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Devaluation IDFC FIRST Bank Credit Card Update (Devaluation) - Railway Lounge, Add On Cards Fees

Mr. X

TF Premier
We would like to inform you that some of the features and terms of your Credit Card will undergo changes with effect from 20™ Feb 2025:


Statement Date and Payment Due Date: For IDFC FIRST Millennia, FIRST Wealth, and FIRST SWYP Credit Cards, the statement date will be revised to 20* of each month.
The The payment due date continues to be 15 days from the statement date.


Education Fee Payments via Third-Party Platforms:

* A 1% fee (minimum Rs249) will apply to education fee payments made through
third-party platforms such as CRED, PayTM, Cheq, MobiKwik, and others. This fee will not be applicable for payments made directly through the school or college’s official website or at their POS (Point of Sale) machines.
You will continue to earn reward points on these payments in line with your card variant's reward structure.

Fuel Fee & Fuel Surcharge Waiver:
A 1% fee on total fuel spends will be applicable if fuel spends exceeds Rs 30,000 in a statement cycle.

- Example 1: Total fuel spends of Rs10,000 in a statement cycle will not attract a fee.
- Example 2: Total fuel spends of Rs30,000 in a statement cycle will not attract a fee.
- Example 3: Total fuel spends of Rs40,000 in a statement cycle will attract a fee of 400 (1% fee) + taxes.

* The fuel surcharge waiver for Ashva, Mayura, and FIRST Wealth Credit Cards will now be capped at Rs300 per statement cycle.


Annual Percentage Rate (%APR) Range:
IDFC FIRST Bank offers a dynamic interest rate (%APR) ranging from 9% p.a. to 43.8 % p.a.
The interest rate range will be revised, starting from 8.5% p.a. to 46.2% p.a.
The overdue interest rate remains unchanged at 47.88% p.a.
* Interest charges (APR) are only applicable on unpaid dues
For detailed information on interest charges, please refer to Section 1 (iv) of the MITC.
This is not applicable to FIRST SWYP Credit Card.


Railway Lounge Access:
IDFC FIRST Bank offers complimentary Railway Lounge Access on many of its cards. These lounges, located at select railway stations, provide travellers with premium amenities such as:
- Comfortable seating,
- Wi-Fi,
- Charging stations,
- Meals, snacks, beverages,
- Shower facilities (availability varies by lounge).

Complimentary Railway Lounge Access (as applicable) will now require a minimum spend of 20,000 in the previous calendar month.

- Example: Spends of 20,000 or more in March 2025 will enable complimentary lounge access for April 2025.


Add-On Card Fee:
IDFC FIRST Bank offers a completely digital, seamless and instant card issuance application for Add-On cards. Add-on cards are linked to the Primary Card and allow the Add-On Cardholder to enjoy all the card privileges.
- For all Add-On Cards created on or after 20th February 2025, a joining and annual fee of Rs499 + taxes will apply.
- This fee is not applicable for all Add-On Cards created before 20th February 2025.
- Add-On Card fees remain unchanged for Ashva, Mayura, and FIRST Private Credit Cards.

Card Replacement Fee:
The card replacement fee will be revised to Rs199 + taxes, including cards with the
Image Personalisation feature.
* Replacement fees remain unchanged for:
- Metal Credit Cards (Ashva, Mayura, and FIRST Private Credit Cards).
- Digital Credit Cards (FIRST Digital and FIRST EArN Credit Cards).

Image Personalisation Fee:
IDFC FIRST Bank allows its cardmembers to design their credit cards with a favourite photo or a picture from its ready-made gallery.
- For cards with the Image Personalisation feature created on or after 20th February 2025, a joining and annual fee of Rs499 + taxes will apply.
- Annual fee does not apply to Image cards created before 20th February 2025.
- The Image Personalisation feature is available on specific card variants.

Important Notes:
All changes mentioned above do not apply to the FIRST Private Credit Card.
Goods & Services Tax (GST) at 18% (or as notified by the Government of India) will be applicable on all fees, interest, and charges.
Fuel MCCs: 5172, 5541, 5542, 5983.
Education MCCs: 8299, 8211, 8241, 8244, 8249, 8220.
 

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With the appalling rewards structure anyways, the only real benefit of holding the IDFC select credit card was to access the railway lounge on a complimentary basis.. Will that now being removed, does anyone see any benefit of holding onto IDFC credit cards (except for bank offers which somehow have dried up in last 12 months)??
 
