Canceling a credit card can be a significant financial decision, and it’s essential to approach it methodically. If you’ve decided to cancel your American Eagle Credit Card, this guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, ensuring you don’t miss any crucial details. We’ll cover everything from using your remaining rewards to updating your automated payments and monitoring your credit report.
Before You Cancel: Important Considerations
1. Use Your Reward Points
Before initiating the cancellation process, it’s crucial to use any remaining reward points on your American Eagle Credit Card. These points typically expire or become void once the card is canceled, so don’t let them go to waste.
- Redeem Your Points: You can get $5 off purchases for every 1,250 points accumulated.
- Check Your Balance: Log into your account or call customer service to verify your current point balance.
- Plan Your Redemption: Consider making a final purchase to utilize your points effectively.
2. Pay or Transfer Your Balance
It’s impossible to cancel a credit card with an outstanding balance. Before proceeding with cancellation, you must:
- Pay Off Your Balance: If possible, pay the entire balance to clear your account.
- Transfer the Balance: Alternatively, you can transfer the balance to another credit card if you can’t pay it off immediately.
The Cancellation Process
3. Contact Customer Service
Once you’ve used your rewards and cleared your balance, it’s time to contact American Eagle’s customer service to request the cancellation.
- Phone: Call the Real Rewards Credit Card service at 1-888-232-4535. They’re available from 7AM to 1AM EST, seven days a week.
- Email: If you can’t call during these hours, email customer service for assistance.
When contacting customer service, be prepared to:
– Provide your account information
– Confirm your intention to cancel the card
– Answer any security questions to verify your identity
4. Request Written Confirmation
To protect yourself and ensure proper documentation of the cancellation, it’s crucial to obtain written confirmation. Here’s what to do:
- Ask for Written Confirmation: Request that the representative send you a written confirmation of the account cancellation via email or mail.
- Specify Important Details: Ensure the confirmation includes:
- A clear statement that the account has been closed
- Your credit card account number
- The date of account closure
- Confirmation of a zero balance at the time of closure
- Optionally, the reason for cancellation (though this isn’t always necessary)
Post-Cancellation Steps
5. Update Automated Payments and Recurring Charges
After canceling your American Eagle credit card, you’ll need to update any automated payments or recurring charges linked to it. Follow these steps:
- Identify Recurring Charges:
- Review past statements
- Make a list of all subscriptions and automated payments
- Update Payment Information:
- Contact each service provider or log into your accounts
- Change the payment method to a new card or payment option
- Verify that the new payment method is accepted and linked correctly
- Verify Changes:
- Double-check with service providers that the updates are processed
- Look for confirmation emails or account notifications
- Monitor Accounts:
- Keep an eye on your accounts to ensure payments are processing correctly
- Address any issues promptly to avoid missed payments or service interruptions
- Destroy Old Card and Records:
- Shred or securely destroy the physical American Eagle credit card
- Maintain records of conversations and confirmations with service providers
6. Monitor Your Credit Report
It’s crucial to ensure that the cancellation is accurately reflected on your credit report. Here’s how to do it:
- Wait 30-60 Days: Allow time for the cancellation to be reported to credit bureaus.
- Check Your Credit Report:
- Obtain free reports from AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228
- Review reports from all three major bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion
- Verify Account Status:
- Look for “Closed” or “Account Closed at Consumer’s Request” status
- Address Discrepancies:
- If the status is incorrect, contact American Eagle credit card customer service
- Provide the written confirmation of cancellation
- If issues persist, contact the credit bureaus directly:
- TransUnion: 833-806-1627
- Experian: 866-617-1894
- Equifax: 888-378-4329
- Keep Records: Maintain all correspondence and confirmations related to the account closure for future reference.
Conclusion
Canceling your American Eagle Credit Card requires careful planning and follow-through. By following this comprehensive guide, you can ensure that you maximize your rewards, properly close your account, update your financial records, and maintain the accuracy of your credit report. Remember, responsible credit management is an ongoing process, and taking these steps will contribute to your overall financial health.
