How to close a Barclays credit card?

No longer use your Barclays UK credit card, or spotted a better deal elsewhere? You’ll need to know how to cancel your card and close your account.

Read on to find out exactly how to do it. This includes how to pay Barclays credit card balances and what to do about lost or stolen cards.

And, if you’re looking for a new card, especially for spending outside the UK, check out the Wise debit card. It’s a debit card designed for making low-cost payments and ATM withdrawals both in the UK and abroad.

Learn more about the Wise debit card

Please see the Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise fees & pricing for the most up-to-date information on pricing and fees.

But right now, let’s focus on closing that Barclays credit card for you.

Reasons for closing a Barclays credit card

There are a few different reasons you might want to part ways with your Barclaycard. For example, you might:

• Have found a new or better deal at another UK bank
• No longer need to use a credit card - for example, you used it to spread the cost of a large purchase, which has now been paid off.
• Be on a time-limited offer, which is coming to an end

There’s also the chance that your Barclays credit card has been stolen or lost. We’ll cover exactly what to do in this kind of situation later on.

What you should know and do before closing your credit card with Barclays?

Before closing your account, it’s generally considered a good idea to log into your online banking and download any statements you might need. You might not be able to access them later.

It could also be a good idea to clear your existing balance. Barclays may not let you cancel the card until this is done.

How to pay off your Barclays credit card balance?

Barclays offers a few different ways to pay off your credit card balance. This includes:¹

• Online banking - if you’re registered, sign in and select ‘Pay and transfer’ and then ‘Make a payment’.
• App - if you have the Barclays app, you can login and select ‘Make a payment’
• Phone - contact Barclays to pay off credit card balances on 0345 734 5345
• Branch - find your nearest Barclays branch and you can pay your Barclaycard over the counter
• ATM - some Barclays ATMs allow you to pay credit card bills, find your nearest here.

How to close a Barclays UK credit card online, over the phone, or by post?

Barclays offers two ways to close your credit card account. You can do it in the app, or over the phone.

If you’ve downloaded the Barclays app, simply tap the ‘chat’ feature to start a conversation with a customer services representative.²

Prefer to speak to someone? You can contact Barclaycard customer services by calling 0800 151 0900 or 0333 200 9090.⁴

Whichever option you use, it’s a good idea to have your personal details and card info to hand. This includes your 16-digit card number and any security information.

How to temporarily deactivate your Barclays credit card online if it’s lost or stolen?

If your Barclays credit card is stolen or you can’t find it, your first instinct might be to call the bank and cancel it. But there might be another option, one which temporarily locks the card.

This can be useful if you’ve lost it, giving you time to find the card. But it also prevents unauthorised people from using your card.

Go into the Barclays app and see if there’s an option to freeze your card. It’s definitely available for debit cards, but the bank doesn’t explicitly say you can do it with credit cards too.³

However, if you’re sure that your card is gone for good, you need to cancel it. It’s important to act quickly, especially if the card has been stolen. You can tell Barclays about lost credit cards in the Barclays app, following these steps:³

1. Choose ‘quick links’
2. Select ‘Cards’
3. Tap ‘Report card lost or stolen’.

Alternatively, you can call 0800 400 100 to speak to someone.

How to reactivate a lost Barclays credit card?

If your Barclays app lets you freeze and unfreeze cards, it could be as simple as toggling the option off again. However, cards that have been cancelled or reported lost or stolen can’t be reactivated. This is likely for safety purposes. You’ll be issued with a new credit card instead.

How to securely dispose of a closed Barclays credit card?

Once your Barclaycard has been closed by the bank, you’ll need to dispose of it properly.

The best way to do this is to cut or shred it. Make sure that the chip is destroyed, along with the card number and other details. Then, dispose of the pieces in separate bins.

FAQ

How long does it take to close a Barclays credit card?

Barclays doesn’t say how long exactly it takes for a card to be cancelled, once you’ve requested the closure of the account. But you can start the process in just a few minutes, by chatting in the app or calling the bank.

Is there a penalty for closing a Barclays credit card?

You won’t pay a fee to close a Barclays credit card. But remember that you may still face charges if you don’t keep up with repayments or manage to fully pay off an outstanding balance.

Can I close a Barclays credit card and keep paying on it?

If you’ve not cleared your outstanding Barclaycard balance, you’ll need to contact the bank to find out your options.

Barclays may insist you pay off credit card debt before cancelling, and may not accept repayments after that point.

And that’s it - everything you need to know on how to close a Barclays credit card.

It’s pretty easy to do, whether you call the bank or start a chat in the app.

Ready for a new card, perhaps for an upcoming trip? Some credit cards can be great for travel, but they aren’t always the cheapest.

The Wise debit card is a great alternative. It’s not a credit card, but it is tailor-made for travel.

It automatically converts your pounds to the local currency when you spend abroad, for just a tiny currency conversion fee. And you’ll always get mid-market exchange rates, with no costly margin added on top.

Register with Wise today

Please see the Terms of Use for your region or visit Wise fees & pricing for the most up-to-date information on pricing and fees.

Sources used:

Sources last checked on date: 12-Jul-2023