1) While closing your card, consider the age of the card. Closing the oldest card that you hold may harm your credit score, as it can cause your credit history to appear shorter.
2) Before closing your credit card, cancel all auto payments linked to that credit card. If you do not cancel all your auto bills, the establishments requesting payment to that already closed credit card would levy a penalty if the pending money is not paid within the due date.
3) The credit card provider company will only close a credit card if all the dues are cleared. Hence, clear your dues before applying for cancellation or in the next cycle.
4) Also, before closing your card make sure to redeem its benefits. For instance, check for your reward points balance and redeem them before you apply for cancellation of the card.
5) Be sure and make up your mind while opting to close a credit card. Many times, credit card providers give attractive offers especially to you for continuing. If you really want to close your credit card, do not fall for those offers.
6) While applying for cancellation, always follow-up in writing. One should make sure that they have it in writing that they want to close/cancel their credit card account. Also, try to get a written confirmation from the credit card provider, stating that the credit card was closed.
7) Lastly, check your credit report to make sure that the credit card provider reports that the credit card as closed.
