HSBC Live+ Credit Card Review | HSBC Cashback Credit Card Rebranded

Editor’s note: This is a recurring post, regularly updated with new information and offers. Last Updated 15th July, 2024.

HSBC revamped their Cashback Credit Card back in December 2023, and I would say it stood out as an exception in a season of brutal devaluations. Since earning points for travel is becoming increasingly difficult, many people are shifting to cashback credit cards to enhance their value back. Now, in July 2024, they have just rebranded their Cashback Credit Card as the Live+ Credit Card with a fresh design. In terms of benefits, nothing has actually changed.

Here's a quick review of this great credit card from HSBC Bank!

Charges and Welcome Benefits​

Joining Fees​	₹999 + GST​
Welcome Benefits​	Amazon voucher worth ₹1000 on spending ₹10000 within the first 30 days​
Annual Fees​	₹999 + GST​
Annual Benefits​	NIL​
Annual Fee Waiver​	Spend ₹2L on your card in a year for an annual fee waiver*.​
Add-on Fees​	NIL​
Card Category​	Cashback​

The welcome voucher compensates the joining fee but there will be no annual benefits for paying the annual fees.

Reward Rate​

Spends Area​	CashbackRate​	Capping​
All dining, food delivery and grocery spends​	10%​	₹1000​
All Other Spends*​	1.50%​	Unlimited​

• *Cashback cannot be earned on transactions made on Fuel, e-wallets, rental payments, Business to Business transactions, education and government payments, Insurance, Jewelry and antique items, Gambling, Tolls and Bridge Fees, Financial and Non-Financial Institutions, Security Broker Services, Collection Agencies, Charity, Money Transfers and Wholesale Clubs.​
• Your cashback will be credited within 45 days after the statement generation date​
• No cash-back redemption fee is applicable​

Other Benefits​

Airport Lounge Access​

Domestic Airport Lounge Access
Complimentary Limit – 4 Visits/ Calendar year (1 per quarter) within India only for primary cardholders.
Access Via – Credit Card

Fuel Surcharge Waiver​

No fuel surcharge waiver is applicable on this card.

Forex Markup​

Forex markup charges are applicable of 3.5%+GST.

Eligibility​

• You must be aged between 18 to 65​
• Your annual income must be at least INR400,000 per annum (for salaried individuals)​
• You must be an Indian resident​
• You must reside in any of the following cities: Bangalore, Chennai, Gurgaon, Hyderabad, Mumbai, New Delhi, Noida, Pune​

HSBC Bank is currently only offering their credit cards to salaried individuals that too very strictly. If you are a self-employed individual then you may try your luck by opening a premium bank account against a huge NRV.

TechnoFino Recommends​

After the revaluation of the HSBC Cashback Credit Card back in December 2023, it became one of the best cashback cards for offline and online dining and grocery spends. The recent rebranding is just a name change to the Live+ Credit Card, but nothing has changed in terms of benefits. This is a simple, no-nonsense cashback card from HSBC Bank that caters to both groceries and dining at a flat 10% rate, which I would say is unprecedented. Earlier, Kotak was offering similar cashback on their Essentia and Delight Credit Cards with some conditions, but these have now been discontinued.

If you are looking for a great multi-utility card for all your grocery and dining spending then this card should be there in your wallet! Not to worry about the fees since in festive time reaching that upper cap on 10% cashback even for just one time will make your card free virtually for the year. This card is in direct competition with the HDFC Swiggy card now.

Are you planning to get this card? Tell us in the comments below about your experience.

 

[RAMESH BABU N]

3 to 6 months - salary slips.
3 to 6 months - bank statement - clearly mentioning salary n verifiable employer details.
ITR - ideally with TDS done by the employer (F. 16 will help).

 

[drsel]

For Salaried, how do they verify if the person is Salaried or Self-employed?
What documents they request during the application process?

• Salary slips? How many months?
• Form 16?
• Bank statements?

Yes all three

 

[sumit_yadav]

Yes all three

In that case, will have to wait till next FY

 

[sudhanshu22]

if l buy a insta voucher on gyfter using live plus credit card, do l get 1.5 percent cashback or 10 percent on food related insta vouchers on gyfter

 

[harshgupta940]

if l buy a insta voucher on gyfter using live plus credit card, do l get 1.5 percent cashback or 10 percent on food related insta vouchers on gyfter

Gyftr MCC is not even eligible for 1.5% AFAIK.

HSBC gives CB based on MCC and it doesn't care about what you are purchasing. If MCC is grocery, dining or food delivery you will get 10%.

1.5% also have some exclusions you would need to read the T&C or you can refer to the below post.

Key Features​

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View attachment 28260

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• 10% Cashback on Grocery, Dining & Food Delivery (MCC)
  • Categories: Grocery, Dining, Swiggy/Zomato & Food Delivery
  • Cashback cap: ₹1000 per statement (limit reached if spent ₹10,000) after that 0%.

