Call Lowe's customer service to cancel, or request cancellation in writing

The fastest way to cancel your Lowe's credit card is to call the customer service number on the back of your card. A representative will walk you through the cancellation, confirm your identity, and process the request on the spot. The call typically takes five to ten minutes.

If you prefer not to call, you can send a written request to Lowe's by mail. Include your name, account number, and a clear statement that you want to cancel the card. Send it to the address listed on your statement or the back of your card. Written cancellations take longer — usually two to four weeks — because the mail has to travel both ways and be processed by hand.

A third option is to log into your Lowe's online account and look for a cancellation option in the account settings or card management section. Not all card issuers offer this, so it may not be available for the Lowe's card, but it's worth checking before you call.

Key Takeaways

  • Calling the number on the back of your card is the quickest way to cancel, and the representative will confirm the cancellation immediately.
  • You can also cancel by mail if you send a written request with your name, account number, and card number to the address on your statement.
  • Pay off any remaining balance before you cancel, or your account will still be active until the balance is zero.
  • After cancellation, your card will stop working, but your account history stays on your credit report for seven to ten years.
  • Check your credit report a few weeks after cancellation to confirm the card shows as closed.

Pay your balance before you cancel

If your Lowe's card has a balance, you need to pay it off before you cancel — or at least before the cancellation takes effect. Canceling a card with an unpaid balance doesn't erase the debt. Instead, your account stays open and active until you pay what you owe, which defeats the purpose of canceling.

Pay the full balance if you can. If you can't, pay as much as you're able to, then call to cancel. Your account will remain open to collect the remaining balance, but you won't be able to use the card for new purchases. This is actually safer than leaving the card open and unused, because it prevents accidental charges or fraud.

What happens to your credit after you cancel

Closing a credit card affects your credit score in two ways, and both happen at the moment you cancel. First, your available credit shrinks. If you had a $5,000 limit on the Lowe's card and a $10,000 limit on another card, closing the Lowe's card cuts your total available credit to $10,000. This can raise your credit utilization ratio — the percentage of your credit limit you're actually using — which may lower your score temporarily.

Second, the card's payment history stays on your credit report for seven to ten years after you close it. This is actually good news if you paid on time, because those on-time payments continue to help your score. If you missed payments, those negative marks will eventually age off, but they'll be visible for seven years from the date of the missed payment.

The score drop from closing a card is usually small and temporary. Your score typically recovers within a few months if you keep your other accounts in good standing.

Confirm the cancellation in writing

After you cancel by phone, ask the representative for a confirmation number. Write it down along with the date and time of the call. This gives you proof that you requested the cancellation, which matters if there's ever a dispute.

A few days after your call, check your online account to confirm the card status shows as closed or canceled. If it still shows as active after a week, call back and ask why the cancellation didn't go through. Sometimes the request gets lost in the system, especially if you called during a busy time.

Check your credit report after cancellation

About four to six weeks after you cancel, pull a free copy of your credit report from AnnualCreditReport.com — the only site authorized by the federal government to provide free reports. Look for the Lowe's card and confirm it shows as "closed" or "closed by consumer" rather than "open."

If the card still shows as open after six weeks, contact Lowe's customer service again and ask them to update the status. Credit bureaus rely on the card issuer to report the closure, so if Lowe's doesn't send that update, the card may appear open on your report even though you can't use it.

What to do if you want to keep the card open

If you're canceling because you're not using the card, consider keeping it open instead. An unused card with a zero balance actually helps your credit score by keeping your available credit high and your utilization ratio low. The card issuer may close it for inactivity after a year or two, but that's their choice, not yours.

If you're canceling because of an annual fee, call customer service and ask if they'll waive it or switch you to a no-fee version of the card. Many issuers will do this to keep your account open. If they won't, then cancellation makes sense.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will canceling my Lowe's card hurt my credit score?

Your score may drop slightly in the short term because your available credit decreases. The impact is usually small — typically five to ten points — and your score usually recovers within a few months if you keep your other accounts in good standing and don't carry high balances.

Can I cancel my Lowe's card if I still owe money on it?

You can request cancellation, but the account will stay open until you pay the balance. You won't be able to use the card for new purchases, but you'll still need to make payments on what you owe. Pay off the balance first if you want the account to close completely.

How long does it take for my Lowe's card to be canceled?

If you cancel by phone, the cancellation is immediate — your card stops working right away. If you cancel by mail, it takes two to four weeks for your request to be processed. Either way, check your account online after a week to confirm the status changed.

Will my Lowe's card cancellation show up on my credit report?

Yes. The card will show as "closed by consumer" on your credit report, and that record stays for seven to ten years. The closure itself doesn't hurt your score, but the loss of available credit might cause a small temporary dip.

What if Lowe's won't let me cancel?

Card issuers can't refuse a cancellation request. If a representative says they can't close your account, ask to speak to a supervisor or try calling back another day. You have the right to close any credit account you own.