How to dispose of credit card

You’re standing in your kitchen, holding an expired credit card in your hand. You’re not sure what to do with it. You don’t want to just throw it away, but you’re not sure if there’s a better way to dispose of it and what are the proper steps. Let’s find out.

Why would someone want to dispose of a credit card

There are a few reasons why you might want to dispose of a credit card. Maybe you’re trying to declutter your wallet, maybe it’s expired, maybe you just want to spend less and this credit card is not helping you achieve your goal or maybe you’re concerned about identity theft. Whatever the reason, there are a few things you can do to make sure your credit card is disposed of properly.

Why you should not just throw the credit card in the trash

Many people think that once they have cut up their credit card and disposed of it, their financial responsibilities are over. However, this is not the case.

Credit card companies report any outstanding balances to the credit bureaus. If you have thrown your credit card in the trash, the credit card company can still report the balance to the credit bureaus, which will damage your credit score.

Also, if you have a balance on your credit card account, geting rid of your credit card will not clear your responsibility to this balance.

There may also be a contractual fee charged every year for this credit card. If you don’t cancel it and put an end to the contract that you have with the credit card company, throwing the card won’t do the job!

The best way to dispose of a credit card is to first contact the credit card company and cancel the card. Pay any outstanding balance if applicable. Once the card is canceled, the credit card company will report the balance as zero to the credit bureaus. This will not damage your credit score.

Then, properly destroy the card.

How to safely dispose of a credit card

One option is to cut up the credit card and throw it away. This is a pretty straightforward way to get rid of an expired credit card, and it’s also a good way to make sure that your personal information isn’t compromised.

A better option, and this is probably the best method, you can shred the credit card. This is a good option if you want to make sure that your personal information is completely destroyed.

Conclusion

No matter what method you choose, properly disposing of your credit card is important. By taking a few extra steps, you can make sure that your personal information is protected, that your contractual liabilities are over and that your credit card doesn’t end up in the wrong hands.