[penpavan]

Dear experts, I have an HDFC Life insurance payment coming up of relatively a large amount (5L) and I got a notification that credit card payments will be charged a convenience fee. Apparently, this new policy is introduced very recently, and they informed me a month before. (Feb 2025)
I checked the fee and it turns out to be close to 1% including GST that comes to almost Rs 5k. I think its steep.

I wrote to HDFC Life asking to waive it, but it doesn't seem to be working as they are forcing me to select other modes of payment if I want to avoid the charges.

I personally feel that the policy is unfair as this charge was not there when I purchased the policy in 2024. Besides I am using their own company card (Infinia Metal)

What are my options here? Please help!
Thanks in advance.

[ashis89]

Originally Posted by penpavan

I personally feel that the policy is unfair as this charge was not there when I purchased the policy in 2024. Besides I am using their own company card (Infinia Metal)

What are my options here? Please help!
Thanks in advance.

Even after paying 1% charges, you should be getting 3.3% return on the card spend. In my opinion, if you don't have a card with better offer, using the Infinia to make the payment would be worth it.

[Lobogris]

Originally Posted by ashis89

Even after paying 1% charges, you should be getting 3.3% return on the card spend. In my opinion, if you don't have a card with better offer, using the Infinia to make the payment would be worth it.

That 3.3% is capped at Rs 5,000 per day for insurance payments. So, you would get 5k reward points and the 1% fee would be 5k as well!

[penpavan]

Originally Posted by Lobogris

That 3.3% is capped at Rs 5,000 per day for insurance payments. So, you would get 5k reward points and the 1% fee would be 5k as well!

Right, overall its a raw deal for me. Is fighting over it with ombudsman makes any sense? Its another matter that I cannot afford the time and effort required for that fight.

[ashis89]

Originally Posted by penpavan

Right, overall its a raw deal for me. Is fighting over it with ombudsman makes any sense? Its another matter that I cannot afford the time and effort required for that fight.

See if you are able work a way with insurance team to split the payment over 3-4 days so you get the 5k points each day. A 5L transaction would get 16k+ points.

[Lobogris]

Originally Posted by penpavan

Right, overall its a raw deal for me. Is fighting over it with ombudsman makes any sense? Its another matter that I cannot afford the time and effort required for that fight.

What would be the ground to complain to the ombudsman? HDFC is providing you with various options to pay the premium.

Originally Posted by ashis89

See if you are able work a way with insurance team to split the payment over 3-4 days so you get the 5k points each day. A 5L transaction would get 16k+ points.

Splitting is not allowed. The payment has to be made in one go.

[ramki.grandhi]

Hello all, I've a small question, could you please help? I've been using Infinia metal card, it's pretty decent and solves almost 70-80% of the needs. For remaining 20-30% spends, i'm looking for an LTF card. So, which is the best for the below purpose?

1. Movie tickets
2. scan and pay thru UPI(if possible)
3. Fuel spends
4. Amzon spends(infinia's 10k limit is not enough)

Thank you.

[shipnil]

Originally Posted by ramki.grandhi

Answers below

Thank you.

1. Movie tickets - Buy BMS vouchers from Amazon using Amazon Pay (see reply to point 4 as well)
2. scan and pay thru UPI(if possible) - Most small shops would have disabled payment through Rupay card.
3. Fuel spends - Pay using ICICI or IDFC fastag which can be recharged using Amazon Pay.
4. Amzon spends(infinia's 10k limit is not enough) - Get add on Infinia cards for free for other family members. You can get those many times 10k vouchers per month.

[ramki.grandhi]

Originally Posted by shipnil

4. Amzon spends(infinia's 10k limit is not enough) - Get add on Infinia cards for free for other family members. You can get those many times 10k vouchers per month.

Thanks, this is going to solve for me to some extent I guess.

[drdaga]

Originally Posted by Lobogris

What would be the ground to complain to the ombudsman? HDFC is providing you with various options to pay the premium.


Splitting is not allowed. The payment has to be made in one go.

You can try Payzapp or Amazon Pay by adding the policy.I made a payment of ₹2.5 lakh via Payzapp for my policy last month.Not sure about the ₹5 lakh amount

[siddharthgarg]

Originally Posted by Lobogris

That 3.3% is capped at Rs 5,000 per day for insurance payments. So, you would get 5k reward points and the 1% fee would be 5k as well!

Even if 5k points get cancelled out due to the 5k fee, your transaction of 5L will still help you in achieving the 10L spend threshold required for waiving off the annual fees.
So it still seems like a good deal to me.

[Sd@1023]

Originally Posted by shipnil

4. Amzon spends(infinia's 10k limit is not enough) - Get add on Infinia cards for free for other family members. You can get those many times 10k vouchers per month.

Do you get 5x points on using addon cards for Amazon pay?

[shipnil]

Originally Posted by Sd@1023

Do you get 5x points on using addon cards for Amazon pay?

Yes, I do. But please remember it is still subject 15k bonus points ceiling per month. Also, I hope your add on card numbers are different compared to primary holder. Previously, HDFC used to issue same number to add on member with just change in name on the card face.

[amahale]

I have an Amex Platinum Travel Credit Card and I had a couple questions regarding it.
I am about to achieve the 4,00,000 spend target to receive bonus points.

Question 1: It says I will get 10K bonus points on reaching the target spend. But I saw an advert (can't locate it anymore) in the app that I would be getting 25K* bonus points on reaching the 4L target spend. What are the conditions (*) to get 25K points?

Question 2: Same as above for 1.9L target spend; I received 7.5K bonus points, but the advert said 15K

Question 3: What is the best way to utilize the Amex reward points. I am happy to convert into Air Miles if that is an option?

Question 4: What are the other benefits that I can avail after completing the target spend?

[rajesh1868]

Originally Posted by amahale

Question 2: Same as above for 1.9L target spend; I received 7.5K bonus points, but the advert said 15K

They credit half points as soon as you reach the target. Not sure if they auto credit the remaining, I called them up at end of year and they credited immediately. Have seen this in other card communities that you need to call them up for the full credit