HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Metal Credit Card Launched | Difference Between the Plastic and New Metal DCB Card

[TechnoFino]

Last October, HDFC Bank launched the metal version of their flagship credit card, the HDFC Bank Infinia credit card. Now, it's DCB's turn. HDFC Bank has introduced the Metal variant of the Diners Club Black Credit Card today. Let's delve deeper into this credit card and also compare the differences between the existing plastic DCB and the new Metal DCB.
Annual Fees: Rs. 10,000 + GST
Annual Fees Waiver Condition: Spend Rs. 8 Lakhs in a year.


Welcome Benefits:

1. Complimentary Annual memberships of Club Marriott, Amazon Prime & Swiggy One on spending Rs. 1.5 Lakh within the first 90 days of card issuance.​

Features & Benefits:

1. Unlimited Airport Lounge Access For Primary & Add-on Card Holders - Domestic & International​

2. 6 Complimentary Golf games every quarter across the finest courses in the world​

3. Earn 2X on weekend dining at standalone restaurants capped at 1000 reward points per day.​

Reward System:

Earn 5 Reward Points for every Rs. 150 spent [Reward rate: 3.33%]​

Up to 10X Reward Points via SmartBuy [Reward rate: Upto 33.33%]​

Milestones:

Get 10,000 Bonus Reward Points on spends of Rs. 4 lakhs every calendar quarter. [Reward rate: 2.50%]​

Value Of Reward Points:

1 Reward Points = Rs. 1 [For flight and hotel bookings via HDFC smartbuy portal, HDFC Bank Diners Club Black Metal card members can redeem upto maximum of 70% of booking value through Reward Points. Rest will have to be paid via Credit Card.]​

1 Reward Points = 1 Airmiles [Airmiles conversion through Smartbuy / Netbanking]​

1 Reward Points = Rs. 0.50 [Products and Vouchers via Netbanking or SmartBuy]​

1 Reward Points = Rs. 0.30 [statement cash redemption]​

Exempted Categories:

Fuel, EMI, wallet loading, government related transactions, rent payments.​

Capping:

1. Reward Points earned on grocery transactions will be capped per calendar month at 2000​

Reward Points.​

2. Rewards Points accrued for Insurance transactions will have a maximum cap of 5,000 per day.​

​

HDFC Smartbuy Capping:​

You can earn a maximum of 10,000 reward points from the HDFC Bank Smartbuy Portal in a month. There is no daily capping applicable to this credit card.​

Eligibility Criteria:

Indian Resident​

For Salaried Person -​

Age: Min 21 years & Max 60​

Salary: Rs. 1.75 Lakhs per month​

For Self-Employed Person:​

Age: Min 21 years & Max 65​

ITR: Rs. 21 Lakhs​

How To Apply: Apply Online [Click Here] Or Visit Branch​

Difference Between Plastic & New Metal DCB Card:

1. The annual fee waiver condition is different. It's 5 lakhs in spends for the plastic card and 8 lakhs in spends for the metal variant.
2. Swiggy One annual membership now serves as the welcome benefit, replacing Forbes and MMT Black. Previously, on the plastic card, it included a 3-month Swiggy One membership, along with Forbes and MMT Black.
3. A new milestone benefit has been added to the metal card. Now, you can receive 10,000 Bonus Reward Points as a quarterly milestone benefit. However, the new variant no longer includes the old Rs. 500 x2 (Total Rs. 1000) monthly milestone benefit.
4. HDFC Bank Smartbuy bonus points capping has been increased to 10,000 on the metal variant from the 7,500 cap on the plastic variant. The metal variant does not have any daily capping, while the plastic variant has a daily cap of 2,500 reward points.

Opinion:
The new metal DCB card's benefits appear to be more practical and make it a much more rewarding credit card. While most benefits remain the same, the new quarterly milestone benefit can make a significant difference. If you can spend 4 lakhs per quarter, you don't need to spend 4 lakhs every quarter. If you can spend 4 lakhs per quarter two times in a year, you can earn 46,665 points (26,665 Regular Points + 20,000 Bonus Points), which is almost a 5.83% return and an annual fee waiver.
However, if you cannot spend 4 lakhs two times a year and already hold a Lifetime Free (LTF) DCB card, then I would suggest you to continue using your plastic card.

 

[WandereR]

A new feature has been added to the metal variant - 2X reward points on weekend dining at standalone restaurants.

This is also present on the plastic DCB

 

[aceventura]

1. A new feature has been added to the metal variant - 2X reward points on weekend dining at standalone restaurants.

This is already there.

1. A new milestone benefit has been added to the metal card. Now, you can receive 10,000 Bonus Reward Points as a quarterly milestone benefit. However, the new variant no longer includes the old Rs. 500 monthly milestone benefit.

