[Caffeinated]

Originally Posted by shipnil

I am total noob with respect to lounge benefits on CC as I travel mostly by car or trains. So when a CC offers free lounge access, is it completely free or some minimal charge is applied? Or the entry to lounge is not charged but facilities inside are chargeable, like food, beverages, wifi etc.?

It's not free, it's charged INR 2, which sometimes gets refunded back.

Most cases, in domestic lounges, all food/ beverages,wifi are free, and alcohol is charged. In international lounges, both food and alcoholic beverages are free.

[Fx14]

Originally Posted by jkrishnakj

Need some help.

How could a bank charge me for something that i don’t even have? What could I do to remedy this? Amount isn’t big, but I don’t want to pay since I don’t even know what card they are talking about.

Ask them to mail you a photocopy of the application form and supporting documents submitted by you at the time of application for the card, for your verification.

They should have your mailing address on record right.?

[gupta_chd]

Originally Posted by ashwinsid

Lounge access when offered by any credit card, will usually involve you swiping your card for either Rs.2 or Rs.25 and it will be instantly credited back to you. Once you are in the lounge, all food, water, coffee tea is complementary (free of cost) and many lounges even offer canned/packaged juices. Liquor if any, will be chargeable (most international terminal lounges will offer free liquor too).

So basically lounge access is free and so is the food and most facilities inside.

Any specific cards or lounges where the amount is refunded back? I have used Visa cards in various lounges extensively (Around 30-40 times may be), domestic as well as international but never got a refund.

Not that it matters as Visa charges Rs. 2 only but curious to know.

[Fx14]

Originally Posted by shipnil

So when a CC offers free lounge access, is it completely free or some minimal charge is applied?

Originally Posted by ashwinsid

Lounge access when offered by any credit card, will usually involve you swiping your card for either Rs.2 or Rs.25 and it will be instantly credited back to you.

Originally Posted by Caffeinated

It's not free, it's charged INR 2, which sometimes gets refunded back.

Originally Posted by gupta_chd

Any specific cards or lounges where the amount is refunded back? I have used Visa cards in various lounges extensively (Around 30-40 times may be), domestic as well as international but never got a refund.

Not that it matters as Visa charges Rs. 2 only but curious to know.

Depends on the card issuing platform. From personal experience in domestic airport lounges :
1. Visa and Diners - INR 2 is charged as a "verification charge" , which is not refundable.
2. Master card - INR 25 is charged as an "authorisation charge" which is then auto-reversed instantly. Remember receiving transaction slips generated for both the charge and the auto-reversal.

[ashwinsid]

Originally Posted by Fx14

Depends on the card issuing platform. From personal experience in domestic airport lounges :
1. Visa and Diners - INR 2 is charged as a "verification charge" , which is not refundable.

Whenever I use my Axis Magnus/Reserve cards (both Visa), I am charged Rs.2 and within seconds it is reversed.

[alexgv]

Originally Posted by revvharder

P.S. My mother who is an practicing advocate had started receiving calls from various legal departments such as Tis Hazari Legal Department and Patiala House Legal department claiming that they were an advocate calling her to settle the dues of some loan without knowing she's an advocate herself and even went on to threaten a Police case would be registered against her. As i handle all the finances at home, she asked me about the call and while she was aware no such department exists in these courts and told them to scam someone else, she still got worried.

We all get these kind of calls. Only way this can reduce is to report these scamsters . Is there any mechanism anyone is aware of. We need to take steps to root out this mencae rather than live with it. I am not sure how though. Cyber police at this point is not interested in these issues i am told till these folks scam lakhs of rs from a VIP perhaps.

[whitewing]

Originally Posted by alexgv

We all get these kind of calls. Only way this can reduce is to report these scamsters . Is there any mechanism anyone is aware of. We need to take steps to root out this mencae rather than live with it. I am not sure how though. Cyber police at this point is not interested in these issues i am told till these folks scam lakhs of rs from a VIP perhaps.

I have not received these type extortion calls - but used to be bugged with the credit card/insurance offers.
After reporting this via the DnD app, spam calls have almost stopped and SMS has also reduced.
Perhaps these calls also can be reported under "Banking" calls?

Details on the app in this thread https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/gadge...ml#post5563412 (Advanced Guide - Reducing unwanted spam calls drastically on Android Phones)

[turbospooler]

Originally Posted by adimicra

I am thinking to have another Credit card other than Infinia, which will help me with lounge options and may be some bank-specific offers. Looking at cards which I can get LTF or easy renewal waiver.

