Can a recurring payment still go through if I’ve closed my credit card but I still owe money on the closed card?

If you cancel your Credit Card on File with the Merchant, future Recurring Payments will be declined by the Bank that issued the said Credit Card a/k/a your Issuer Bank.

However, your Merchant could sue you for Breach of Contract.

Depending on how the contract is worded, the merchant could send future bills / debit requests to you via

  1. Mail to your postal address
  2. Mail to your business address
  3. Direct Debit to your bank account

etc.

Now you may counter by saying you have never given your postal addresses or bank account details to the merchant. Under normal circumstances, the merchant will remain ignorant about those details. However, in the event of breach of contract, depending upon the jurisdiction, the merchant may be legally empowered to obtain those details from third party data brokers, bankruptcy administrators, resolution professionals, et al.

That was the Merchant.

Now coming to money you owe on the closed credit card, that could invite action from your Issuer Bank.

Good luck facing action on two fronts at the same time.

DISCLAIMER: This is not legal advice.