Closing HSBC credit card - surprisingly easy?

EmmaOfSweden

Hi there. I was just wondering if anyone else had experience of closing an HSBC credit card. I rang them last week and spoke to two different people who both asked me why I wanted to close the credit card account. I don't have a problem with that question so told them that I didn't need it and it took so long to pay off I wanted it closed.
It seemed to be ok and I asked what I needed to send and the man at the call centre said they would post a letter confirming this within 5 working days. Obviously the letter have not been received yet.
I said as soon as I receive the letter I would cut the card up.

Did anyone else found their closing of an HSBC Credit card account this straightforward? I was expecting more difficulties.

The account have been deleted from my online banking.

I made a huge payment in full in February and have not used the card since then, my previous online statements showed no outstanding balance. I triple checked.

Am I right to assume if there was anything to pay off (maybe interest) the account would not be able to be closed. Or that the letter from HSBC would say that? As all my statements were online I am unsure if I could find an old statement just to re-assure myself that all was paid off.
I am just a bit anxious I missed anything..

[Deleted User]

If you paid in full in Feb, then there would be no more trailiing interest to come.

However, worth making sure you don't have any CPAs on the account which could reactivate it later down the line.

EmmaOfSweden

Thank you very much! I was very unsure about the interest part.

What is a CPA?? If I may ask..

[Deleted User]

A continuous payment authority. Where you have effectively set up a recurring payment to a company (similar to a direct debit) - eg for card insurance each year.

Peiple tend to forget about them but they are still valid, even if the account is closed in many cases.

EmmaOfSweden

Ah! I see. No the only thing I had to the credit card was to PayPal and I closed my PayPal account, and then canceled the direct debit on the credit card before I rang HSBC to cancel the credit card.
Last time I used PayPal was in January.

EmmaOfSweden

Speeeeeeeeed wrote: »

Do not use your credit card. :A

Once confirmation letter confirms CC have been closed there will be a huge party and never again a CC for me. Lesson learnt the (very) hard way.

tvwize

I closed my HSBC card two weeks ago, nice and easy. Spent about 10mins of phone, couple of days later it disappeared off my online banking and then got the letter a week later.

Congrats on clearing your CC!

countingstars

I guess it depends on the company.

A few weeks ago, I rang up to close my Halifax and Aqua card - both were really straight forward and closed without a fuss. The actual phone call took less than five minutes.

Two days ago, I rang Barclaycard to close my account and after being asked why I wanted to close it (I simply don't need it anymore), I was put on hold for nearly ten minutes and put through to the retentions team who gave me a series of sales pitches. Nearly 25 minutes later and I was still on the phone, listening to them and politely declining ever offer they threw at me. (0.5% cashback, 6 month B/T, ect.)

Finally, I succeeded in closing it. It was hard work - especially since I'm very soft spoken and find it difficult to interrupt them to say no!