Some questions for HDFC DCB/ Biz Black users (and alternative suggestions)

[Panthera_Tigris]

Hello people,

I have finalized the Biz Black card since I can use it for my advance tax payments which are substantial.

However, since its a Diner's card, I am worried about acceptability. I want to know if I can use it seamlessly for the following use cases:

1. Foreign currency purchases. I know DCB/ Biz Black is good rate wise with the Global Value program but will Diner's work on all foreign stores??
2. I also need a card for fine dining, pubbing and mall shopping in India. Again, Diners might not work? I need a premium card for this, preferably metal.

Thoughts on these two use cases?? Should I get some other card for this? I don't want too many cards. I can get Axis and StanChart cards easily but Infinia is not possible right now. I am also getting ICICI Emeralde (plastic) easily.

 

[helloworld]

Acceptance is low, always have backup.

 

[dexter_greycells]

Hello people,

I have finalized the Biz Black card since I can use it for my advance tax payments which are substantial.

However, since its a Diner's card, I am worried about acceptability. I want to know if I can use it seamlessly for the following use cases:

1. Foreign currency purchases. I know DCB/ Biz Black is good rate wise with the Global Value program but will Diner's work on all foreign stores??
2. I also need a card for fine dining, pubbing and mall shopping in India. Again, Diners might not work? I need a premium card for this, preferably metal.

Thoughts on these two use cases?? Should I get some other card for this? I don't want too many cards. I can get Axis and StanChart cards easily but Infinia is not possible right now. I am also getting ICICI Emeralde (plastic) easily.

1. Do not know about other countries but Diners does not work in Australia. I doubt you will have any problem with Diners in US. GVP is officially discontinued long ago but people keep saying they have been able to activate it by speaking to customer care.

2. In India, Diners works offline almost everywhere where Visa/Mastercard/RuPay work. I have used it across 7 states (UP, MP, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Goa, Telangana) with an acceptability issue just once at an old restaurant in Mumbai. Diners tap-and-pay sometimes may not work and when it works it requires PIN 100% of the time. You cannot add Diners to Google Pay either. Note that BizBlack returns 3.33% on fine dining, pubbing and malls unless you use Swiggy Dineout which may offer better rewards for fine dining and pubbing. Diners Black (not Biz) rewards 6.66% on weekend fine dining, pubbing but unlike Biz Black it rewards probably nothing on Advance Tax Payments besides milestone benefits. The high-end Axis cards give better value if you understand and use Air Miles (I don't think I ever will). StanC is abused for it poor reward redemption options. ICICI Emeralde seems no match against any of the HDFC premium cards in terms of benefits (unless you are into Rs 1000 movie tickets twice a month).

 

[sourpai]

In my experience, Diners has worked almost at all the places in India without any issues
Pubbing is no issue at all since you have ample avenues for paying via zomato, swiggy, easydiner etc. all of which accept diners

Foreign country is a hit or a miss. You will need backup while travelling abroad

 

[Panthera_Tigris]

@dexter_greycells Fair enough. Thanks for the detailed response. Seems like I need Biz Black + Infinia for my needs but I doubt they will give me two cards right off the bat. Besides, I don't like keeping all my eggs in one basket.

What are my alternatives? I only mentioned StanC, Axis and ICICI because I already do banking with them so I figured it would be easier. Honestly, I dont even care about benefits THAT much. I just need something that I plop on the dining table and it sparks joy.

(Although I do very much care about fx rates lol)

 

[drvenkat]

Hello people,

I have finalized the Biz Black card since I can use it for my advance tax payments which are substantial.

However, since its a Diner's card, I am worried about acceptability. I want to know if I can use it seamlessly for the following use cases:

1. Foreign currency purchases. I know DCB/ Biz Black is good rate wise with the Global Value program but will Diner's work on all foreign stores??
2. I also need a card for fine dining, pubbing and mall shopping in India. Again, Diners might not work? I need a premium card for this, preferably metal.

Thoughts on these two use cases?? Should I get some other card for this? I don't want too many cards. I can get Axis and StanChart cards easily but Infinia is not possible right now. I am also getting ICICI Emeralde (plastic) easily.

acceptance in europe is pretty low