You're tired of the annual fees or maybe you just want to stop spending so much on Prime Day. It happens. But honestly, knowing how to cancel amazon credit card accounts is only half the battle; the real trick is doing it without tanking your FICO score or losing the rewards you've already earned. People think they can just snip the plastic and walk away. They're wrong.
Closing a line of credit is a surgical procedure for your finances. If you do it wrong, you lose your "age of credit" history. If you do it right, you're free of the temptation and the clutter.
Most people don't realize there are actually several different types of Amazon cards. You might have the Amazon Visa (issued by Chase), the Amazon Store Card (issued by Synchrony), or the Amazon Secured Card. Each one has a slightly different exit strategy. You can't just call Amazon's general customer service line. They literally can't help you. They'll just give you a 1-800 number for the bank and wish you luck.
The Step-By-Step Reality of Closing the Account
First, you have to zero out the balance. This is non-negotiable. If you try to close an account with a $4.50 balance, the bank will often keep it in a "restricted" state until that's cleared. You don't want a zombie account floating around. Pay it off. Then wait a few days for the transaction to fully post.
Once you’re at zero, look at your rewards. If you have the Amazon Visa, your points are usually tied to your Amazon account, but it's safer to spend them first. Buy some socks. Get a gift card. Just don't leave money on the table because once that account is "Closed by Consumer," those points can vanish into the ether of the bank’s terms and conditions.
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Now comes the hard part: the phone call.
For the Amazon Visa (Chase), you’re calling 1-888-247-4080. For the Amazon Store Card (Synchrony), it’s 1-866-634-8379.
Expect the "retention" talk. The representative is paid to keep you. They might offer to waive a fee or give you a temporary interest rate drop. If you’re dead set on how to cancel amazon credit card access for good, you have to be firm. Just say, "I am closing this account for personal reasons, and I do not want to hear any promotional offers." It feels a bit rude, but it saves ten minutes of your life.
Why Your Credit Score Might Take a Hit
Here is what the bank won't tell you. Your credit score is partially built on your "credit utilization ratio." Basically, that's how much you owe compared to your total limit. If you close a card with a $5,000 limit, your total available credit drops. Suddenly, your other balances look "heavier" to the credit bureaus like Experian or TransUnion.
Also, there's the "length of credit history" factor. If your Amazon card is your oldest card, closing it is a bad move. Don't do it. Keep it open and throw it in a sock drawer. If it's your newest card? Go ahead and kill it. It won't hurt as much.
The Chase vs. Synchrony Headache
Chase handles the "Rewards Visa Signature" card. They are generally more professional but have stricter rules about transferring credit lines. If you have another Chase card, like a Freedom or a Sapphire, you can sometimes ask them to "move" the credit limit from the Amazon card to the other card before you close it. This is a pro move. It preserves your total credit limit while still getting rid of the Amazon card.
Synchrony is a different beast. They handle the "Store Card" that only works on Amazon.com. Their customer service can be hit or miss. If you're dealing with them, make sure you get a confirmation number for the closure. Better yet, ask for a "Letter of Closure" to be mailed or emailed to you. Sometimes these accounts have a way of staying "open" in the system by mistake, which leads to identity theft risks down the road.
Common Myths About Cancelling Amazon Cards
"I can just remove it from my Amazon Wallet." No. Absolutely not. Removing the card as a payment method just means you can't use it to buy a Kindle book easily. The line of credit remains open, and the bank will keep reporting it to credit bureaus every month.
"Cancelling will stop my Prime membership." Nope. Amazon will just ask you for a different card the next time your Prime renewal hits. However, if you have the "Prime" version of the card, you lose that 5% back the second the card closes.
What About the Annual Fee?
The Amazon Visa doesn't have an annual fee, but it requires a Prime membership. If you're cancelling because you're dropping Prime, the card usually gets downgraded to a 3% back card rather than a 5% one. You don't actually have to cancel the card just because you’re leaving Prime. It can sit there and be a backup card.
But if you’re certain you want to know how to cancel amazon credit card accounts to simplify your life, the process is straightforward once you get a human on the phone. Just remember that the "chat" bots on the website often can't finalize a closure. They’ll usually just link you to a FAQ page because the bank wants a live person to try and talk you out of it.
Hidden Traps to Watch For
Check your subscriptions. We all have that one $8.99 monthly charge for a random streaming service or a gym membership tied to our Amazon card. If you close the card and forget to move that subscription, you'll get a "payment failed" email, or worse, the merchant might try to send you to collections if you don't update it.
Do a quick audit. Look at your last three statements. If you see recurring charges, move them to your new primary card before you pick up the phone to call Chase or Synchrony.
The Aftermath: Watching Your Report
About 30 to 45 days after you close the account, check your credit report. It should show "Closed at Account Holder's Request." If it says anything else, like "Closed by Grantor," that looks bad to future lenders because it implies the bank fired you. If the report doesn't update, you’ll need to file a dispute with the credit bureaus, providing that confirmation number you (hopefully) wrote down during the call.
Final Action Plan
Start by logging into your Amazon account and downloading your last twelve months of statements. You'll lose access to the online portal shortly after the account is closed, and you might need those for taxes or budgeting later. Once you have your records, pay the balance to $0.00 and wait for the "Pending" status to disappear.
Call the specific bank (Chase for Visa, Synchrony for Store Card). Be direct. Ask to move the credit limit to another card if you're with Chase. Once the representative confirms the closure, ask for a confirmation email. Within a month, verify the status on a free tool like Credit Karma to ensure the "Closed" status is reflected accurately. Shred the physical card only after you see the "Closed" status on your credit report. If you have any remaining rewards points, use them on a small purchase before making the call, as they are typically forfeited immediately upon account termination.