How to Close Your Direct Express Card Account

Are you frustrated with Direct Express Customer Service, Dispute Resolution or fraudulent activity and want to know if you can close your direct express account?

The answer is Yes, you can take your money and cancel your card. Read below to learn how.

In this post, we will review the top reasons why cardholders are closing their Direct Express card account.

We will then walk you through the steps you need to take to close your account.

NOTE: If you would like to write a review and rate your experience with Direct Express Customer Service, or explain the reasons why you are closing your account, see the review and ratings form immediately below the end of this article.

This Post will Cover:

  • Reasons Why People Close Direct Express Account
  • How to Close Your Direct Express Account
  • Direct Express FAQs

"Close Your Direct Express Card Account"

Reasons Why People Close Direct Express Account

Here are the reasons why some Direct Express customers are closing their accounts and setting up direct deposits instead with banks and credit unions.

Fraud and Unauthorized Transactions

The first reason is the increase in fraudulent activity on Direct Express cards. This may not be a problem specific to direct express debit cards.

However, cardholders are frustrated because of how long the Direct Express dispute resolution process takes and the fact that some people never get their money back.

A review of complaints online with Consumer Affairs, the Better Business Bureau and readers on our own website provides more evidence of this.

Frequency of Fraud

The second reason why some Direct Express cardholders are closing their accounts has to do with the frequency of fraud.

It appears fraudsters have been increasingly targeting Social Security and Disability benefits in general, including Direct Express debit cardholders.

The Social Security Administration and Direct Express have issued several warnings about this.

This article documents how Direct Express is struggling to deal with increased fraud activity.

Some cardholders have reported having to cancel and replace their cards 2-3 times during the last year or two along.

Some had had enough and are instead opting to get their federal benefits using traditional checking or savings to account with a bank or credit union.

Inability to Talk to a Live Person

Perhaps the biggest reason some customers are canceling their direct express card is frustration with Direct Express customer service issues. Here are some of the issues:

  • Hard to Reach Customer Service
  • Problems Replacing Lost or Stolen Card
  • Confusing and Long Dispute Resolution

Did not Request Direct Express Card

We have received lots of complaints from people who claim they were forced to take Direct Express.

This is mainly from people who claim they signed up for Social Security Direct Deposit with their local bank or credit union to receive their Social Security benefits.

However, instead of getting their payments into their bank or credit union account, they were sent benefits via a Direct Express card, which they did not request.

Some of these people end up activating the card and using it. Others simply cancel the card.

Inability to Add Money to Card

One of the frustrating discoveries of cardholders is the inability to add your own money to the card.

Many cardholders discover this once they have signed up for the Direct Express debit card.

Unlike other Prepaid Debit Cards, like Bluebird, you cannot add any other money to the card besides the government benefits you are receiving.

Some cardholders find this limiting since they want to manage all their money on one card, including paychecks, cash deposits, transfers from another account, etc.

How to Close Your Direct Express Account

Here’s how to close your Direct Express Account.

Step 1 – Withdraw your Money

Before you close your Direct Express card account, you will want to spend any money remaining on the card account.

To do that, you can make purchases, withdraw your money at an ATM, get cash-back with purchase at retail stores.

You can also get your money by visiting any bank or credit union that displays the MasterCard acceptance mark and get cash from a teller.

Step 2 – Set up Direct Deposit for Federal Benefits

To ensure that there are no delays with receiving future benefit payments, you will need to separately enroll in direct deposit to avoid any delays with future payments.

You will need to set up a bank account with a bank or credit union in order to set up a direct deposit.

To enroll in direct deposit, contact your local federal benefit agency or visit Godirect.

Step 2 – Close your Direct Deposit Account

You can close your Direct Express card account at any time at no charge by calling the Direct Express card Customer Service Department.

They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The number to call is 1 (888) 741-1115.

Direct Express FAQs

Here are five (5) of the top questions we get about the everyday use of the Direct Express card:

If my card is lost or stolen, is my money protected?

Your Direct Express debit card comes with protection against unauthorized use.

If you experience fraudulent or unauthorized use of your card, here’s what you need to know.

Your liability for unauthorized transactions is limited if your card is reported timely to Direct Express as lost or stolen.

Under the federal law, cardholders who dispute a transaction within 2 business days of learning of the loss or theft cannot be held liable for more than $50.

Those who dispute a charge within 60 days cannot be held liable for more than $500.

For Direct Express cardholders, this deadline is stretched to 90 days.

Therefore, you have 90 days to report any unauthorized transactions and not be liable for more than $500.

What’s the Easiest Way to Check my Card Balance?

The easiest way to check the balance on your Direct Express card is to log in online and review your account information. Click here to log in to your account.

If you need help logging in, see our login help here.

You can also view your card balance on the Direct Express Mobile app. Click here for details on how to download the app on your phone.

In addition, you can also check your card balance at no cost by calling the Direct Express card toll-free Customer Service Department number.

They are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The number to call is 1 (888) 741-1115.

Finally, you can check your card balance at any ATM that displays the MasterCard acceptance mark, at no cost.

Summary

We hope this post on How to Close Your Direct Express Card Account was helpful.

If your question was not answered and are still having trouble with closing your account, please let us know in the comments section below.

Be sure to check out our other articles on Direct Express including Direct Express Dispute Resolution, and Top Complaints about Direct Express Card.

Comments

comments

1 thought on “How to Close Your Direct Express Card Account”

  1. I’ve tried to change my password it’s almost impossible I put my card # in it gives me a bunch of scrambled # and letters then tells me they don’t match I’ve done this 50 times I can’t put it in wrong that many times. Then it tells me that you will email then I wait for 3hours and I get the email then I put the code,in they sent me it says I entered wrong code!!!! I called DE good luck with that after being on hold forever they tell me I’ve got to,go to SS office so Monday morning I’m to solve my problem. I’m going to cancel it FOREVER……

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