cancel Capital One credit card without calling? ›

    Here's how you can close your account online. Sign in to your online account, and select the card you want to close. Click on the “I want to” button and find “Close Account” under the "Control Your Card" section. From here, you'll be guided through how to close your credit card account.

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