HDFC Bank IRCTC Credit Card Launched | TechnoFino Review

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Recently, the HDFC Bank IRCTC credit card was added to the list of HDFC Bank credit cards. HDFC Bank has now officially launched the co-branded IRCTC HDFC Bank Credit Card.
Let's explore the card.



Joining Fees- 500+GST
Annual Fees- 500+GST
Annual Fees Reversal Criteria- Spend Rs. 1,50,000 or more in a year

Welcome benefit- Gift Voucher worth INR 500 on card activation within 30 days of card issuance.

Main Benefits-

• 8 complimentary access to select IRCTC Executive Lounges every year (2 per quarter).
• 1% Transaction charges waiver on transactions done on IRCTC ticketing website and Rail Connect App.
  Maximum waiver of INR 1,000 per statement cycle.
• 1% fuel surcharge waiver at all fuel stations across India, on minimum transaction of INR 400 & maximum transaction of INR 5,000.
  Maximum waiver of INR 250 per statement cycle
• The IRCTC HDFC Bank Credit Card is enabled for linking to UPI.

Reward System-

• 5 Reward Point for every INR 100 spent on IRCTC ticketing website and Rail Connect App.
  The accrual of the 5X HDFC Bank Reward Points on partner IRCTC spends is capped maximum at 1000 Reward Points per month and 12000 Reward Points Annually.
  That means if you spend 20,000 on IRCTC, then you'll earn maximum reward points 1000 per month.
  
  
• If you book rail ticket via HDFC Bank SmartBuy, then you'll get additional 5% cashback.
• You'll get upto 5% cashback for all transactions done on HDFC Smartbuy portal (other than rail ticket booking).
• Smartbuy cashback maximum capping - Rs. 1000 per month.
  
  
• 1 Reward Point for every INR 100 spent on all other spends .
  The accrual of the HDFC Bank Reward Points on all other spends is capped maximum at 1000 Reward Points per month and 12000 Reward Points Annually.
  That means if you spend 1L on other categories, then you'll earn maximum reward points 1000 per month.
  
  
• Reward Points will not be accrued for the following spend on the card- Fuel Spends, Wallet loads / Gift or Prepaid Card load/ Voucher purchase, Government related transactions, Education, EMI, Rent

Quarterly Milestone Benefit- Get gift voucher worth INR 500 on quarterly spends of INR 30,000

Eligibility Criteria-
Indian Resident
Age - Min 21 & Max 60 (Salaried), 65 (Self Employed)
Income- 25,000/month (Salaried); 6L ITR (Self employed)

My Opinion:-
Undoubtedly, the HDFC Bank IRCTC Credit Card is one of the top IRCTC co-branded credit cards in the market. Unlike other IRCTC credit cards, such as the SBI IRCTC credit card, this card does not have a ticket class capping. The capping on the maximum reward points accrual is reasonable. Therefore, I believe that this is the ideal IRCTC credit card for frequent or moderate railway travelers.

 

[manop1990]

It should be 5% cashback + 5% reward points.

Cashback/Rewards for non-IRCTC spends through SmartBuy would be as per SmartBuy policy/offers..

customer care person says wrongly that only one (either cashback or reward points) is applicable in smartbuy. i have asked to raise ticket. have to wait for a week.

i didnt receive 5% reward for even 1 transaction. some problem with their reward system and 1% transaction waiver

 

[Sahil_07]

customer care person says wrongly that only one (either cashback or reward points) is applicable in smartbuy. i have asked to raise ticket. have to wait for a week.

i didnt receive 5% reward for even 1 transaction. some problem with their reward system and 1% transaction waiver

I am facing the same issue. Can you share the email id where you have raised complaint? Talking to customer care is just a waste of time.

 

[manop1990]

I am facing the same issue. Can you share the email id where you have raised complaint? Talking to customer care is just a waste of time.

customerservices.cards@hdfcbank.com

i have sent a mail for addressing 2issues( 5x rewards and 1%transaction fee waiver).
they acknowledged to address the 1% transaction fee.
but they are denying the reward points.

i have asked to look into their terms and conditions of credit card

 

[manop1990]

customer care mail replied
4X RP program is monthly based so it will execute on October 01, 2024.

From terms and conditions,


my billing cycle is on mid of the month.
i made only 1 irctc website transaction in august 2024. they marked it as ineligible by considering it as catering and not as train ticket.
i have complained for that.

i have smartbuy-irctc transactions in september.
i will wait till next bill(october mid) and find if additional 4x rewards are posted.

 

[manop1990]

In IRCTC train ticket booking, generally all credit cards will have minimum 1% transaction charge with 18% GST on transaction charge.
During the past transactions with HDFC irctc rupay credit card, i have used paytm and kotak bank as payment gateway for which i didnt get 1% transaction fee waiver.


the above information in irctc website is incorrect. Dont use RuPay-Card KOTAK PG for HDFC irctc rupay credit card.

HDFC irctc rupay credit card works fine in VISA/Master Card(powered by HDFC BANK) shown below although it says Visa/Master card.



i am getting 1 % transaction fee waiver when i use
Payment Gateway/Credit card/Debit card->Visa/Master Card(Powered by HDFC BANK).

1% transaction fee is charged(without 18% GST for transaction fee for tickets less than Rs 2000) and it gets reversed after 2 days.
1% transaction fee is charged(with 18% GST for transaction fee for tickets greater than Rs 2000) and it gets reversed after 2 days(GST is not reversed).

for hdfc gateway, captcha needs to be entered which is a drawback for tatkal bookings.

instead Multiple Payment Service->Paytm gateway can be used which doesnt require captcha.
but paytm gateway charges GST to 1% transaction fee for all transactions. GST to 1% transaction fee is extra for transactions less than Rs2000 compared to hdfc gateway.
for transactions above Rs2000, both gateway charges same but Paytm is faster since captcha is not required

 

[manop1990]

hdfc irctc credit card seems to have brought some changes in reward points credit.

before january 2025, train ticket bookings will get 1x rewards in 2days and 4x rewards will be credited in next month starting.
from january 2025, train ticket bookings are not getting any reward in 2days. only after next month starting, 5x rewards are getting credited.

has anyone observed this change?

 

[manop1990]

is adding loyalty account in irctc necessary to get lounge benefits?

 

[KingAAR]

is adding loyalty account in irctc necessary to get lounge benefits?

no you can simply get lounge access from dream folks website

 

[manop1990]

hdfc irctc credit card gives 1% transaction fee waiver for tickets booked in irctc.
for failed transactions the entire amount(along with 1% transaction fee) gets refunded. so 1% transaction fee reversal for failed transactions can be agreed.

but why do they REVERSE the 1% transaction fee for tickets CANCELLED although refund has nothing to do with transaction fee?
isnt the 1% transaction fee reversal for cancelled tickets WRONG?
cant the FAILED transaction refunds and CANCELLED ticket refund be DISTINGUISHED to reverse the transaction fee for failed transaction fee reversal only?