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• 1.5% Cashback on All Other Spends
  
  • No Cap on the cashback amount
  • Exclusions
    • Fuel | Rent | Utilities | Government Transactions | e-Wallets | Insurance | Education | B2B Goods & Services | Jewelry | Charity | Toll Fees | Cash Advances | Outstanding Balance Payments | Card Fees & Other Charges

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• Additional Benefits
  • BookMyShow: Buy 1 Get 1 Free on Saturdays (when booked through the app)
  • EasyDiner: 15% discount (up to ₹500, with a minimum spend of ₹2500).
  • Airport Lounge Access: 4 domestic lounge visits per year (no spend criteria)
  • Annual Fee: ₹999 (waived on spending ₹2 lakhs in a year)

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Oct'24 Update: Cashback is credited in about 3 working days after the statement date.

Sample 10% Eligible MCCs (Reference Purpose Only):

View attachment 51953

Below stores has MCC 5411
1. DMart= 5411
2. Reliance Smart Superstore
3. JioMart (online)
5. Vijetha super market

Reliance Smart = Saw multiple posts mentioning different MCCs: 5722
Amzn Fresh = Saw multiple posts mentioning different MCCs: 5399
Flipkart Grocery = Ensure "Flipkart Grocery" (5411) on OTP Page.

6. Cashfree gateway = 5499
7. Swiggy = 5499
8. CountryDelight = 5499
9. Tatanue Food delivery = 5499
10. Tatanue Grocery = 5411
11. FTH Daily
12. Zomato
13. BB Daily

Mall Food courts, Nearby grocery stores, Supermarkets, Swiggy Instamart, EasyDiner, Restaurants, KFC, Dominos and DMart - working for 10% cashback (provided they have proper MCC).

Note: The transactions for each category are identified through Merchant Category Codes* (MCC), defined by the Network, e.g. Visa, MasterCard and RuPay.

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This card is alternative to or as backup:

1.5% offline - Alternative to Ace 1.5% Card
10% grocery and food delivery (online) - Alternative to Airtel 10% Card
10% dining (offline) - Alternative to Zenth 5% Card

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Exclusion MCC List:

View attachment 36549
View attachment 57533

Realistic Return %​

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Note: An example scenario

Spend: 7000 per month (2k/3k Dining/Food, 4k/5k Grocery) = 84000
Paid annual fee: 1180
Get cashback: 8400
Return %: 8.5%

References:

• Airtel card benefits: https://www.technofino.in/community...k-credit-card-maximizing-your-cashback.31701/
• HSBC Credit card offers [for all users] https://www.technofino.in/community/threads/credit-card-offer-mails-messages-for-all-users.7887/

 

[roygarg]

How long does HSBC take to approve this card if you apply this as second CC? I completed e-signing on 4th but no update since then.

 

[Animal]

How long does HSBC take to approve this card if you apply this as second CC? I completed e-signing on 4th but no update since then.

Mostly 2 weeks.

 

[COmM4nDer]

I completed VKyc 2 days ago. No update after that. Any suggestion?

 

[nik007rock]

When do we receive the 1k voucher for 20k spends in first month ?

 

[Animal]

I completed VKyc 2 days ago. No update after that. Any suggestion?

There won’t be any communication. Check with customer care after 2 weeks.

 

[tachniki]

When do we receive the 1k voucher for 20k spends in first month ?

It comes around 90 days after activation.

 

[roygarg]

HSBC is probably one of the most incompetent banks out there. More than 2 weeks and still no update about my application. They always give conflicting information when I call them and no call back from the agent in spite of repeated requests.

 

[pprakash11]

HSBC is probably one of the most incompetent banks out there. More than 2 weeks and still no update about my application. They always give conflicting information when I call them and no call back from the agent in spite of repeated requests.

I've waited 1.5 months for approval.
Please have patience.

 

[roygarg]

I've waited 1.5 months for approval.
Please have patience.

Lmao. New meaning to slow.

 

[COmM4nDer]

HSBC is probably one of the most incompetent banks out there. More than 2 weeks and still no update about my application. They always give conflicting information when I call them and no call back from the agent in spite of repeated requests.

I got a call from their representative asking me to give my Work Place ID. 🤣

This one was new to me. I furnished 3months salary slip & Bank statement previously.

 

[itzmycard]

I got a call from their representative asking me to give my Work Place ID. 🤣

This one was new to me. I furnished 3months salary slip & Bank statement previously.

Yup, they are asking for id card or blank mail from work email id

 

[roygarg]

I got a call from their representative asking me to give my Work Place ID. 🤣

This one was new to me. I furnished 3months salary slip & Bank statement previously.

Yup, they are asking for id card or blank mail from work email id

How many days after you submitted application did they ask for these?

 

[itzmycard]

How many days after you submitted application did they ask for these?

2 days after vkyc

 

[roygarg]

2 days after vkyc

Is this your first HSBC card?

 

[RAMESH BABU N]

This is what I meant when I said
Salaried person (vetifiable).