4. After 90 days, obtain a copy of your credit report

(pay if necessary) from one of the three national credit bureaus. If the account shows as closed, obtain free copies from the other two bureaus as confirmation at the next free opportunity. If the account shows as still open at the first bureau, ask for a reinvestigation and also obtain copies from the other two bureaus to ensure the account shows closed appropriately.

Note that you cannot “close” an account on which you currently owe a balance. You can, however, ask the lender to no longer honor the card.