SC Ultimate devaluation

[Virgo]

Standard Chartered has also joined the recent trend of devaluing credit cards. Their most prized no frills card, Ultimate, will now face following restrictions effective 2nd April 2023:

1)​ Transactions on Utilities, Supermarkets, Insurance, Property Management, Schools & Government payments will now earn 3 reward points on every INR 150 spent.​

2)​ No reward points will be earned on Fuel transactions. However, you will now enjoy a surcharge waiver of 1% on fuel spends. Fuel surcharge waiver amount will be capped at INR 1000 per month.​

3) 1% processing fee (plus applicable taxes) for rental payments made using Standard Chartered credit cards.

Point number 3 will be applicable for all SC credit cards.

This puts an end to one of the best no frills card I have held so far.

 

[helloworld]

how about hsbc live plus?

Thread 'HSBC Live+ (Previously Cashback) Credit Card: Elevate Everyday Spending'

Sep 1, 2023

Key Features​

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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...

• helloworld
• Replies: 544
• Forum: HSBC Credit Card

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[cardio_guycardio_guy is verified member.]

so which stanc card to apply for now?

I got EMT card. Just for the priority pass. Annual fee waiver on 50k spend. Benefits wise not worth i think.

 

[sakthi_ums]

SC is upgrading their system and 360 rewards page is down for almost a week now. Hopefully they will improve the redemption options.

 

[Dharm]

SC is upgrading their system and 360 rewards page is down for almost a week now. Hopefully they will improve the redemption options.

There card UI interface is changed completely now, with addition of account no. against each card

 

[PavanPavan is verified member.]

I did payment morning it started reflecting by noon wooow

Just hoping ultimate will be a ultimate card

 

[cc_dc_explorer]

I got EMT card. Just for the priority pass. Annual fee waiver on 50k spend. Benefits wise not worth i think.

PP is removed now for SCB EMT.

SC is upgrading their system and 360 rewards page is down for almost a week now. Hopefully they will improve the redemption options.

Already oct now, and no much redemption option.

 

[ALOAK]

PP is removed now for SCB EMT.



Already oct now, and no much redemption option.

I already redeemed 10k points for ITC voucher.

 

[cardio_guycardio_guy is verified member.]

PP is removed now for SCB EMT.



Already oct now, and no much redemption option.

Yes PP removed. So I closed the card last week. Got the closure sms and email. Need to check cibil report after a month to confirm.

 

[PavanPavan is verified member.]

Marriott Vouchers are removed 🙁 not sure what will be left by 2025 year end

 

[Eye of AjayEye of Ajay is verified member.]

I remember there was a S22 Ultra for around 7lac+ points and I thought no one is gonna buy that and poof after some days it was gone meaning someone must have gotten it. Same for a Rado watch I had seen for 3-4lac points and poof after some days it was gone too.

Are people who are sitting on such huge points cashing in these because there is no good alternatives ?

 

[PavanPavan is verified member.]

Not sure @Eye of Ajay but seems nothing is happening at SC ultimate side

 

[jhanishdev]

Marriott vouchers are usually a come and go. Let’s hope SC works on improving the vouchers. This will make the Ultimate a very good card.

One of the rare cards to give rewards on utilities without cap.

 

[FinanceBaBa]

Marriott vouchers are usually a come and go. Let’s hope SC works on improving the vouchers. This will make the Ultimate a very good card.

One of the rare cards to give rewards on utilities without cap.

Nothing better is going to come..
Better redeem whatever points you have from the current options as same will also shrink in sometime..
I've closed my ultimate last year redeeming for Uber, Decathlon and Max vouchers..
They are killing a good card with worst redemption options.

 

[Eye of AjayEye of Ajay is verified member.]

Nothing better is going to come..
Better redeem whatever points you have from the current options as same will also shrink in sometime..
I've closed my ultimate last year redeeming for Uber, Decathlon and Max vouchers..
They are killing a good card with worst redemption options.

You were lucky to get Decathlon and Max both are mia since long back. Since firstcry is gone the replacement for it mothercare is much more expensive and not worth the money. Now not many vouchers or products seem vfm at all whereas in "ELECTRONICS/LIFESTYLE" everything is MRP which can be had at 30+ % off the same is more true for most clothing vouchers as the store will also sell you at MRP no matter a sale is on or not.

 

[FinanceBaBa]

You were lucky to get Decathlon and Max both are mia since long back. Since firstcry is gone the replacement for it mothercare is much more expensive and not worth the money. Now not many vouchers or products seem vfm at all whereas in "ELECTRONICS/LIFESTYLE" everything is MRP which can be had at 30+ % off the same is more true for most clothing vouchers as the store will also sell you at MRP no matter a sale is on or not., Dec

I missed for amazon and flipkart thinking will redeem later.. But they were gone and never came back.. Gradually one after the other were vanishing from the redemption catalog.. So reedemed with the avaliable option that time what I could make use of even before 1st renewal of the card..

 

[helloworld]

Greatest useful vouchers according to Standard Chartered available in their portal as of now..

It required min. 1000 points which means need to spend

- 30K min. spends on Ultimate

 

[jhanishdev]

It seems like they have to purchase these gifts/vouchers in advance because fast moving items are sold out fast while I am seeing many items not move at all since many months.

Decathlon has not returned while I see Marriott come and go.

Ultimate will die an ultimate death if things do not improve soon.

 

[sourpai]

I was just going to redeem for Marriott in next 3-4 days and now it is gone 😡

 

[Eye of AjayEye of Ajay is verified member.]

There is a slowdown of sourcing ultimate CC. Either it is company mandate or natural idk but the slowdown has caused issue with funding on 360 products. There will be new products/ Vouchers but will be in limited supply depending on value, discount gotten by SC, perceived value, etc.

So dont be surprised to see a product several years old on MRP since on such a product all their points get met.

 

[FinanceBaBa]

It seems like they have to purchase these gifts/vouchers in advance because fast moving items are sold out fast while I am seeing many items not move at all since many months.

Decathlon has not returned while I see Marriott come and go.

Ultimate will die an ultimate death if things do not improve soon.

Ultimate has Alredy died slow death..