HDFC charging Fee for LTF Regalia First

[exo]

I have few credit cards and one of them is HDFC Regalia First which is LTF. HDFC keeps sending me communication to upgrade it to Regalia Gold. Last year there was an offer to upgrade to DBC as well. However I don't want to pay annual fee so I didn't do upgrade.

I got IDFC wealth card last year and since then I am using that card as primary card for all the expenses.

HDFC put annual fee of 1000 + gst on my card in Jan 2024 and I found out that from unbilled transactions.

When I reached out to HDFC via Twitter. They said my card is not LTF and i did not spend 1 Lac last year and hence I need to pay annual fee.

I got this card in 2018 when HDFC team came to office. It was given as LTF because of the company I work for and my net income. I had confirmed about its LTF status over phone call when I got it in 2018.

I never paid annual fee for it. I suppose I always spent more than 1 Lac till last year.

I was just keeping this card for instant and cashback offers during festivals season. I have another Regalia card in Family as well for offers.

What should I do?

 

[arun4455]

then bank send a welcome letter alongwith the card. Just in case, you have the habit of keeping the documents for future reference, check the fee structure on the welcome letter.
Or search if you have a written communication from the bank, else it is very difficult to handle hdfc these days.

 

[BMR]

then bank send a welcome letter alongwith the card. Just in case, you have the habit of keeping the documents for future reference, check the fee structure on the welcome letter.
Or search if you have a written communication from the bank, else it is very difficult to handle hdfc these days.

Usually welcome letters are standard letters and they mention the standard joining and renewal fee, even when a card is LTF. Best approach is to email the bank and get a confirmation on email and keep it safe for future.

 

[exo]

then bank send a welcome letter alongwith the card. Just in case, you have the habit of keeping the documents for future reference, check the fee structure on the welcome letter.
Or search if you have a written communication from the bank, else it is very difficult to handle hdfc these days.

Thank you for replying.
I checked my emails. I don't have a written communication. I was new to credit cards in 2018 and I clearly remember asking about LTF status when I got this card. Also, I have never seen LTF written in a welcome letter. Having it free was another reason for not upgrading to a paid variant.

I contacted customer care over a call a few hours ago and they have the same instance. I have not used the card since Dec 2023 and I asked if I needed to pay a fee if I chose to close the card now. They said I would need to. is this correct?

How do I convenience them to make it LTF?

 

[exo]

Usually welcome letters are standard letters and they mention the standard joining and renewal fee, even when a card is LTF. Best approach is to email the bank and get a confirmation on email and keep it safe for future.

Off-topic, The other Regalia card we have in my family, We wanted to get written confirmation for that when we got it LTF. Even after requesting the relationship manager, multiple times, we never got it. Who should I talk to? customerservices.cards@hdfcbank.com?

 

[NShah]

Off-topic, The other Regalia card we have in my family, We wanted to get written confirmation for that when we got it LTF. Even after requesting the relationship manager, multiple times, we never got it. Who should I talk to? customerservices.cards@hdfcbank.com?

grievance.redressalcc@hdfcbank.com . . .

 

[NOOBY]

Who should I talk to? customerservices.cards@hdfcbank.com?

Yes, tell them that the card was sourced as LTF to you and you are mailing them to check (and confirm) the same.

You can also mail to grievance.redressalcc@hdfcbank.com (from your registered email id) asking to convert the card to LTF and to revert the annual fees, citing that you have been using the card since long and had good spends on it.

 

[arun4455]

Thank you for replying.
I checked my emails. I don't have a written communication. I was new to credit cards in 2018 and I clearly remember asking about LTF status when I got this card. Also, I have never seen LTF written in a welcome letter. Having it free was another reason for not upgrading to a paid variant.

I contacted customer care over a call a few hours ago and they have the same instance. I have not used the card since Dec 2023 and I asked if I needed to pay a fee if I chose to close the card now. They said I would need to. is this correct?

How do I convenience them to make it LTF?

On the right side of the letter, these is option to mention the fee. In case of LTF, the bank always write nil under renewal fee. I have seen it in atleast 5-6 letters for my credit cards.

In case, you have called them in Dec'23. You can ask them to check for the call recording as most the companies keep the call recording for atleast 90 days.

 

[exo]

On the right side of the letter, these is option to mention the fee. In case of LTF, the bank always write nil under renewal fee. I have seen it in atleast 5-6 letters for my credit cards.

In case, you have called them in Dec'23. You can ask them to check for the call recording as most the companies keep the call recording for atleast 90 days.

I had called them in 2018, when I got the card. I do not have original welcome letter from 2018 but this card got renewed in Dec 2023 to extend expiry date, I have that letter and that just has info on benefits and no mention of fee.