It should be 2 x 500 monthly milestone benefit.

 

[anirao07]

Any renewal Benefit on this Card?

 

[bravothemaverick]

4 lakhs every calendar quarter - condition as considering add on cards or individually at card level? I know too early & I coudnt see mention anywhere so thought of asking.

 

[bvc19296]

4 lakhs every calendar quarter - condition as considering add on cards or individually at card level? I know too early & I coudnt see mention anywhere so thought of asking.

Usually add on spends are considered as spends on primary card.

 

[Hisoka]

I read somewhere that the smartbuy capping has been increased to 10k points up from 2.5k points daily. Is that true?
source link - https://cardmaven.in/social/...1202-new-launch-hdfc-bank-diners-club-black-metal-edition

Also, I hold Millenia since May 2022 and have a credit limit of 4L. I qualify for their salary eligibility and have classic account with them since 2+ years

Will they upgrade my card to DCB Metal FYF?

 

[sv004]

Question is where to use this card as its acceptability is shit. I had diners privilege but converted it to millennia due to acceptability issues

 

[itsds]

What's the use of launching premium credit card if they don't give easy upgrade

Question is where to use this card as its acceptability is shit. I had diners privilege but converted it to millennia due to acceptability issues

I would say plastic is better as it has less fee waiver criteria

 

[the_oncoming_doctor]

DCB plastic version also had an annual milestone benefit on spending 8L

Complimentary annual memberships of Club Marriott, Forbes, Amazon Prime, Swiggy One (3 months), MMT BLACK can also be availed upon achieving annual spend of Rs 8 Lakhs at the time of card anniversary. ( T&C Apply )

I don't see this in the DCB Metal page

 

[bvc19296]

DCB plastic version also had an annual milestone benefit on spending 8L



I don't see this in the DCB Metal page

8L spending in the sense, 4L for 2 quarters.

 

[itsds]

DCB plastic version also had an annual milestone benefit on spending 8L



I don't see this in the DCB Metal page

Plastic DCB seems more beneficial , they may be stopped issuing it

 

[thanix]

No significant benefits compared to plastic one. May be this will fill the gap to those who are asking for their DCB to Infinia.

Hdfc is just creating Variants like Regalia Gold, now DCB metal, Infinia metal to keep the CC mix running.

 

[kowsikbabu]

No significant benefits compared to plastic one. May be this will fill the gap to those who are asking for their DCB to Infinia.

Hdfc is just creating Variants like Regalia Gold, now DCB metal, Infinia metal to keep the CC mix running.

This card will solve one of the key issues in DCB plastic, daily capping of smartbuy reward points, which has been the significant difference between DCB & Infinia, now it has ultimately closed the gap to infinia.

 

[sgoyal9]

Seems like a very nice card on paper. However, the poor acceptance is a big issue. Even though other banks are issuing Amex, its acceptance is still very bad and Diners club acceptance is maybe 5% of Amex.
If you keep this as a backup card then the reward structure does not justify the joining fees.
Main reason for the prestige of Infinia --> Visa means acceptance. No issues anywhere from Government portals to retail merchants.

 

[WandereR]

Can you all describe where Diners isn't accepted? Have been using Diners for many years now(DCP->DCB), not a single occasion where it didn't work, not even International gateways. This too is in T2/T3 cities primarily.

 

[RishiKiDev]

Can you all describe where Diners isn't accepted? Have been using Diners for many years now(DCP->DCB), not a single occasion where it didn't work, not even International gateways. This too is in T2/T3 cities primarily.

It depends on the POS machine brother. If its HDFC bank, axis bank or Pine Labs POS machine then it'll work. If its a PSU bank POS machine it won't work.
I went to buy jewelry, the shop had an IDBI bank POS machine my DCB wasn't detected by it. Thank god I had backup Visa card to save myself from embarrassment.

 

[thanix]

Can you all describe where Diners isn't accepted? Have been using Diners for many years now(DCP->DCB), not a single occasion where it didn't work, not even International gateways. This too is in T2/T3 cities primarily.

A prominent airlines like Emirates doesn't accept Diners in India. I felt bad with that incident DCB as primary card as couldn't book a Airline ticket for vacation using a credit card.

 

[sxchzy]

adidas official website doesnt accept amex or diners
i tried to pay for some clothes via amex just to find out that it is unsupported

 

[sarainfo12]

Can you all describe where Diners isn't accepted? Have been using Diners for many years now(DCP->DCB), not a single occasion where it didn't work, not even International gateways. This too is in T2/T3 cities primarily.

KFC app , it always fails or declined .
So I used visa card every time .
And razorpay based some small ecomm website not accepting diners .
Some pos machines also I faced in Bangalore.