We would like to inform you that some of the features and terms of your Credit Card will
undergo changes with effect from 20th Feb 2025:
1. Statement Date and Payment Due Date:
• Statement date will be revised to 20th of each month for FIRST Millennia, FIRST
Wealth and FIRST SWYP Credit Cards.
• The payment due date continues to be 15 days from the statement date.
2. Education Fee Payments via Third-Party Platforms:
• A 1% fee (minimum ₹249) will apply to education fee payments made through
third-party platforms such as CRED, PayTM, Cheq, MobiKwik, and others.
• This fee will not be applicable for payments made directly through the school or
college’s official website or at their POS (Point of Sale) machines.
• You will continue to earn reward points on these payments in line with your card
variant's reward structure.
3. Fuel Fee & Fuel Surcharge Waiver:
• 1% fee on total fuel spends will be applicable if fuel spends exceed ₹30,000 in a
statement cycle.
- Example 1: Total fuel spends of ₹10,000 in a statement cycle will not attract a fee.
- Example 2: Total fuel spends of ₹30,000 in a statement cycle will not attract a fee.
- Example 3: Total fuel spends of ₹40,000 in a statement cycle will attract a fee of
₹400 (1% fee) + taxes.
• The fuel surcharge waiver will now be capped at ₹300 per statement cycle for
Ashva, Mayura, and FIRST Wealth Credit Cards.
4. Annual Percentage Rate (%APR) Range:
• IDFC FIRST Bank offers dynamic interest rate (%APR) range from 9% p.a. to 43.8 % p.a.
• The interest rate range will be revised, starting from 8.5% p.a. to 46.2% p.a.
• Overdue interest rate remains unchanged at 47.88% p.a.
• Interest charges (APR) are only applicable on unpaid dues
• For detailed information on interest charges, please refer to Section 1 (iv) of the MITC.
• This is not applicable on FIRST SWYP Credit Card.
5. Railway Lounge Access:
• IDFC FIRST Bank offers complimentary Railway Lounge Access on many of its
cards. These lounges, located at select railway stations, provide travellers with
premium amenities such as:
- Comfortable seating,
- Wi-Fi,
- Charging stations,
- Meals, snacks, beverages,
- Shower facilities (availability varies by lounge).
• Complimentary Railway Lounge Access (as applicable) will now require a minimum
spend of ₹20,000 in the previous calendar month.
- Example : Spends of ₹20,000 or more in March 2025 will enable complimentary
lounge access for April 2025.
6. Add-On Card Fee:
• IDFC FIRST Bank offers a completely digital, seamless and instant card issuance
application for Add-On cards.
• Add-on cards are linked to the Primary Card and allow the Add-On Cardholder to
enjoy all the card privileges.
- For all Add-On Cards created on or after 20th February 2025, a joining and annual
fee of ₹499 + taxes will apply.
- This fee is not applicable for all Add-On Cards created before 20th February 2025.
- Add-On Card fees remain unchanged for Ashva, Mayura, and FIRST Private Credit Cards.
7. Card Replacement Fee:
• The card replacement fee will be revised to ₹199 + taxes, including cards with the
Image Personalisation feature.
• Replacement fees remain unchanged for:
- Metal Credit Cards (Ashva, Mayura, and FIRST Private Credit Cards).
- Digital Credit Cards (FIRST Digital and FIRST EA₹N Credit Cards).
8. Image Personalisation Fee:
• IDFC FIRST Bank allows its cardmembers to design their credit cards with a favourite
photo or a picture from its ready-made gallery.
- For cards with the Image Personalisation feature created on or after 20th February
2025, a joining and annual fee of ₹499 + taxes will apply.
- Annual fee is not applicable to Image cards created before 20th February 2025.
- The Image Personalisation feature is available on specific card variants.
Important Notes:
• All changes mentioned above do not apply to the FIRST Private Credit Card.
• Goods & Services Tax (GST) at 18% (or as notified by the Government of India) will be
applicable on all fees, interest, and charges.
• Fuel MCCs: 5172, 5541, 5542, 5983.
• Education MCCs: 8299, 8211, 8241, 8244, 8249, 8220.
o Merchant Category Codes (MCCs) are defined by network partners
(VISA/Mastercard/NPCI) and are used by the Bank for categorizing spends,
calculating rewards, and applying fees/charges etc. as outlined in the MITC or
Schedule of Charges.
For further information or questions, please refer to the updated MITC.
Great, now i am feeling proud for my decision of closing select card last week.
 