 

[exo]

I have sent an email to grievance.redressalcc@hdfcbank.com requesting Regalia Gold LTF and a reversal of the annual fee.

 

[Shoxie]

I had called them in 2018, when I got the card. I do not have original welcome letter from 2018 but this card got renewed in Dec 2023 to extend expiry date, I have that letter and that just has info on benefits and no mention of fee.

Well, the original card was ltf, now that the card has expired, the new card issued is not ltf. I know this is sad, but this is how banks operate sadly.

I have sent an email to grievance.redressalcc@hdfcbank.com requesting Regalia Gold LTF and a reversal of the annual fee.

Hope they reverse the fees.

 

[prash1161]

My father took this card 4-5 year ago
That time agent told that either pay charges or start auto-pay on electricity bill for 1 year and it will be ltf

 

[exo]

Hope they reverse the fees.

HDFC has credited the annual fee + GST amount. However, said no to LTF.

I had asked Regalia Gold as LTF in my email. So, I am not sure whether they said no to Regalia Gold or Regalia First.

 

[Shoxie]

HDFC has credited the annual fee + GST amount. However, said no to LTF.

I had asked Regalia Gold as LTF in my email. So, I am not sure whether they said no to Regalia Gold or Regalia First.

Yeah, only reversing was possible in this case. Since the new Card is not LTF.

 

[Trust Me]

Well, the original card was ltf, now that the card has expired, the new card issued is not ltf. I know this is sad, but this is how banks operate sadly.

Well, my understanding is that if the card number is unchanged, it is not a new card, -- it's still the same card with the validity extended. Only the plastic is new.

If there is a written document specifying the Lifetime Free status, the bank should be asked to provide in writing the meaning of the same.

I've had my LTF card go through 3 renewals with no change in status (and multiple assurances to that effect).
.

 

[RajeshV]

A few years back, HDFC kept sending LTF Regalia offers to my mom. First with ₹1500 Amazon Gift Card, then ₹4500, and eventually ₹7500. I figured I might as well apply. I read a condition saying I had to spend ₹100000 on that card within 3 months or something to make it LTF. I spent that amount with the first week and figured that was it.

After a few months a gift card of ₹1500 came. I emailed them asking why it was 1500 instead of 7500 and they replied asking for the email copy. I was not expecting to be needing it and hadn't saved it (I archive, if needed, or delete all my emails once I'm done with them), and that was it. The LTF offer was also not applied. I had been emailing them everytime annual fee was charged and they reversed it.

Closed the card last month.

 

[SplendorSuperman]

A few years back, HDFC kept sending LTF Regalia offers to my mom. First with ₹1500 Amazon Gift Card, then ₹4500, and eventually ₹7500. I figured I might as well apply. I read a condition saying I had to spend ₹100000 on that card within 3 months or something to make it LTF. I spent that amount with the first week and figured that was it.

After a few months a gift card of ₹1500 came. I emailed them asking why it was 1500 instead of 7500 and they replied asking for the email copy. I was not expecting to be needing it and hadn't saved it (I archive, if needed, or delete all my emails once I'm done with them), and that was it. The LTF offer was also not applied. I had been emailing them everytime annual fee was charged and they reversed it.

Closed the card last month.

HDFC is Master-baiter 🙂

 

[GopalV]

I have few credit cards and one of them is HDFC Regalia First which is LTF. HDFC keeps sending me communication to upgrade it to Regalia Gold. Last year there was an offer to upgrade to DBC as well. However I don't want to pay annual fee so I didn't do upgrade.

I got IDFC wealth card last year and since then I am using that card as primary card for all the expenses.

HDFC put annual fee of 1000 + gst on my card in Jan 2024 and I found out that from unbilled transactions.

When I reached out to HDFC via Twitter. They said my card is not LTF and i did not spend 1 Lac last year and hence I need to pay annual fee.

I got this card in 2018 when HDFC team came to office. It was given as LTF because of the company I work for and my net income. I had confirmed about its LTF status over phone call when I got it in 2018.

I never paid annual fee for it. I suppose I always spent more than 1 Lac till last year.

I was just keeping this card for instant and cashback offers during festivals season. I have another Regalia card in Family as well for offers.

What should I do?

Same thing happened with me,I got DCP as LTF,4 years back.I was spending more than 3 lakhs on that card,except last year.They charged me 3,000 rs for the annual fee.The fee was deducted 7 months back,I did not see the deducted fee at that time.I saw it recently.I remember the card being offered as LTF at that time,but I don't have any documents with me supporting that claim.I messaged HDFC about that and they messaged me saying that the card is not LTF.It's plain cheating by HDFC,nothing else.I did not bother to send message again to them,there is no use.