pankaj1122
TF Premier
Idfc Rewards team Contacted me...Said Someone from Branch will contact me..Now i know why..😂
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IDFC First Bank Blocking Debit Card Reward Portals Again in 2025: What’s Going On?
- Thread starter TechnoFino
- Start date
- Replies 46
- Views 998
Tocoliso
TF Select
+1 AnindyaI know the exact reason why the bank hasn’t notified customers, because they themselves aren’t fully aware of it. I faced a similar issue after using my debit card multiple times at the same merchant within a short span. The system flagged it as suspicious activity and blocked the card.
When I contacted customer support, they were clueless. They said my card was active, yet all transactions were being declined with the message “your card is blocked.” After multiple follow-ups over 5–6 days, the issue was finally resolved.
However, the same issue happened again a few days later. This time, I chose to replace the debit card, and since then, it’s been working smoothly.
The problem is that even IDFC’s team doesn’t fully understand how their system behaves. Unfortunately, their system has a tendency to repeat the same issues again and again.
Yes, some sincere ones got caught in the crossfire.
agreed
Came across same problem.
If customers are acting like a thermometer and telling you that you need to take some pills and address the root cause of the fever.
You feel that thermometer is wrong and want to break. I suggestion is bank should use this opportunity to make the system more robust.
( it already is as there are mcc limitations and account variant based limitations.)
Till such time, the bank needs to bear whatever cost is there. Seems like a fair game.
Tocoliso
TF Select
@TechnoFino because your intervention the portal is unblocked.
Super fast .
Customers highlighting issues shouldn’t be seen as the problem itself. If the system is flagging behavior that’s within the defined usage patterns, then the focus should be on refining those rules, not penalizing the users.
No one can continue operating at a loss indefinitely. The bank has already been incurring losses due to the premium features offered at zero cost. It’s only now, after a considerable period, that they’ve realized such a model isn’t sustainable in the long run.
If you were running a business, you wouldn’t continue absorbing losses either—even if your model wasn’t completely foolproof. At some point, sustainability has to take priority.
What was the reason provided by them for blocking?
Tocoliso
TF Select
Customers highlighting flaws are not the problem. They are the signal. If users are operating within the defined terms and still getting flagged, the issue is not with them. It’s with the system. The focus should be on fixing the rules, not punishing those who followed them.
No business can run at a loss forever. The bank offered premium features at zero cost and only now seems to realize the model is unsustainable. Fair enough. Course correction is a part of growth. But the method of correction matters.
Imagine running a business that’s bleeding. Would you go after your most engaged users? Or would you tear down the product to understand what went wrong, call a war room, and fix it at the root? I’d challenge the product team, audit the recommendation engine line by line, hold teams accountable, and if needed, make hiring changes. But I would never dump the blame on customers who played by the rules.
That’s the core concern here:
- Why hide behind silence instead of communicating transparently?
- Why not make changes prospectively ( going forward) instead of retroactively punishing users who earned points under the previous terms?
The bank is fully within its rights to revise the product, change the MCCs, reduce features, or even shut the program. But clawing back rewards from customers who waited the exact bank-mandated time, fulfilled all spending conditions, and were ready to redeem—this is breach of trust.
It’s not just poor optics. It signals a deeper cultural flaw—refusing to own internal missteps, and turning on your own users instead.
Let’s also be honest. Banks don’t continue unprofitable programs unless there's a larger strategic gain. There may be second- and third-order benefits—brand visibility, deposit float, customer acquisition costs. If someone from the industry has insight on this, that would help.
Also, here’s something to think about:
A man once bought a lifetime United Airlines pass in the 1980s. The airline lost millions. But they never reneged on their promise. Why? Because they valued their word more than the short-term loss. The Guardian article covers it in detail.
IDFC, on the other hand, is walking back on confirmed, redeemable rewards. This is not cost control. This is poor thinking.
To IDFC team, Going forward, fix the model, change the terms, scrap the program, bring in better tech, smarter employees etc.. Do all of that. But going back on your own commitments, and doing it without even an explanation that’s just a cheap, horrible and broken approach to solving a serious product failure.
im-raghav
TF Buzz
Are you able to redeem the vouchers now ? Received any email text or anything ? Mine is still blocked
Tocoliso
TF Select
Yes I did redeem my points.
are you confirmed? Your reward portal was blocked, or it may be some technical issue
I also had the same query.
In this debate I can only see this credit card payments with debit cards will get closed sooner than later.
Tocoliso
TF Select
It was blocked masked as "Redemption failed. Please try again error. "
Did not get any communication but now it's working and I just redeemed all my redeemable points.
Just have patience I guess they are in process of updating and all accounts would get unblocked by day ( my hunch) no feedback from any cc or rewards side.
Tocoliso
TF Select
Could be the case but I think we are missing why banks are allowing. There's definitely some gains for them to which we are oblivious.
Any industry expert on the community can add some light on this as these losses are not new and banks are aware of the loopholes too and know the fixes as well.
In today's AI world the solutions are just 1-3 right hires (smart folks).
Tocoliso
TF Select
See this. This is opened for Rahul as well.
Post in thread 'IDFC First Bank Launched its Debit Card Reward System' https://www.technofino.in/community...its-debit-card-reward-system.7394/post-988251
@TechnoFino jo koe nahi kar paya woh aapne phir se kar dikaya 🙏
Thank you 😇
Thank you 😇
The bank isn’t exactly allowing or benefiting from this. We’re simply making use of a loophole. A quick read of the First Rewards portal T&Cs makes that pretty clear.
Still not working for me 🙁
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