How to Cancel a Discover Credit Card (2026 Guide)

Updated February 2026 · Protect your credit score when closing

⚠️ Wait — should you actually cancel? Closing a credit card can hurt your credit score by reducing your total credit limit and shortening your credit history. Read the section below before you call.

Before You Cancel: The Credit Score Impact

Closing a credit card affects two factors of your credit score:

Credit utilization (30% of score): Closing a card reduces your total available credit, which increases your utilization ratio. If you have $10K total credit and close a $5K card, your utilization doubles overnight.
Length of credit history (15% of score): If this is your oldest card, closing it eventually shortens your average account age (though closed accounts stay on your report for 10 years).

✅ When cancelling makes sense:

The card has an annual fee you don't want to pay (Discover cards are mostly no-fee, so this is rare)
You're tempted to overspend and need to remove the temptation
You have many other cards with high limits (minimal utilization impact)
Identity theft or fraud on the account

💡 Better alternative: Just stop using it

Most Discover cards have no annual fee. Instead of closing, put the card in a drawer and make one small purchase every 6 months to keep it active. You keep the credit limit and history with zero cost.

Step-by-Step: Close Your Discover Card

Step 1: Prepare

Pay off the balance: You must have a $0 balance (or pay it off upon closing)
Redeem cashback: Log in at discover.com → Cashback Bonus → Redeem. Discover cashback never expires, but redeem it before closing just in case.
Move autopay: Update any subscriptions or bills that charge this card
Download statements: Access your transaction history at discover.com — download PDFs for your records

Step 2: Call Discover

📞 1-800-347-2683

Available 24/7. Say "close my account" to the automated system.

Call 1-800-347-2683
Verify your identity
Tell the agent you want to close your account
They may offer retention deals (lower APR, bonus cashback) — decline if you're set on closing
Confirm closure and ask for a written confirmation by mail or email
Note the representative's name and the date/time of the call

Step 3: Follow Up

Check your credit report in 30-60 days to confirm the account shows as "Closed by consumer" (not "Closed by issuer")
Cut up or shred the physical card
Keep the confirmation letter for your records

Can You Cancel Online?

Discover does not currently allow you to close your card through the website or app. You must call. This is standard across most credit card issuers — they want a chance to retain you.

Product Change Instead of Cancelling

Ask Discover about a product change — switching to a different Discover card without closing the account. This preserves your credit history and limit while potentially getting you a better rewards structure.

Discover it Cash Back: 5% rotating categories + 1% everything else
Discover it Chrome: 2% at gas stations and restaurants
Discover it Miles: 1.5x miles on all purchases

What subscriptions are charging your other cards?

Before you close this card, make sure nothing is still billing to it. Upload your bank statement to JustCancel to find every recurring charge across all your accounts.

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Quick Cancel Guide: Discover Card

Direct cancel link + step-by-step instructions