One of my 2025 resolutions was to cancel 25% of the credit cards we hold. Between duplicate cards and ones we don’t use anymore, it made sense to trim the lineup. Not only could it save us some money on annual fees, but it also opened up space to apply for new, more valuable cards.
The problem? Canceling a credit card isn’t always as easy as it should be.
The Usual Cancellation Hassle
Some banks let you cancel a card via online chat or secure message, but those options are constantly changing. The most consistent method is still the old-school route: calling customer service. And with that call comes a conversation—usually with a representative whose job is to convince you not to cancel.
If you’re on the fence and hoping for a retention offer, that’s great. But if you’ve already made up your mind—or you really hate phone calls—it becomes a hurdle.
Time to Drop a JetBlue Plus Card
When the annual fee hit one of our JetBlue Plus Cards, it was time to take action. My wife and I each had the card, but since JetBlue allows you to pool points and the key perks (like free checked bags) apply as long as the cardholder is on the reservation, there wasn’t much benefit in both of us keeping it.
If you’re curious how long you have to cancel a card and still get your annual fee refunded, Doctor of Credit has a helpful guide covering most major banks.
I decided to cancel mine and wanted to do it without dialing a number.
Trying the No-Call Approach
I had read that Barclays might let you cancel a card by sending a secure message. Since I wasn’t interested in negotiating for a retention offer, I gave it a shot.
After logging into my Barclays account, I went to the “Contact Us” section. From there, I clicked on Messages in the top right corner of the page, then selected “Send us a message.”
I wrote a quick note saying I’d like to close the account because it didn’t make sense to keep two JetBlue Plus Cards in the household. I also asked if the annual fee could be refunded.
A Surprisingly Fast Response
Less than an hour later, I received a reply:
“Thanks for contacting us about your JetBlue Plus Card. We’re sorry to receive your request to close your account.
We’ve completed your account closure request as of today. Please keep in mind that by closing your account today, you will have up to 15 days to reopen it. Your annual fee will be credited back to your account within the next 1 to 2 billing cycles.”
A few days later, the fee was reversed, and my account showed a $0 balance.
Should You Try This Too?
This method won’t be ideal for everyone. The main catch is that if you ask to cancel the card via message, they will close it, no questions asked. There’s no opportunity to ask for bonus miles or negotiate a fee credit. You need to be sure you want it gone.
But if you’ve made up your mind, it’s a fast, painless process. No waiting on hold, no awkward phone scripts, just a couple of clicks and it’s done.
Honestly, the hardest part was figuring out how to send the secure message.
It turns out that canceling a credit card doesn’t always mean calling in. At least with Barclays, sometimes it’s as easy as writing a quick message.
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