Should I cancel?

Tr@cker

You can close accounts down over the phone nowadays, just say your cutting up the cards.. Ive recently done so with both Mint and RSB.

WhoYa

Does anyone have a rough idea of how long after canceling a card it takes to show up on your credit reports as being closed/settled.
Have just closed 2 unused cards (accucard/beneficial) that had both come to the end of there promotional period.
I am wanting to wait before aplying for a new card so that my total available credit would show up as less and so will be more likley to be accepted and get a better limit on either virgin or capital one.