Can You Uncancel A Credit Card?
Have you recently found an old credit card and want to know if you can un-cancel it? Perhaps you have found your ‘lost’ credit card and want to reactivate it? Or the card you thought you destroyed is okay?
Or maybe a credit card company closed your account and you want it open again? Whatever your reason might be, we have the answer for you!
When it comes to credit cards, they can cause us a lot of stress. Not only do we need to be careful to avoid mounting debt and high-interest rates, but we can also often misplace them, meaning we need to cancel them quickly.
Or we can find ourselves having our accounts closed by lenders because we haven’t used them enough.
But what happens when we want to re-open them? Or when we find a ‘lost’ credit card and want to reactivate it? Can we un-cancel these cards and use them again, or are we doomed to sit by the mailbox waiting for a new card to arrive?
We have all the answers for you! Keep reading to find out if you can un-cancel a credit card or not.
What Is Canceling A Credit Card?
Before we dive in, let’s have a quick recap for those in the room that need it. Before we look at un-canceling a card, you might be wondering what canceling a card is! Canceling your credit card is when you contact your credit card company to cancel the card or account.
Usually, people cancel a credit card if they have lost the card or it has been stolen. In these cases, your card will be suspended, so if anyone was to use it, it would be rejected.
Canceling your card ensures that no one can spend your money without your consent, saving you any hefty bills or difficult conversations with your credit card lender. Your credit card company will then send out a replacement card to your home address.
Once the card arrives you can use it straight away as you would with your previous card.
You can also cancel a credit card by closing the account. Usually, this happens if you have repaid all your debt on a credit card, or have taken out a new card and no longer need the credit card.
Again, you would need to contact your credit card company to inform them that you wish to cancel the card. Generally, you will be asked why you wish to cancel the account before the company will proceed.
You can find the number you need to call or the website to visit on any statements from your credit card company or by contacting them directly. This information is usually easily available to ensure that you can cancel the card quickly if it is lost or stolen!
Can You Un-Cancel A Credit Card?
Let’s get straight into it! Generally, once you have canceled your credit card, you will not be able to un-cancel it. If you misplace your card and have reported it missing to your credit card company, you will not be able to start using it again.
Credit card lenders will not be able to reactivate it and you will need to wait for your replacement card to arrive.
Once the card has arrived (usually it takes up to one week) you can use it as normal, but you might find yourself stuck in limbo for a few days. You also won’t be able to use the credit card details online even if they are saved to your home.
If you do need to access funds from your credit card, you can contact the lender directly to see what can be done. Usually, if your credit card is with a bank, you can go in with two forms of identification and withdraw some funds to tide you over until your new card arrives.
Remember that some credit cards have withdrawal fees and it’s worth checking them before proceeding.
If you do find your misplaced credit card, be sure to cut it up and destroy it. The last thing you want is to take the wrong card shopping with you and not be able to pay for your goods! Be sure that it is the correct credit card that you put in your wallet to avoid any confusion.
What If I Close The Account?
If you cancel your credit card by closing the account, then things are slightly different. You might still have the credit card lying around the house, or you might have cut the card in half. Either way, there might be a way for you to reopen a closed credit card account.
It’s worth noting that not all credit card companies will allow you to open a previously closed account. It’s best to ask them directly and see what can be done for you.
Usually, whether they will reopen the account will depend on why it was closed (if it was you or them that closed the account), how long it was closed for, and what information you need to reopen the account.
You can contact the company by calling their helpline and asking the question. It’s best to have all the relevant information ready as this can speed up the process.
If you still have the credit card, then this, along with the credit card statement, your name, address, and social security number will be useful information.
Now, a credit card company is under no obligation to reopen a closed account, but if it was closed due to inactivity, then they might reopen the account and allow you to use it again. If not, they might offer you a new account with them.
This could have better benefits or reduced interest rates, so it’s an option to strongly consider! In these cases, you will again need to wait for the card to arrive before you can start spending.
Final Thoughts
And there you have it! You might not be able to un-cancel a credit card reported as lost or stolen, but sometimes you can reopen a closed credit card account should the lender agree.
Be sure to contact your credit card company directly to find out if they will allow you to reopen a closed account and how to do this. Don’t forget to seek financial advice when needed to make sure that the credit card is the right choice for you.
