How to Close or Cancel HDFC Credit Card

Many a times, cardholders realise that maintaining a credit card is not an easy affair. Also, there are times when they don't even use a credit card because they get quite used to making payments using their debit card or cash. At some instances, the cardholders also want to move on to using a card that suits their financial needs better. In such situations, the cardholders are advised to cancel or close the card that they do not wish to use any more.

HDFC has an appropriate procedure in place when it comes to cancellation or deactivation of a credit card. After a request is raised by the cardholder, it takes 7-10 working days for the bank to terminate a credit card. A cardholder can cancel an HDFC credit card following some simple procedures. Listed below are the ways to go about it.

How to Cancel or Close an HDFC Credit Card?

HDFC credit cardholders can close or cancel their credit cards using the methods listed below:

• By calling Helpline Number: HDFC Bank credit card holders can cancel their credit cards any time by calling the toll-free number 61606161/6160616. Your area code must be added before the mentioned number to get connected with your city’s customer care.
• Carholders can download the Credit Card Closure Form from www.hdfcbank.com and fill it up. After filling it up, they can send it to the Manager, HDFC Bank Credit Cards, PO Box 8654, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai-600041. Alternatively, they can write to the manager of the corporate office at the same address. Cardholders are required to mention important details like their card number, name, address, and contact details. However, they should not divulge confidential details like the card’s CVV number and PIN.
• Once the process of cancellation is initiated, the cardholder should cut the concerned credit card diagonally. They should also be aware of the fact that once they cancel or close the primary credit card, the add-on credit cards that have been procured will get terminated automatically.

Things to Remember Before Cancelling or Closing an HDFC Credit Card

While it is perfectly normal for a cardholder to initiate a process to deactivate or cancel their HDFC credit card whenever they want to, there are a few things that they should check before going forward with the process. Listed below is a checklist of things that the cardholder needs to go through before initiating a credit card cancellation process with HDFC:

• Payment of Dues: Before cancelling a credit card, the cardholders has to make sure that all the outstanding balance or EMIs on that credit card has been paid. If they initiate the process of cancellation without paying the outstanding balance or settling the EMIs, the bank will notify them via a call or an email on their registered phone number or email id, respectively.
• Redemption of Reward Points: Before raising a request for cancellation of a credit card, the cardholders are advised to check the number of unredeemed reward points. They can use these points to bag attractive products from the bank’s rewards catalogue. They can also use these points to bag handsome discounts on other products and services.
• Should not use the credit card just before cancellation: If the cardholder uses the credit card that they wish to cancel just before closing it, the bank will not take the process forward. Fresh dues on credit cards that are lined up for cancellation lead to termination of the process. The bank will go ahead with the process only once the fresh dues are paid off.
• Check latest statement for fraudulent use: Before cancelling their credit card, cardholders should thoroughly check their last credit card statement to make sure that no fraudulent transaction has been made on their card. They must also destroy the card by cutting it diagonally once the card has been terminated by the bank following their request.

Does a Cancelled or Closed Credit Card Affect the Cardholder’s Cibil Score?

A cancelled or closed credit card will only affect a cardholder’s CIBIL score if they own more than a single card and use them all. In such a scenario, cancelling a credit card would mean reduction of their credit limit and an increase in the credit utilization ratio. Hence, it can have a negative impact on the cardholder’s CIBIL score. However, since credit cards can be used to build a credit score from scratch, cancelling it might not be a great idea if the cardholder has no other means to build a CIBIL score.

How to Reactivate a Closed or Cancelled HDFC Credit Card?

Applicants can download the application form for reactivation of closed credit card account from the website, www.hdfcbank.com. Once they fill it up, they can send it to HDFC Bank Cards Division, PO Box 8654, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai-600041. Once all the necessary documentation and verification is done, the cancelled card will be reactivated by the bank.

FAQs on How to Close or Cancel HDFC Credit Card

1. How can I cancel my HDFC credit card?

   You can cancel your HDFC Bank credit card at any time by calling the HDFC Bank credit card customer care - 61606161/6160616. The area code you reside in must be added before the mentioned number to connect with the department of your city.

   The credit cards can also be closed or cancelled through the bank’s netbanking facility or by physically visiting the HDFC Bank branch and submitting a filled-out Credit Card Closure Form which can be downloaded online

2. How can I close my HDFC credit card online?

   Cardholders can also close their HDFC Bank credit card online. The steps to follow to do so are:

   • Login to your HDFC Bank net banking account.
   • Click on the tab of Credit Cards and the left-hand side, click on the option of Credit Card Hotlisting. A list of Credit Cards registered under NetBanking will appear.
   • Select the Credit Card number to hotlist.
   • Add a reason for hotlisting of the credit card.

Once done, the card will be hotlisted and cannot be used for further transactions.

3. How do I deactivate my credit card?

   You can deactivate your credit card by calling the customer care number of HDFC Bank or download the credit card closure form, fill it and send it to the Manager, HDFC Bank Credit Cards, PO Box 8654, Thiruvanmiyur, Chennai – 600041. You can also deactivate or hotlist your credit card online through your HDFC Bank Netbanking account.

4. What happens if I close my credit card?

   Once you close your credit card, all transactions with the card will be permanently stopped. The bank will send the month’s credit card statement, along with any dues which are to be paid. All dues of the credit card must be paid off before cancellation or closure. If there are any unused reward points, those reward points are released and will not be in effect for any transaction. If you have more than 1 credit card and use them all, closing a credit card can affect your credit score.

5. How do I close a credit card without hurting my credit?

   Credit card closure will only affect the credit score if he or she holds more than one credit card and all of them are in use. In this case, credit card closure can hurt your credit score as it affects your credit limit along with your credit utilisation score by increasing it. If you wish to close your credit card, it is advised that you cancel the card which you have taken most recently and the one with a lesser credit limit. Along with this, all dues must be paid before the credit card closed.