Quick tip: Check your credit card accounts 30 days after closing them
Editor's Note
There are many reasons why you might close a credit card. Once you do, that card is probably "out of sight, out of mind" for you.
However, a recent problem taught me that it's worth checking on your credit cards 30 days after you close them, as this will help you avoid issues down the road.
Let's look at why you should check on your recently closed accounts.
What happens to closed accounts?
After you close a credit card, you will lose access to its benefits and won't be able to make purchases on that card. Depending on the issuer, you also might lose access to managing your card online if you don't have any other accounts currently open with that bank.
However, you should continue receiving bank statements until the account is paid off and the balance is brought to $0. Furthermore, if you close your credit card within the bank's time frame (typically 30 days) from when the annual fee posts to your account, you should receive a refund of the annual fee.
Related: How to cancel a credit card
What happened to me?
I closed my Alaska Airlines Visa® Business card (no longer available) from Bank of America in December 2021. A few days later, I checked the account and ensured that the annual fee had been erased, as the phone representative had promised when closing my account. Satisfied, I stopped monitoring the account.
In September 2022, the Alaska Airlines Business card offered an elevated sign-up bonus. I decided to apply for this card again but was surprised to be denied. The reason was even more surprising: Bank of America said I had a past-due account in collections for lack of payment.
The information for the Alaska Airlines Visa Business has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
An automation error restored the annual fee on my closed account, and my contact information was somehow deleted. I had no idea the account had a balance for nine months, meaning it charged fees for late payments and accrued interest each month.
Additionally, the account had been sent to Bank of America's collections department, reporting the delinquency to business credit reporting agencies and, thus, affecting my business credit score. (If this had been a personal credit card, the negative information would have been reported on my personal credit report.)
Bank of America figured out where this went wrong and zeroed out my account, but checking on my credit card after closing it would've provided a solution much sooner. 30 days should be enough time for any final statements to close out, which is the point at which any billing errors should appear.
Finding this problem earlier and fixing it before it became a bigger issue means I could've been automatically approved on my credit card application — rather than needing to resolve issues and then ask for reconsideration after the initial denial.
Related: Does canceling a credit card hurt your credit?
Bottom line
A month after closing a credit card, check the account to see if everything is as it should be. Did the annual fee disappear? Does the bank have your updated contact information in case there's an issue? Ensuring your account closes properly without issues can avoid problems like unwarranted fees or being denied on a future application.
I will definitely be setting reminders in the future to check my credit cards 30 days after closing them to make sure everything looks correct. That way, I can resolve potential issues much sooner — before they worsen.
Related: The best credit cards
Updated 8/20/2025
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.