DCB HDFC DCB just keeps on giving

[abhiaj98]

An appreciation and OPTIMAL USAGE post for DCB.

I have scoured through SO many cards in this sub and the more I read, the more I realise how good a Diners Club Black is and a Life time free DCB; that is just cherry on top!

So my monthly spend categories are as follows:
1. Grocery, Online food, Restaurants - Swiggy vouchers; 10% CB
2. Shopping (online) - Myntra; 16.6% CB
3. Shopping (Offline) - Try to do it via places like lifestyle or Reliance trends or someplace which has vouchers on hdfc smartbuy; 10% CB
4. Domestic Flights (once in 2-3 months) - Smartbuy; 16% CB
5. Trains (once in 2-3 months) - smartbuy; 10% CB
6. Insurance and utilities - stack up Amazon Pay vouchers on HDFC gyftr throughout the year ; 6.3% CB (9.9 - 3 - 0.6)
7. Cab - Pay via Apay to get 11% effective CB (6.3% on apay vouchers + 5% when paying through apay and have amazon prime)
8. OTT subscriptions - yearly, buy vouchers on gyftr - 10% CB
9. Other expenses (excluding rent, house help , miscellaneous cash payments) - 3.3% CB.
10. Some random UPI payments - 2% CB ( Kiwi, again a decent card)

As can be seen, more than 80% of my expenses fall in accelerated category, which I think is just amazing, all thanks to HDFC ecosystem. For an upper-middle class lifestyle without international travel, DCB is simply the best in business.

 

[abhiaj98]

My only regret about my DCB is not upgrading to Infinia when the salary criteria was still “reasonable“.

 

[Harsha896]

I too have this card as LTF and love it . Only drawback in my opinion is the 2500 capping per day on accelerated rp.

 

[BVCBVC is verified member.]

I too have this card as LTF and love it . Only drawback in my opinion is the 2500 capping per day on accelerated rp.

Once upon a time DCB was ruling and was crowd favourite. Now DCB Metal, Biz Black and Infinia.

 

[abhiaj98]

I too have this card as LTF and love it . Only drawback in my opinion is the 2500 capping per day on accelerated rp.

Agreed. Can barely book return flight for 1 person in a day.
DCB metal is much better in that case.

Do you hold other premium cards?

 

[Harsha896]

Do you hold other premium cards?

Nope only DCB, took it as it's LTF back then.

 

[nixflix]

My only regret about my DCB is not upgrading to Infinia when the salary criteria was still “reasonable“.

My regret is not getting the LTF Infinia from my DCB LTF back in 2019 when my RM proposed it within a month of getting DCB. I didn't know much about cards and didn't want to bother about changing and switching 😀

 

[BVCBVC is verified member.]

My regret is not getting the LTF Infinia from my DCB LTF back in 2019 when my RM proposed it within a month of getting DCB. I didn't know much about cards and didn't want to bother about changing and switching 😀

No one would've thought Infinia will be King within a short time. Anyways DCB LTF is not a bad card to hold.

 

[nixflix]

No one would've thought Infinia will be King within a short time. Anyways DCB LTF is not a bad card to hold.

True.

My case was I really did not know about the rewards etc. The only reason my RM convinced me to take LTF DCB (I was reluctant as I had a Citi and a SCB card and didn't want more) was that it has unlimited lounge access and I had enjoyed free lounge access for the first time (while having lounge access CCs and DCs for almost a decade at that point 😀) with a friend a month ago so that was attractive to me. Rewards/redemption etc she started to tell me and I politely brushed her off 😀

 

[BVCBVC is verified member.]

True.

My case was I really did not know about the rewards etc. The only reason my RM convinced me to take LTF DCB (I was reluctant as I had a Citi and a SCB card and didn't want more) was that it has unlimited lounge access and I had enjoyed free lounge access for the first time (while having lounge access CCs and DCs for almost a decade at that point 😀) with a friend a month ago so that was attractive to me. Rewards/redemption etc she started to tell me and I politely brushed her off 😀

That's how it is, opportunity missed.

 

[jeevanreddy58]

I upgraded to infinia 3 months back...
but initially hdfc team upgraded my DCB to Millinia by mistake.. later after few days when I asked abt it, they upgraded from Millinia to Infinia..
Now in my app , Millinia is gone.. Infnia is there as active card..
Its been more than 3 months since I Got infinia.. DCB is still showing with Transfer status with zero limit.

When I am trying to transact using DCB , it is failing.. saying that invalid expiry/cc
I tried blocking card and get replacement from the app but request not going thorugh..

Today I tried cust support and they said it is not possible to issue DCB replacement as it is having zero limit. any work around to get DCB as well ?

 

[MrMonkey]

I upgraded to infinia 3 months back...
but initially hdfc team upgraded my DCB to Millinia by mistake.. later after few days when I asked abt it, they upgraded from Millinia to Infinia..
Now in my app , Millinia is gone.. Infnia is there as active card..
Its been more than 3 months since I Got infinia.. DCB is still showing with Transfer status with zero limit.

When I am trying to transact using DCB , it is failing.. saying that invalid expiry/cc
I tried blocking card and get replacement from the app but request not going thorugh..

Today I tried cust support and they said it is not possible to issue DCB replacement as it is having zero limit. any work around to get DCB as well ?

No, your card account is already upgraded to Infinia, so that DCB is just placeholder with no link to your card account anymore

 

[nixflix]

Today I tried cust support and they said it is not possible to issue DCB replacement as it is having zero limit. any work around to get DCB as well ?

HDFC will rather give you both their kidneys than two cards (that too both of them premium). HDFC must be the most stingy bank right now with card issuance and upgrades. Looks like RBI had hit them real hard. More than others.

Because RBI had slapped Amex as well, but Amex is back to givings cards to anyone who walks on two legs. So HDFC got the extra hard slap it seems.

Besides HDFC is the only bank that still gives renewal benefit for its premium cards and not hiding even that behind tiers and milestones.