How to Cancel Afterpay in 2026 (Close Your Account + Stop BNPL Debt)
Updated 2026-02-20 · 7 min read
🛒 The BNPL Trap
Studies show BNPL users spend 30-40% more per transaction than cash/debit buyers. Afterpay's "pay in 4" makes a $200 purchase feel like $50 — but you still owe $200. Late fees of $8 per missed payment (capped at 25% of order) add up fast. And now Afterpay reports to credit bureaus.
What Afterpay Actually Costs
Pay in 4: "Interest-free" but $8 late fee per missed payment, max 25% of order value
Afterpay Plus (Australia): Monthly subscription for higher limits
Hidden cost: Overspending — the entire business model depends on you buying more than you would with cash
Credit reporting: As of 2024, Afterpay reports payment history to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion
Account freeze: One late payment can freeze your entire account, but remaining installments are still due
How to Close Your Afterpay Account
⚠️ You Cannot Close With Outstanding Orders
Afterpay will NOT let you close your account while any installment plans are still active. You must either pay off all remaining balances or wait for all plans to complete before requesting account closure.
Step 1: Pay Off All Active Orders
Open the Afterpay app or go to afterpay.com
Check Orders → see all active installment plans
For each active order, tap Make a Payment → Pay Off Early
There's no penalty for paying early — do it for all active plans
Step 2: Request Account Deletion
Once all orders are paid off, open the app
Go to Account → Settings → Privacy
Select Delete My Account (or "Request Data Deletion")
Alternatively, email help@afterpay.com with subject "Account Deletion Request"
Include your full name, email, and phone number on the account
Deletion takes up to 30 days
Step 3: Remove Your Payment Method
Before deletion processes, go to Payment Methods
Remove all linked debit/credit cards
This prevents any future charges if new orders somehow process
Credit Score Impact
Before 2024: Afterpay didn't report to credit bureaus — no impact
After 2024: Reports to all 3 bureaus — late payments can hurt your score
Closing the account: May cause a small dip (reduced credit mix/age) but better long-term
Unpaid balances: Can go to collections after 120 days — this tanks your credit score 100+ points
Pro tip: Pay off everything, wait 30 days for the on-time payments to report, THEN close
Why BNPL Is More Dangerous Than Credit Cards
No credit check to start: Unlike credit cards, BNPL approves almost everyone — including people who can't afford the purchase
Stacking: You can have 5+ Afterpay orders running simultaneously across different stores
Invisible debt: BNPL doesn't show up in most budgeting apps or bank balance checks
Impulse amplifier: "Only $25 today" for a $100 item removes the pain of paying full price
No interest ≠ no cost: The real cost is behavioral — you buy things you wouldn't have otherwise
Delete the app — remove from phone, don't just close it
Remove browser extension — Afterpay's Chrome extension adds "Pay in 4" to online stores
Unsubscribe from emails — their marketing is designed to pull you back
Block the website — use a site blocker extension if needed
Replace with a rule: "If I can't buy it in full right now, I don't need it today"
What About Cash App Pay Later?
Afterpay is now owned by Block (same company as Cash App/Square). They've integrated BNPL into Cash App as "Cash App Pay in 4." If you use Cash App, check Settings → Afterpay to make sure it's disabled — otherwise the same BNPL temptation follows you into a different app.
💡 The 24-Hour Rule
Before any purchase over $50: close the tab, wait 24 hours, and see if you still want it. Studies show 70% of "must-have" impulse purchases feel unnecessary the next day. BNPL removes this natural cooling-off period by making the checkout instant and painless.
🔍 Find All Your BNPL Debt
Upload your bank statement to JustCancel to find every recurring charge — including Afterpay, Klarna, Affirm, and other BNPL installments hiding in your transactions.