Call Macy's customer service to request cancellation
To cancel your Macy's credit card, call the customer service number on the back of your card. Have your card number and account information ready. The representative will confirm your identity, ask why you're closing the account, and process the cancellation on the call. The card is closed immediately, though the account remains open for a short period while any pending transactions post.
You can also request cancellation by mail. Write to the address listed on your statement, include your account number and card number, and state clearly that you want to close the account. Mail takes longer — typically 7 to 10 business days for the request to reach the right department — so phone is faster if you want confirmation the same day.
Do not simply stop using the card and assume it closes on its own. Inactive accounts may be closed by the issuer after 12 months or more of no activity, but you cannot rely on timing. Calling ensures the closure happens when you decide, not when the card company decides.
Key Takeaways
- Call the number on the back of your Macy's card to cancel; the representative will close it immediately after confirming your identity.
- Pay off your full balance before canceling, because you remain responsible for any outstanding debt after the card closes.
- Check your credit report 30 to 60 days after cancellation to confirm the account shows as closed on your record.
- Canceling a card can lower your credit score temporarily because it reduces your total available credit, even if you pay on time.
- Keep the card itself after cancellation until you receive written confirmation the account is closed, in case a charge appears later.
Settle your balance before you call
Pay off any remaining balance on the card before you request cancellation. If you close the account with an outstanding balance, you still owe the money — the card issuer will continue to charge interest and may report the debt to collection agencies if you stop paying. Closing the account does not erase what you owe.
If you have a promotional rate (such as 0% APR for 12 months), check the terms before you cancel. Some promotions end when the account closes, and any remaining balance may jump to the regular interest rate immediately. If you have a large balance still under a promotional rate, canceling may cost you significantly in interest.
Once the balance is zero, you can cancel without financial consequence. The account closes, but you have no debt remaining.
What happens to rewards points and cash back
Macy's Star Rewards points do not expire simply because you close the card. You can redeem points after cancellation, though the window to do so varies. Check your account online or call customer service to find out your specific redemption deadline — it is usually 90 days to one year after closure, depending on your card tier.
If you have cash back pending, redeem it before you cancel. Some issuers pay out pending cash back automatically after closure, but others do not. Calling customer service before cancellation to ask about your pending rewards ensures you do not lose them.
Once the account is closed, you cannot earn new rewards, even if you somehow use the card number. Do not count on rewards after closure.
The impact on your credit score
Closing a credit card typically lowers your credit score in the short term, even if you have never missed a payment. The score drop happens because closing the account reduces your total available credit. If you had a $5,000 limit and used $1,000, your credit utilization was 20%. After you close that card, your available credit shrinks, and the same $1,000 balance now represents a higher percentage of your total credit — which the scoring model reads as higher risk.
The impact is usually temporary. Your score typically recovers within a few months as the account ages and the closure becomes less recent in your credit history. If you have other cards with available credit, the damage is smaller.
If your credit score is important right now — you are applying for a mortgage or car loan in the next few months — consider waiting to cancel until after the application is approved. If timing is not urgent, the score recovery is not a reason to keep a card you do not want.
Confirm the closure in writing
After you cancel by phone, the representative will give you a confirmation number. Write it down. A few days later, check your online account to confirm the status shows as closed. You should also receive a written confirmation in the mail within 7 to 10 business days.
Do not throw away the physical card immediately. Cut it up only after you receive written confirmation that the account is closed. If a charge appears on the account after you cancel — a delayed merchant posting, a subscription you forgot about, or a billing error — you need proof the card was closed to dispute it.
Check your credit report 30 to 60 days after cancellation. The account should appear as "closed by consumer" on your Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion reports. If it does not, contact the credit bureau to report the discrepancy.
What to do if you want to keep the account open but stop using the card
If you want to preserve your credit history and available credit but do not want to use the card, you do not have to cancel. You can simply stop using it. The account stays open, your credit limit remains available, and your credit utilization stays lower than it would if you closed the card.
The downside is that inactive accounts may be closed by the issuer after 12 to 24 months of no activity. If that happens, you lose the available credit anyway. To prevent automatic closure, use the card once or twice a year for a small purchase and pay it off immediately. This keeps the account active without carrying a balance.
If the card has an annual fee and you are not using it, canceling makes more sense than paying the fee to keep an unused account open. But if there is no annual fee, leaving it open costs you nothing and protects your credit score.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I cancel my Macy's card online?
Macy's does not offer online cancellation through their website or mobile app. You must call customer service or send a written request by mail. Phone is the fastest option because you get immediate confirmation.
What if I have a balance transfer on my Macy's card?
You can still cancel, but you remain responsible for the balance transfer debt. The interest rate on the transferred balance may change after closure — check your terms to see if the promotional rate ends when the account closes. Pay off the balance before canceling if possible.
Will canceling hurt my credit score permanently?
No. The score drop is temporary, usually recovering within a few months. The closed account remains on your credit report for up to 10 years, but its impact on your score fades over time as it ages.
What if I want to reopen my Macy's card after I cancel?
You can request to reopen the account by calling customer service, but the issuer is not required to approve it. If they do reopen it, you may not get the same credit limit or terms you had before. It is easier to keep an unused card open than to close it and hope to reopen it later.
Do I need to return the physical card after cancellation?
No. You can cut up the card and throw it away once you have written confirmation the account is closed. Macy's does not require you to mail the card back.