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SC Ultimate (Standard Chartered Ultimate) Upgrade Suggestion

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anish1516

anish1516

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Hello!!!

Recently I have been receiving calls to upgrade my Manhattan Card to Ultimate card. My Manhattan card is free and the Ultimate would cost Rs. 5000 plus taxes every year. Here they are offering 5000 reward points on every renewal without any conditions. So effectively the card costs me Rs. 900 approx. Now my query is should I go for it? Right now I have decent number of cards. Don't have too much utility expenses. Use my Infinia for offline shopping and SBI Cashback for Online. Please suggest if it's worth to pay fee for SC Ultimate?
 
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sourpai said:
Last year I got 20K ITC vouchers by using SC Ultimate on MCCs where mostly other cards don't give any rewards (Govt, Wallet, Snapay etc.)

I called them up for cancellation this time, but they are ready to waive off the fees once it is charged next week. So I cancelled the request for cancellation. Lets see. Will update next week. I have a good CL on this card as well (9L)

Retention lady did tell me that their system upgradation work is still ongoing and they plan to bring some changes to the card in next couple of months including better redemption options. She told me to continue with the card for at least next 5-6 months and then decide. I know it is a story they repeat every time, but if they waive off the fees then I don't mind continuing it for another year
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So are you getting only waiver of 5000 or 5900. Also you wont get reward for annual fees I believe. In case you get it please update the same here
 
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sourpai said:
Last year I got 20K ITC vouchers by using SC Ultimate on MCCs where mostly other cards don't give any rewards (Govt, Wallet, Snapay etc.)

I called them up for cancellation this time, but they are ready to waive off the fees once it is charged next week. So I cancelled the request for cancellation. Lets see. Will update next week. I have a good CL on this card as well (9L)

Retention lady did tell me that their system upgradation work is still ongoing and they plan to bring some changes to the card in next couple of months including better redemption options. She told me to continue with the card for at least next 5-6 months and then decide. I know it is a story they repeat every time, but if they waive off the fees then I don't mind continuing it for another year
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SC customer care has been telling the same story since last couple of years, however their reward redemption options have gotten only worse with time. Last year I also got the fee reversal when I called for cancellation. After getting Infinia, this card has been lying idle in drawer. Will raise cancellation request again next month.
 
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Animal said:
SC customer care has been telling the same story since last couple of years, however their reward redemption options have gotten only worse with time. Last year I also got the fee reversal when I called for cancellation. After getting Infinia, this card has been lying idle in drawer. Will raise cancellation request again next month.
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Yes agree, but this card is not for regular spends. It should be only used for exclusion category spends as I mentioned. Which is why I plan to keep it if they waive off the fees

Last year there were lot of avenues such as free payzap loads, Govt transaction before biz black etc. This year very few opportunities exist. So I may also cancel it at next renewal
 
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sourpai said:
Yes agree, but this card is not for regular spends. It should be only used for exclusion category spends as I mentioned. Which is why I plan to keep it if they waive off the fees

Last year there were lot of avenues such as free payzap loads, Govt transaction before biz black etc. This year very few opportunities exist. So I may also cancel it at next renewal
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Even with those scenarios, it doesn't make sense now as it returns 2% via points. Isn't it better to get the SC Smart where at least it's the same% but as cashback?
 
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mayankcse10 said:
Even with those scenarios, it doesn't make sense now as it returns 2% via points. Isn't it better to get the SC Smart where at least it's the same% but as cashback?
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Yes with all the wallet, utility avenues limited now, SC smart is better card. If you have it already, continue. I think SC Ultimate customer like me cannot have SC smart.

SC Ultimate was better last year as it gives 3.3% on wallet and Govt both (CBDT - tax via hdfc gateway) transactions without capping. Plus it has no capping on Utility or snapay, although utility is 2% only
 
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sourpai said:
Yes with all the wallet, utility avenues limited now, SC smart is better card. If you have it already, continue. I think SC Ultimate customer like me cannot have SC smart.

SC Ultimate was better last year as it gives 3.3% on wallet and Govt both (CBDT - tax via hdfc gateway) transactions without capping. Plus it has no capping on Utility or snapay, although utility is 2% only
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Did you factor in the wallet load fees it is 2% or 2.5%. 2 years back agree it was free wallet load. Nowadays it is chargeable as convience fee.
 
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ALOAK said:
Did you factor in the wallet load fees it is 2% or 2.5%. 2 years back agree it was free wallet load. Nowadays it is chargeable as convience fee.
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Nopes. I used it primarily for Payzap loads, which was totally free until Aug/Sept last year. I don't load any other wallet, not even Mobikwik with Amex
 
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Pavan said:
What a bank!
They not allowing to
-> Cancel the card
->Downgrade the card
->Not updating rewards

They want to use this
@helloworld
Click to expand...

Send a canncellation mail, dont expect retention calls that only if you call back and ask for retention connect, which also most of the time busy and call later.

As per RBI, >7 days enough to complain.

Downgrade: 🙂 you can get if you talk through retention team but not sure whats worthy downgrade option. All are same.

Rewards: Nothing changed for 2+ years (except its reducing anyway).
 
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Their response is very slow. Only option through which I have been able to connect to them is by messaging through SC India X profile. I am also having SC Smart of 4.37 lakhs limit since last year. Till now received Rs 5000 as cashback but going forward, I am reconsidering whether to continue or surrender.
 
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helloworld said:
Send a canncellation mail, dont expect retention calls that only if you call back and ask for retention connect, which also most of the time busy and call later.

As per RBI, >7 days enough to complain.

Downgrade: 🙂 you can get if you talk through retention team but not sure whats worthy downgrade option. All are same.

Rewards: Nothing changed for 2+ years (except its reducing anyway).
Click to expand...
Am planning the same 🙁
Every time they we will have new partners soon
 
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pranjal1984 said:
Their response is very slow. Only option through which I have been able to connect to them is by messaging through SC India X profile. I am also having SC Smart of 4.37 lakhs limit since last year. Till now received Rs 5000 as cashback but going forward, I am reconsidering whether to continue or surrender.
Click to expand...
Smart still the best card in the market 🙂
2% on online no minimum spend
 
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Pavan said:
Smart still the best card in the market 🙂
2% on online no minimum spend
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Agreed the cashback is decent but their customer service leaves a lot for improvement. Had Ultimate card given 3.3% cashback in account instead of rewards, I would have looked forward to it. But feel disinterested after hearing about the limited redemption options.
 
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