Kohl’s is a clothing and home goods store that has brick-and-mortar locations across the United States, plus a robust online presence. Whether shopping in-store or online, you can use your Kohl’s credit card to receive discounts and cashback savings on your purchases.
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Eventually, you might decide that you no longer want to use your credit card. You also might encounter the need to cancel the card for a deceased loved one. Whatever the case, account closure is surprisingly simple and can be completed in just a few minutes.
How to Cancel Your Own Kohl’s Credit Card
Kohl’s makes the cancellation process quick and straightforward when you need to cancel your card. Here are the steps to take to complete the process.
Step 1. Pay off any balance
Before you can cancel your card, any remaining balance must be paid off and the payment for your credit card fully processed. Once your statement balance reads zero, then you can proceed with the following steps.
Keep in mind that credit card payments can take anywhere from 1–5 business days to process. You can check for status updates by logging onto your Kohl’s credit card online account or calling the help number on the card. Once your statement balance is zero, then you can proceed, but the payment has to clear before you can cancel your card.
Step 2. Collect account information
Once your balance is zero, you’ll want to collect account information since you’ll need to provide this information to a Kohl’s representative. You should have the following items readily accessible:
- Account number
- Email address associated with your account
- Physical address associated with your account
- Phone number associated with your account
- Answers to security questions
When speaking with a Kohl’s representative, they will require identifying information such as the list above. You might only need one or two pieces of the information, but having all of it available is advised since the representative can ask for any or all of those items.
Step 3. Contact customer service
There are two ways you can go about contacting Kohl’s customer service department. The fastest is to call their service line at 855-564-5748. If you don’t want to bother with calling, you can email the help department instead.
To email the help department, you’ll need to log onto your Kohl’s credit card account. Once logged on, navigate to the message center where you can then request to have your card canceled.
Via phone
When you talk to a representative online, you’ll be asked to provide your account information and answers to security questions. Once they verify that you are the account holder, they’ll look up your account and determine whether the card has a zero balance.
After confirming that your card has been paid in full, they will process your cancellation request. The representative will cancel the card while you are on the phone.
Via email
Emailing customer service draws out the cancellation process, but if you don’t have time to place a phone call, emailing might be the best option.
After you log in to your My Kohl’s Account, you can send a cancellation request through the message center. You’ll need to provide your account number and billing address in the body of your message.
A representative will receive your request and process it within five business days as long as there is no remaining balance on the card.
Step 4. Check for confirmation of account cancellation
Whether you cancel your credit card over the phone or online, you’ll receive two forms of cancellation confirmation. One, an email will be sent to the email address associated with the account. Two, you’ll receive a piece of physical mail confirming the cancellation of your card.
Keep these pieces of mail in your records for future reference as proof of account closure.
How to Cancel a Deceased Loved One’s Kohl’s Credit Card
If you need to cancel a deceased loved one’s Kohl’s credit card, the process is just as straightforward as closing your own account. You’ll need to take a few extra steps, but as long as you follow the instructions below, you’ll be able to wrap up the process quickly.
Step 1. Collect account info
In order to close the account of a deceased loved one, you’ll need to have their account information available. This includes their account number and billing address. Without this information, the representatives can’t look up the account in order to cancel it.
Where can you find the account and billing info? Check your loved one’s mail for a credit card statement. Unless they’ve decided to go paperless, you’ll likely find a bill or monthly statement. The address where the statement was mailed is also the billing address on the account. The paper statement should also have the account number listed.
Another place to check is in their password manager. If they used one, check the entries for Kohl’s to see if they noted their account information there.
If you have trouble finding the account number, the billing address and person’s full name might suffice for the representative to locate their account.
Step 2. Collect supporting documentation
In addition to their account information, you’ll need supporting documentation as to your legal right to close their account, as well as proof of their death.
To demonstrate your legal right, you may need proof of executorship, such as letters of testamentary or a court letter appointing you executor. A marriage certificate might also suffice if you are the spouse.
For proof of death, you’ll need to get a death certificate. This is a common requirement for nearly any type of account closure from credit cards and banks to online accounts. Obtaining multiple copies at the same time when someone dies can be a good idea so you’ll have them on hand if you need to mail a physical copy.
Step 3. Contact customer service
As when you close your own account, you’ll need to contact customer service. You can do this over the phone or via email, but a phone call will be the fastest method.
When on the phone with a representative, you’ll need to provide details of your loved one’s account including their full name, billing address, and account number. The representative will then look up the account and determine if there is any remaining balance.
If there are charges that need to be paid, the estate will need to pay them. If you’re acting as an executor, you can pay a bill yourself and get reimbursed by the estate, or you can have the estate pay the bill directly. If late fees or interest rates were charged, the representative can remove the charges from the amount owed starting from the date of your loved one’s death.
Once the account balance is paid off, you’ll need to fax a copy of the person’s death certificate to the number provided by the customer support representative. You can also request an email address where you can upload and email a copy of their death certificate, instead.
Step 4. Confirm account cancelation
When your loved one’s account is closed, you’ll receive two pieces of confirmation in the mail. An email will be sent to the email on file, and a physical piece of mail will be sent to the billing address on file.
Keep these cancellation confirmations in your loved one’s records for future reference. Be sure to update information in their password manager or your personal to-do lists and note their account as canceled.
Closing Credit Card Accounts
While closing your own credit card account is quick and simple, you might find that you need time before tackling your loved one’s account. If this is the case, just remember that Kohl’s understands. When you talk to a representative and provide the death certificate, they’ll waive any late fees or interest that resulted in a delay of payment from the time of your loved one’s death. Then, they’ll cancel the account.
Closing unused accounts is a beneficial and important step to take when dealing with your own affairs or when completing executor duties. Closed accounts mean fewer opportunities for hackers, late charges, and other issues that come as a result of an unused account left open. We know this can be a lot when facing the death of a loved one, so take a moment to breathe before you dive in.