ICICI was offering Sapphiro LTF for alumni of prestigious institutions.
AU Zenith is LTF for employees of esteemed corporates.
RBL is offering World Safari card FYF/LTF to many.

Originally Posted by AlokSharma

Does any other card make sense? I have the Amex Gold charge card too. Should I keep one of the cards of Amex and the rest Infinia and Vistara Infinite or can anyone suggest a combo of 3 cards to get best of non spend based benefits as well as spend based benefits?

Amex MRCC card and Amex Plat Travel can help complete the Amex Trifecta if you are able to spend INR 20k per month on MRCC and INR 4 L per annum on Amex Plat Travel. Amex MR points are valuable for Taj vouchers as well as Marriott points. Do DM if you need a referral to apply for these cards. They are FYF in case you are interested.

[Karan_n8]

So what should be the best card for rewards redeemable for travel ?With Magnus now being devalued, where should one shift their spends to ? Is there a card with multiple partners like Magnus ? I can manage upto 1 Lakhs rupees spend in a month.

I am going to retain my Axis Vistara Infinity card purely for the Vistara gold status.

[Jaguar]

Originally Posted by turbospooler

Amex MR points are valuable for Taj vouchers as well as Marriott points.

How do you redeem the Taj vouchers? When I tried at Vivanta, they asked for a pin, which I didn't have. Amex customer care says the last 4 digits of the voucher code are the pin.

[tejas08]

Originally Posted by Karan_n8

So what should be the best card for rewards redeemable for travel ?With Magnus now being devalued, where should one shift their spends to ? Is there a card with multiple partners like Magnus ? I can manage upto 1 Lakhs rupees spend in a month.

I am going to retain my Axis Vistara Infinity card purely for the Vistara gold status.

HDFC Diners Club Black
HDFC Infinia
Amex Platinum Travel
Axis Atlas
Amex Membership Rewards Credit Card

Use combination of these cards to achieve the spends and get rewards redeemable for Travel.

[jayram.r]

Originally Posted by itwasntme

Very much works with an iPhone. I have a couple of HDFCB RuPay cards, one physical and the other virtual, and both work seamlessly through GPay.

Go for any of the HDFC Rupay cards, they work well with UPI merchants. (Not for personal transfer though to individual).
I have the HDFc Tata Neu Rupay LTF card and it works like a charm. Also the neupoints accumulated is a bonus. You can adjust the same if you buy from Bigbasket.

[nettooran]

Originally Posted by akhil_007

Looking for suggestions:

How exactly do I apply for a credit card of my choice with HDFC Bank? I have shortlisted Millenia Credit Card but whenever I click on apply online/fill my details, the website throws up 3 credit cards that it thinks is the best for me. I dont like those recommendations but there is no way I can override it to choose the card of my liking.

Thanks in advance

Exactly. do let me know if you find it out.

I too need the Millenia, but it is showing me a higher one. I dont need that since Millenia card is the perfect one for me. even if we select the card, once my phone number is entered, another card, that is higher pops up as only suggesstion and cant go beyond that. I have a good good financial record to show , but alas, HDFC dont want me to have a card that I choose.

[rajesh1868]

Originally Posted by tejas08

HDFC Diners Club Black
HDFC Infinia
Amex Platinum Travel
Axis Atlas
Amex Membership Rewards Credit Card

Use combination of these cards to achieve the spends and get rewards redeemable for Travel.

For domestic travel, what are the best options? I was thinking about the Axis/SBI Vistara cards. Does Atlas/Amex Pt Travel make better sense for domestic?
Average annual spend is around 10L

[TwerkyC0ffee]

Originally Posted by akhil_007

Looking for suggestions:

How exactly do I apply for a credit card of my choice with HDFC Bank? I have shortlisted Millenia Credit Card but whenever I click on apply online/fill my details, the website throws up 3 credit cards that it thinks is the best for me. I dont like those recommendations but there is no way I can override it to choose the card of my liking.

Thanks in advance

This is the exact situation I found myself in about a week ago. The recommendations showing up in their website are based on your credit score and whether or not you have any existing relationship with the bank, although I agree that the algorithm is flawed.

What I did was visited the nearest branch, and applied for the required card offline. Based on income and existing credit cards with other banks, they offer even the higher versions of HDFC card as free for lifetime as well.