Call Old Navy's customer service number to request cancellation
The fastest way to cancel your Old Navy credit card is to call the number on the back of your card. A representative will walk you through the cancellation process over the phone, answer questions about your account, and confirm the closure once it's complete. This takes about 10 minutes and gives you a confirmation you can reference later.
If you prefer not to call, you can also cancel by mail. Write a letter to Old Navy's credit card issuer (Synchrony Bank) requesting cancellation, include your account number and full name, and mail it to the address listed on your statement. Mail takes longer — typically one to two weeks — but creates a paper record of your request.
Before you call or write, pay off any remaining balance on the card. Most issuers will not close an account with an outstanding balance, and even if they do, you'll still owe the debt. Paying the balance first removes this obstacle.
Key Takeaways
- Call the number on the back of your Old Navy card to cancel; a representative will process it immediately and confirm closure over the phone.
- Pay off any remaining balance before canceling, since most issuers will not close an account with unpaid debt.
- After cancellation, your credit report will show the account as closed, which may temporarily affect your credit score because your available credit decreases.
- Keep your card for 30 days after cancellation to watch for any unexpected charges, then destroy it by cutting through the chip and magnetic stripe.
What happens to your credit score when you cancel
Closing a credit card account can lower your credit score in the short term, usually by 5 to 10 points, because your available credit shrinks. If you had a $1,000 limit on the Old Navy card and $4,000 in total available credit across all your cards, closing it drops your available credit to $3,000. Credit scoring models view lower available credit as slightly riskier.
The impact is temporary. Your score typically recovers within a few months as long as you keep your other accounts in good standing and continue paying on time. The long-term benefit of closing a card you don't use often outweighs this short dip — you reduce the number of accounts that could be compromised, and you eliminate the temptation to carry a balance on an account you've forgotten about.
If you're concerned about the score impact and don't have other cards, consider keeping the Old Navy card open but unused instead. The account will stay active and continue to count toward your available credit without any effort on your part.
Timing: when to cancel before or after paying off the balance
Pay off the balance first, then cancel. If you cancel while you still owe money, the issuer may refuse to close the account, or they may close it anyway and continue charging interest on the remaining debt. Either way, you're in a worse position.
Once the balance is zero, you can cancel immediately. There's no advantage to waiting. Some people worry that canceling too soon after opening an account looks bad to lenders, but you've already had the Old Navy card long enough to decide you don't want it — the damage to your credit history from opening it is already done. Canceling now doesn't make that worse.
What to do if the card issuer denies your cancellation request
Synchrony Bank (the company that issues the Old Navy card) rarely denies a cancellation request, but if they do, ask why. The most common reason is an outstanding balance. If that's the case, pay it off and call back to cancel.
If they claim there's no balance but won't cancel, ask them to send you a written statement showing your account status. Request the cancellation in writing as well — send a certified letter to the address on your statement. A written request creates a record that protects you if the account stays open and fraudulent charges appear later. You can dispute those charges by pointing to your cancellation request.
Protecting yourself after cancellation
Keep the card itself for 30 days after cancellation. Watch your email and mail for any unexpected charges from Old Navy or Synchrony. Occasionally a charge will post after you've canceled — usually an auto-renewal subscription or a delayed transaction — and you'll need to dispute it. Having the card on hand makes it easier to reference the account number when you call.
After 30 days, destroy the card by cutting it in half, making sure to cut through the chip and the magnetic stripe on the back. Don't just throw it in the trash whole. Shred any statements that contain your full account number as well.
Check your credit report about two months after cancellation to confirm the account shows as closed. You can view your credit report free once per year at annualcreditreport.com. If the account still shows as open, contact Synchrony again and ask them to update it.
Alternatives to cancellation if you're unsure
If you're on the fence about canceling, consider keeping the card open but putting it away. You don't have to use it. The account will stay active, your available credit stays high, and you avoid the temporary score dip that comes with closure. This works well if you opened the card for a one-time promotion and don't plan to shop at Old Navy again soon but might in the future.
The downside is that an unused account is one more account you have to monitor for fraud. If security is your main concern, canceling is the better choice. If you're worried about the score impact and you have good credit, keeping it open costs you nothing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will canceling hurt my credit score permanently?
No. Your score may drop 5 to 10 points in the first month or two, but it recovers as long as you keep other accounts in good standing. The long-term impact is neutral or slightly positive because you're reducing the number of accounts that could be compromised.
Can I cancel the card online?
Old Navy does not offer online cancellation through their website. You must call the number on the back of your card or send a written request by mail. Phone is faster.
What if I have a pending return or refund?
Wait until the refund posts to your account before canceling. If you cancel while a refund is in process, it may be delayed or sent to a closed account. Check your order status on Old Navy's website first, or call customer service to confirm the refund has been received.
Do I have to pay a cancellation fee?
No. Credit card issuers cannot charge you to cancel a card. If Synchrony tells you there's a fee, that's a sign of fraud — hang up and call the number on the back of your physical card instead.
How long does it take for the account to close?
The account closes immediately when you call, but it may take one to two billing cycles (30 to 60 days) for it to show as closed on your credit report. This is normal and not a problem.