arjyamaj
TF Buzz
My credit card story started in 2007, when I was just starting out in my career. A lack of a good credit score meant that the first credit card I got was from ICICI, against a small FD. Paid off my student loans, bought a car and paid that off too. Through this time, I was very wary of using my credit card, keeping it only for emergencies. My salary account shifted from ICICI to HSBC and eventually HDFC.
Sometime in 2011, I had the option to get a co-branded HDFC Jet Airways Debit card. As far as I recall, this was the only debit card at the time that came with a loyalty programme. Being a long standing fan of Jet AIrways, I applied for this and started collecting JP miles points on that. Eventually, I realised that HDFC had a credit card version of the same which gave better returns. By now I was earning enough to use a credit card from time to time. Applied and got it around 2014.
Alas, by 2019, Jet Airways was no longer flying and the JP miles programme was converted to the Intermiles programme. Even so, I had faith that Jet Airways would once again, take to the skies. That faith was shaken by 2022. By then, my credit limit was around 8L and I was spending close to 1L per month on the Intermiles card with meagre returns. I still had my salary account with HDFC. I had had enough. I had done a bit of research and found that the best I could probably get with my salary was a DCB. There was very little information out there about the Infinia, or perhaps I didnt do my own research enough. In any case, I saw that it was 'by invitation only' and I didnt think I was important enough for an invitation so never really looked up its benefits.
One day in August 2022, I walked into my branch and asked to see the credit card guy. This guy asked me my salary and the present card I had. He also asked me how much I was spending per month. I told him. After a while, he took me to see his boss who asked me the same questions. I answered, concluding that, "I've been a long standing customer of your bank, my credit score is strong and I spend enough on your weak Intermiles credit card. Kuch toh karo!"
To which he said that the best we can offer is the Infinia. As I've mentioned before, I had no idea what this was and kept insisting on the DCB. The CC manager finally shut me up by saying that "Virat Kohli uses this card". I said, you should have opened your argument with that. I'm sold.
Now, I dont actually know if Mr Kohli uses this card. If I get to meet him in person, I'll be sure to ask him.
Bottomline, it was a combination of being a longstanding salaried customer, solid credit record and evidence of decent credit card spends that I think got me this card without asking for it.
The card arrived in a couple of weeks and since then it's been a wonderful ride. The features that I like and use the most are:
1. The SmartBuy platform for all my travel and online shopping (through Gyftr)
2. The ITC complimentary nights and meals
3. The unlimited lounge access (although this will wane somewhat with a new Amex Platinum this year)
4. The discounts on Swiggy Dineout
I particularly love the fact that 1 RP = Rs 1 on the travel platform. This suits me and my family perfectly since we travel a lot - 1-2 business trips abroad, 2-3 family trips domestic and the odd foreign holiday once in a few years.
What I don't like about this card is
1. The opacity with which they calculate grocery spends
2. No points on fuel (which is one of the reasons I got the Amex platinum later)
3. Club Marriott membership is absolutely worthless unless you actively look for Marriotts. There are better deals on their SmartBuy portal for equivalent hotels.
4. No accelerated points for spends abroad
Since then, this card has been my go to for pretty much everything and will be sure to be a staple in my wallet for years to come. One weird aspect I've noticed though, is that I've never been charged any fees for this card, whether in the first or second year. Nor have I been credited any welcome or retention RPs. I suppose if you spend enough they let you be without charging fees. In any case, I usually end up earning about 20k points a month so the lack of complementary RPs dont really hurt.
Sometime in 2011, I had the option to get a co-branded HDFC Jet Airways Debit card. As far as I recall, this was the only debit card at the time that came with a loyalty programme. Being a long standing fan of Jet AIrways, I applied for this and started collecting JP miles points on that. Eventually, I realised that HDFC had a credit card version of the same which gave better returns. By now I was earning enough to use a credit card from time to time. Applied and got it around 2014.
Alas, by 2019, Jet Airways was no longer flying and the JP miles programme was converted to the Intermiles programme. Even so, I had faith that Jet Airways would once again, take to the skies. That faith was shaken by 2022. By then, my credit limit was around 8L and I was spending close to 1L per month on the Intermiles card with meagre returns. I still had my salary account with HDFC. I had had enough. I had done a bit of research and found that the best I could probably get with my salary was a DCB. There was very little information out there about the Infinia, or perhaps I didnt do my own research enough. In any case, I saw that it was 'by invitation only' and I didnt think I was important enough for an invitation so never really looked up its benefits.
One day in August 2022, I walked into my branch and asked to see the credit card guy. This guy asked me my salary and the present card I had. He also asked me how much I was spending per month. I told him. After a while, he took me to see his boss who asked me the same questions. I answered, concluding that, "I've been a long standing customer of your bank, my credit score is strong and I spend enough on your weak Intermiles credit card. Kuch toh karo!"
To which he said that the best we can offer is the Infinia. As I've mentioned before, I had no idea what this was and kept insisting on the DCB. The CC manager finally shut me up by saying that "Virat Kohli uses this card". I said, you should have opened your argument with that. I'm sold.
Now, I dont actually know if Mr Kohli uses this card. If I get to meet him in person, I'll be sure to ask him.
Bottomline, it was a combination of being a longstanding salaried customer, solid credit record and evidence of decent credit card spends that I think got me this card without asking for it.
The card arrived in a couple of weeks and since then it's been a wonderful ride. The features that I like and use the most are:
1. The SmartBuy platform for all my travel and online shopping (through Gyftr)
2. The ITC complimentary nights and meals
3. The unlimited lounge access (although this will wane somewhat with a new Amex Platinum this year)
4. The discounts on Swiggy Dineout
I particularly love the fact that 1 RP = Rs 1 on the travel platform. This suits me and my family perfectly since we travel a lot - 1-2 business trips abroad, 2-3 family trips domestic and the odd foreign holiday once in a few years.
What I don't like about this card is
1. The opacity with which they calculate grocery spends
2. No points on fuel (which is one of the reasons I got the Amex platinum later)
3. Club Marriott membership is absolutely worthless unless you actively look for Marriotts. There are better deals on their SmartBuy portal for equivalent hotels.
4. No accelerated points for spends abroad
Since then, this card has been my go to for pretty much everything and will be sure to be a staple in my wallet for years to come. One weird aspect I've noticed though, is that I've never been charged any fees for this card, whether in the first or second year. Nor have I been credited any welcome or retention RPs. I suppose if you spend enough they let you be without charging fees. In any case, I usually end up earning about 20k points a month so the lack of complementary RPs dont really hurt.
