[VaibhaoT]

Originally Posted by NPV

Back to the HDFC Credit Card question after a year

Which one is better in terms of benefits (domestic airport lounge access, cashback/rewards) Infinia or Diners Black.

Is acceptability by merchants limited with the Diners Black (like the Amex was a few years ago ?)

I have used LTF Diners Black for 2 years & upgraded to Paid Infinia (after la ot of fight with bank) last year. Acceptance of Diners has been degraded a lot in last 3 years. At few merchant outlet, including Dmart once, they were ready to accept Amex but not Diners. In my personal experience, Diners is waste of time if you do not like to carry multiple cards.

Regarding domestic lounge access, I would say Diners is better. For example, recently I went to Mopa airport in Goa, they were accepting Diners but not Infinia. But PP of Infinia offers complimentary domestic lounge access, which in my opinion is biggest benefit of Infinia.

For cashback rewards, there is no doubt, Infinia has higher edge. For example, recently HDFC had cashback offer for international flight booking on MMT. For Infinia they were giving 7500, but Diners it was 5000 if I remember correctly. There was a similar higher cap for Infinia for a Dineout offer compared to Diners/other HDFC card.

Originally Posted by turbospooler

I upgraded from Diners Black (Lifetime Free) to Infinia (Paid), so be rest assured that this card is worth even after paying the fee.

Completely agree. Paid Infinia is much better option than LTF Diners Black.

[Everlearner]

I was issued an LTF Infinia and will expire in a few months. Will my renewal card be automatically continue to be LTF or does the LTF means only till validity of the first card?

[turbospooler]

Originally Posted by Everlearner

I was issued an LTF Infinia and will expire in a few months. Will my renewal card be automatically continue to be LTF or does the LTF means only till validity of the first card?

Ideally, the LTF means the card relationship Life Time.
Typically, they send the same card number, with CVV & Expiry changed.

[Iconoclast]

Originally Posted by Everlearner

I was issued an LTF Infinia and will expire in a few months. Will my renewal card be automatically continue to be LTF or does the LTF means only till validity of the first card?

Just out of curiosity; under what circumstances is Infinia offered LTF?

[saisree]

Originally Posted by turbospooler

Typically, they send the same card number, with CVV & Expiry changed.

Card Number might be the same but have seen different numbers too in my replacement cards. CVV will change for sure, for all the known reasons.

[Everlearner]

Originally Posted by Iconoclast

Just out of curiosity; under what circumstances is Infinia offered LTF?

I had Regalia LTF along with my salary account with HDFC. I called customer care and requested for upgrade to Infinia which they agreed to.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by Everlearner

I had Regalia LTF along with my salary account with HDFC. I called customer care and requested for upgrade to Infinia which they agreed to.

I'm thinking on similar lines now since they're only offering me the Regalia lifetime free currently.
For Infinia, annual fee is Rs.12.5k and will be waived if spends are > 8L in a year.

I think I can close out my Citibank rewards card, go for the HDFC Regalia now, and then upgrade to Infinia couple years later.

[Everlearner]

Originally Posted by NPV

I'm thinking on similar lines now since they're only offering me the Regalia lifetime free currently.
For Infinia, annual fee is Rs.12.5k and will be waived if spends are > 8L in a year.

I think I can close out my Citibank rewards card, go for the HDFC Regalia now, and then upgrade to Infinia couple years later.

That could work. I also used my regalia for 2-3 years before I got upgraded to Infinia.

Regalia has some target based bonus reward points which are not bad

[turbospooler]

Originally Posted by NPV

I'm thinking on similar lines now since they're only offering me the Regalia lifetime free currently.
For Infinia, annual fee is Rs.12.5k and will be waived if spends are > 8L in a year.

I think I can close out my Citibank rewards card, go for the HDFC Regalia now, and then upgrade to Infinia couple years later.

Annual fee waiver is above 10L on Infinia.
Just out of curiousity, why do you want to close the Citibank rewards card now and what relation does it have with Regalia/Infinia?

Also, Infinia upgrade is a game of chance. People having double or triple my salary couldn't get Infinia because they did not care about it when it was being given LTF.
Now, none of them are getting even paid Infinia.

[NPV]

Originally Posted by turbospooler

Just out of curiousity, why do you want to close the Citibank rewards card now and what relation does it have with Regalia/Infinia?

No relation per se between the two, but I think the Citibank rewards card has no benefits like airport lounge access, I believe they were withdrawn a couple years ago. I don't want to hold on to too many cards, so if I get the Regalia now, I plan to close the Citibank card.

[turbospooler]

Originally Posted by NPV

No relation per se between the two, but I think the Citibank rewards card has no benefits like airport lounge access, I believe they were withdrawn a couple years ago. I don't want to hold on to too many cards, so if I get the Regalia now, I plan to close the Citibank card.

If that is your oldest card, your credit score may drop. Also, Axis will announce its migration for Citi cards soon (Diwali, maybe), so you can hold onto that card if there is no fee due immediately.
You can ask the team to convert your card to Premiermiles to get lounge access. Citi charges fees pro-rated for such upgrades.

[Highh5]

Originally Posted by Highh5

Last Weekend applied for TATA NEU Infinity Rupay and Sbi BPC card again Rupay. Let's see which one gets approved. TATA Neu is applied because right now it is available LTF and with this card, Hdfc has removed the rule of issuing one card to one individual. So, now one can have at least two hdfc cards.

One question to fellow BHPians, which card is good for insurance payments through which I can get points on those.

Providing an update on the above. Hdfc rejected my card request without giving any reason however as per them I'm eligible for the lower variant of the Tata Neu card and I can still apply for it. God knows the algorithm behind that, using HDFC Regalia since 8 years and never missed a single payment. Sbi one got approved and delivered today. As soon as I get my hands on it, I tried to add that card as an option to pay via UPI app.

Update for fellow Bhpians if you are not aware
I tried to add the Rupay card on Gpay, BHIM app, PhonePay, and Paytm but everywhere all the other companies Rupay Card can be added for payment but SBI doesn't allow its own Rupay card to be used for UPI Payment. Came as a shock to me, I was not aware of that neither I read about it anywhere. Now this card will only be used for fuel purposes and I may have to look for another card for the above use case. I would suggest everyone not to opt for an SBI Rupay card if it is not allowed to be used for payment purposes on any of the existing UPI platforms or if anyone knows a way around it, do let me know as well. Thank you!

[itwasntme]

Is anyone aware whether the 'ordinary' UPI QR codes found at every small merchant will automatically work for RuPay credit card payments?

I always prefer to use my credit cards rather than debit as a rule.

[dass]

Originally Posted by itwasntme

Is anyone aware whether the 'ordinary' UPI QR codes found at every small merchant will automatically work for RuPay credit card payments?

I always prefer to use my credit cards rather than debit as a rule.

It works in MOST places, not all of them. I was able to pay using this method at roadside vegetables vendors as well as small restaurants. However, this was not accepted in a JK Tyre Outlet, which looked like a decent sized one with both cars and trucks being serviced.

[Highh5]

Originally Posted by NPV

No relation per se between the two, but I think the Citibank rewards card has no benefits like airport lounge access, I believe they were withdrawn a couple years ago. I don't want to hold on to too many cards, so if I get the Regalia now, I plan to close the Citibank card.

I use my Citibank rewards card for fueling at Indian Oil Petrol Pumps, earn decent rewards on that and it's kind of free as well (No Renewal Charges if the expense is more than 30000 in a year). So, it doesn't hurt to have one in the wallet plus I'm also covered for all the Citibank exclusive offers as well.