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Learnt a lesson few days ago while changing my car tyre and sharing for everyone's awareness

This one actually deserve consumer court. Why someone should pay for fuel surcharge when he is not buying fuel? I can excuse missing rewards due to wrong mcc. But paying extra due to wrong mcc needs fix. Try edaakhil.

It is high time companies / acquirer bank should show mcc code on pos terminal.
I agree.
RBIO may also be helpful here.
 
Learnt a lesson few days ago while changing my car tyres and sharing for everyone's awareness. My car tyres were worn out, so i decided to change it. When inquired, cost came to 24K (6K for each tyre) and they mentioned they will charge 2.5% additionally for using credit card.
Initially I thought I can use HSBC Live+ card to get 1.5% cashback and will get remaining 1% by paying CC bill through HDFC, making it at least net 0 transaction in terms of rewards.
But then, they said, they will accept CC on UPI, so I went with Yes Bank KIWI Credit card to get 2% on the transaction and it avoid additional cost at the outlet as well. This is where things went south. I didn't get any rewards and followed up with yes bank regarding the same. That is when I found out new things that i haven't considered before - MCC used by these outlets fall under - High Transacting Categories, 5541, Service Stations(with out Ancillary services)

Seems type changing outlets use the MCC 5541, which comes under FUEL Category. So I was hit with lot of unexpected bouncers.
1. Since it is considered as fuel txn, no rewards from KIWI, so there goes my 2%.
2. Since it is considered fuel txn, got 1% as fuel surcharge fee +18% GST on it = 1.2%
3. Since it is considered fuel txn and went above 10K limit set by yes bank, got charged additional 1% as fuel transaction fee +18% GST on it = 1.2%

So in total, paid 2.4% extra for using credit card on UPI and will get 1% back from HDFC DC, so net loss on this txn is 1.4% (336 Rupees) for using Credit Card instead of cash..

Now, the lesson learnt and what I could have done better.
1. Obviously, could have done test transaction using my IDFC CC and checked the MCC before going with full payment, but I thought this is direct transaction and I don't have to worry about such stucc, but I was wrong.
2. Could have done small payment with yes back kiwi first to check whether I am getting 2% rewards, didn't think about it at the moment as I was little busy at work during the whole time.
3. If I have done #2 and it didn't reward me, could have used SBI BPCL OCTANE RUPAY CC through UPI and this 24K txn would have at least helped me to hit next year's fee waiver target.
4. Could have used multiple rupay CCs though UPI to avoid at least the additional fuel transaction charge of 1.2%

Open questions:
1. Will I get fuel surcharge waiver for the fuel surcharge paid? or yes bank kiwi has any limit on the fuel transaction amount when it comes to waiver? Most CCs won't do surcharge waiver for transactions above 5K, so asking.. couldn't find it anywhere in T&C and only thing I could find is max cap of 250 per month for surcharge waiver. I will follow up with yes back after a few days just to be sure.
2. I have 2 fuel cards - SBI BPCL OCTANE RUPAY CC & BOB HPCL Energize. Since this is marked as fuel, would any fuel cards have given full rewards? I doubt it as this is all co-branded cards and won't give rewards for such txn, but who knows?
3. Is there any other cards that would have helped me here? Amex wasn't accepted, so that isn't an option, any other cards that could have came in handy here?
4. Could have simply used cash to avoid all this mess.

Tagging @TechnoFino for reach and more insights, remove the tag if you feel it is unnecessary
i though post has some imp info on tyre replacement as i am planning to replace my car tyres soon but it turned out to be Phd on credit card
 
Outlets using the wrong MCC code is a global nuisance. Earlier this year a family member purchase around 2.5L worth of gold coins in Australia on their HDFC Infinia. I was expecting 8332 RPs at the default rate of 3.33%. However, what I got was 2000 RPs and that too under the Grocery header (2000 is the maximum limit of grocery RPs per month for Infinia). I contacted HDFC Customer Care and they said the outlet is listed as a grocery outlet which was ludicrous as the outlet's name said everything you needed to know about it - "Little Coin Shop" (https://www.littlecoinshop.com.au/). I was going to argue with HDFC on the MCC code when I recalled that the family member had also used their IDFC Select at the same shop on another gold coin purchase and IDFC very nicely shows the merchant categorization. Lo and behold - It was indeed a grocery merchant. Lesson learnt.
 
This one actually deserve consumer court. Why someone should pay for fuel surcharge when he is not buying fuel? I can excuse missing rewards due to wrong mcc. But paying extra due to wrong mcc needs fix. Try edaakhil.

It is high time companies / acquirer bank should show mcc code on pos terminal.
must be petrol pump owner who use wireless pos at tyre shop or some kind bijnes jugad for money laundering, tax evasion & what not.
once even got fuel mcc when paying at a bar.
fuel pumps already run some card tap/wirless pay scam, so disabled it on all cards as they will tap it & say payment failed but money gone & u pay another method.
 
Outlets using the wrong MCC code is a global nuisance. Earlier this year a family member purchase around 2.5L worth of gold coins in Australia on their HDFC Infinia. I was expecting 8332 RPs at the default rate of 3.33%. However, what I got was 2000 RPs and that too under the Grocery header (2000 is the maximum limit of grocery RPs per month for Infinia). I contacted HDFC Customer Care and they said the outlet is listed as a grocery outlet which was ludicrous as the outlet's name said everything you needed to know about it - "Little Coin Shop" (https://www.littlecoinshop.com.au/). I was going to argue with HDFC on the MCC code when I recalled that the family member had also used their IDFC Select at the same shop on another gold coin purchase and IDFC very nicely shows the merchant categorization. Lo and behold - It was indeed a grocery merchant. Lesson learnt.
any reason for using infinia. what about forex charges.
 
I am planning to replace from tyressnmore...The best price offered by dealer is Rs 5900 per tyre...tyresnmore is replacing for 5100 so rather taking headache, buy online and save more....
please give a review once done. Offline for 2/4 wheelers is really pricey
 
please give a review once done. Offline for 2/4 wheelers is really pricey
sure bro...earlier i got my car battery replaced from them...I got exide battery for 3800 and dealer was quoting 5000 Rs...MRP was Rs 5200....I got GST invoice and battery manufacturing was last month...They also registered online warranty so satisfied with their battery service...Now will replace tyres and share my experience.
 
sure bro...earlier i got my car battery replaced from them...I got exide battery for 3800 and dealer was quoting 5000 Rs...MRP was Rs 5200....I got GST invoice and battery manufacturing was last month...They also registered online warranty so satisfied with their battery service...Now will replace tyres and share my experience.
So its like a aggregator service like az/fk ? I mean the order will be fulfilled by some vendor ? BTW which city are you from? Many of these services depend on the city too.
 
So its like a aggregator service like az/fk ? I mean the order will be fulfilled by some vendor ? BTW which city are you from? Many of these services depend on the city too.
I am from bangalore...they are not aggregator..their executive told they have go-down and he is employee who replace battery/tyre....they offer service only in few cities.
 
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