IDFC FIRST Bank recently announced updates to their credit card features and terms. These changes will take effect from February 20, 2025. Below is a detailed yet simplified review of the updates to help users understand the impact:


1. Statement Date & Payment Due Date

New Statement Date:
20th of each month for FIRST Millennia, FIRST Wealth, and FIRST SWYP cards.

Payment Due Date: Remains 15 days from the statement date.


2. Education Fee Payments via Third-Party Platforms

A 1% fee (minimum ₹249)
will apply to education fee payments made via platforms like CRED, PayTM, Cheq, etc.

No Fee: Payments made directly on the institution's official website or POS terminals.

Reward points remain applicable as per the card's reward structure.


3. Fuel Fee & Surcharge Waiver


1% fee
on total fuel spends exceeding ₹30,000 per statement cycle:

Example: ₹40,000 in fuel spends → ₹400 fee + taxes.

Surcharge Waiver Cap: ₹300 per statement cycle for Ashva, Mayura, and FIRST Wealth cards.


4. Annual Percentage Rate (APR)

Revised APR range: 8.5% to 46.2% p.a. (previously 9% to 43.8% p.a.).

Overdue interest rate remains 47.88% p.a..

Applies only on unpaid dues.


5. Railway Lounge Access

Complimentary access now requires ₹20,000 minimum spends in the previous month.

Example: Spend ₹20,000 in March → Access available in April.

Lounges offer premium amenities like Wi-Fi, seating, meals, and more.

6. Add-On Card Fee

New Add-On Cards created from February 20, 2025, will incur a joining and annual fee of ₹499 + taxes.

Existing Add-On Cards created before this date are exempt.

No changes for Ashva, Mayura, and FIRST Private cards.


7. Card Replacement Fee

Revised to ₹199 + taxes for all cards (except Ashva, Mayura, and FIRST Private cards).


8. Image Personalisation Fee

New cards with personalized designs will have a joining and annual fee of ₹499 + taxes (effective February 20, 2025).

Existing Image Personalised cards are exempt.


Key Notes:

Exemptions:
Changes do not apply to FIRST Private Credit Cards.

GST: 18% GST will apply to all fees and charges.


Impact Analysis:

1. Increased Costs:
The introduction of new fees (e.g., for education payments, add-on cards, and personalized designs) will likely increase the cost of ownership.

2. Fuel Spending Restriction: The capped surcharge waiver and added fees on high fuel spends may impact users with significant fuel expenses.

3. Stricter Lounge Access Rules: Minimum spend requirements could reduce the value of complimentary lounge access for low spenders.

4. APR Increase: While the minimum APR has been slightly reduced, the maximum has risen, which could impact users with unpaid dues.


Recommendation:

If you are an IDFC FIRST Bank credit cardholder, assess how these changes align with your spending habits. For those frequently impacted by fees (e.g., on education or fuel), it might be worth exploring alternatives offering better value for similar services.

---

For more details, refer to the updated Most Important Terms and Conditions (MITC) document provided by the bank.
 
With the appalling rewards structure anyways, the only real benefit of holding the IDFC select credit card was to access the railway lounge on a complimentary basis.. Will that now being removed, does anyone see any benefit of holding onto IDFC credit cards (except for bank offers which somehow have dried up in last 12 months)??
I will close my Ashva card at the renewal and keep holding Select & Wealth CC for Bank offers.
I used to use the railway access with guests frequently. Now I have to use my ICICI & AU for the Railway Lounge.
It's time to request a replacement card for free with the new design.
 
duplicate and merge with:


also this one merged with above one:

Merged and Updated.
 
First ICICI & now IDFC.
Add-On cards are chargeable for LTF main cards

20K spend limit for railway lounge.. Really??


Are we heading to times; where ppl will only keep 2-3 cards which they actually use and close all others as they get so de-valued, that they loose sense to keep them
 
First ICICI & now IDFC.
Add-On cards are chargeable for LTF main cards

20K spend limit for railway lounge.. Really??


Are we heading to times; where ppl will only keep 2-3 cards which they actually use and close all others as they get so de-valued, that they loose sense to keep them

we'll always loose value if we spend on all cards, average always less when compare to same spends on single card. Its better to analyze spends and stick to few cards, leave other cards.
 
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