[invidious]

Originally Posted by PPS

Do you have your International Usage switched to always on? This is strange to hear as I have not faced any problems at all with my Infinia considering I've done 4 foreign trips in last 2 yrs. I did not bother to inform Bank App/Mobile banking,etc. Just switched on International Usage 1 day before the trip.

I switched it on 3 days before leaving. I have it switched off usually because during the lockdown - some guy booked a vacation on my card on booking.com ! Thankfully, I informed the bank immediately and it got reversed. Just to be clear when I say "infomed", I mean I switched it on 3 days before I left. The RM told me - "next time please inform me and I will ensure no hiccups".

[UD17]

Originally Posted by Artyom

Guys my parents are traveling to Canada this year in October.

For how much time they would be staying in Canada? If the stay is for longer period and estimated expense is large then please don't take a risk, Just use prepaid forex card.

Although I don't foresee any issues in parents using your card (in Toronto/GTA area although not sure about other regions) but anything can go wrong due to bad luck and it's too much hassle to work around in those cases. The money saved in mark up is not worth that adventure in a foreign country.

BTW I am also visiting the country during that time.

[Artyom]

Originally Posted by UD17

For how much time they would be staying in Canada? If the stay is for longer period and estimated expense is large then please don't take a risk, Just use prepaid forex card.

Although I don't foresee any issues in parents using your card (in Toronto/GTA area although not sure about other regions) but anything can go wrong due to bad luck and it's too much hassle to work around in those cases. The money saved in mark up is not worth that adventure in a foreign country.

BTW I am also visiting the country during that time.

So they will be staying there for 3 months till Jan 1st week & are visiting my mom's elder sister. They will be carrying some cash but again I feel its easier to carry a card than carrying all cash.

Maybe I'll ask them to get a prepaid card also just in case.
Most of the times they will be accompanied by either of the family members or my cousins.

So have you made your shopping list? Please do share some suggestions what is worth buying there while coming back to India.

[saisree]

I got a call from Kotak Mahindra for a Rupay Credit Card. Its Lifetime free, no minimum annual spend limit, Lowest EMI charges and no processing fee et al.
Anyone here have firsthand experience on this Kotak Mahindra Credit Card?

[UD17]

Originally Posted by Artyom

So they will be staying there for 3 months till Jan

Ohh. The period is quite long (and Cold). Cash is usually the king out there but cards are accepted everywhere.

I used to live in greater Toronto area (Vaughan precisely) in 2012 and so, but now i go there every year atleast once (for 1 or 2 weeks max) for office related work. Only electronic items are in my bucket list, I earlier bought few camera lenses from best buy/Henry's, these were costlier in India. Other stuff like clothes etc. are expensive.

I would get some innovative stuffs like games, puzzles etc. for kids if i get hold of something. Well, You have your extended there so they can take care of sightseeing and other useful stuff.

[sweetvar26]

Originally Posted by Lobogris

I had an interesting and unusual experience with my IDFC Wealth card recently.

Originally Posted by VaibhaoT

OMG!
My wife recently used my HDFC Infnia for purchase in Europe

I've done some shopping earlier this year in Dubai, I did get a tax refund on my HDFC Infinia Metal. This month, my wife did get a tax refund on her ICICI Emerald from her purchases in Germany.

So far so good. I hope this gets sorted because even if you take cash refund, putting a credit card on file is mandatory.

These are the parties we got refunds from.
Planet Tax Free Galway
GLOBALBLUE.COM/RULES MOLNDAL SE

[neerajku]

IDFC chaps have messed up something. RBI has not issued any instructions of this sort or banned any organisation like this. They are misrepresenting their own mess!

[Fx14]

Originally Posted by neerajku

IDFC chaps have messed up something. RBI has not issued any instructions of this sort or banned any organisation like this. They are misrepresenting their own mess!

They do seem to be going overboard at times.

Recollect an instance where funds were transferred online to the savings account maintained with them and then a FD booked online itself. Received a call immediately seeking to verify the transaction was genuine or not.

While I was pleasantly surprised to notice the level of monitoring, normally such verifications are carried out for debit transactions suspected to be unauthorised rather than the other way around.
Wonder what they would have done if for some reason they could not get the confirmation at that time - reverse the FD booked?

[warrioraks]

Have got VAT refunds on both HDFC bank and Citi. No hassles ever.

Even in this case of IDFC, although their process is screwed , we can give them leeway on account of a genuine miss. But asking the customer to write an apology letter for not doing anything illegal is the height. Horrible customer service I must say.

[kap04]

Had a query regarding flight tickets i booked via Infinia Smartbuy. I booked a round-trip ticket via Akasa Air recently via Smartbuy EaseMyTrip. This flight got cancelled, i had received a call from the airline. How do I follow up on the refund, should I contact HDFC Smartbuy or should it be Easemytrip?

[devilicious]

Recently got an upgrade offer for Regalia (LTF) -> Regalia Gold (FYF). Had to decline. Quite disappointed that even after 3 years, they didn't increase my limit and the upgrade was more of a downgrade.

Really fed up with Regalia and thinking of moving to a different card for Primary usage. Just not sure which one.

[itwasntme]

Originally Posted by itwasntme

I will approach HDFCB and see if they will go the 'secured FD' credit card route.

Thank to all the ideas. We created a FD of 20K and HDFCB released 80% of that as his credit limit.

His secured HDFCB Freedom RuPay card reached yesterday, and already linked to his own UPI.

[Everlearner]

Originally Posted by itwasntme

Thank to all the ideas. We created a FD of 20K and HDFCB released 80% of that as his credit limit.

His secured HDFCB Freedom RuPay card reached yesterday, and already linked to his own UPI.

That's a good thing to start their own credit history at an early age and build up the credit score.

[sweetvar26]

Originally Posted by kap04

Had a query regarding flight tickets i booked via Infinia Smartbuy. I booked a round-trip ticket via Akasa Air recently via Smartbuy EaseMyTrip. This flight got cancelled, i had received a call from the airline. How do I follow up on the refund, should I contact HDFC Smartbuy or should it be Easemytrip?

I believe they do have a phone number on file.

I can't believe how HDFC screwed up how easier it was to manage these orders/bookings. Through the Smarybuy link that redirects you to Makemytrip etc. I just don't like the new system they've gone within the last few months.

[aastiksaluja]

Originally Posted by kap04

Had a query regarding flight tickets i booked via Infinia Smartbuy. I booked a round-trip ticket via Akasa Air recently via Smartbuy EaseMyTrip. This flight got cancelled, i had received a call from the airline. How do I follow up on the refund, should I contact HDFC Smartbuy or should it be Easemytrip?

Akasa will refund the money to EaseMyTrip, and they will send it to your account. You need to check with EaseMyTrip helping with smart-buy provided in multiple places. it takes a good 15 days fro money to come back. However, I believe they will still deduct the non-refundable convenience fees.