Offer Fulfilled! Upgraded from HSBC Platinum to HSBC LIV+

[PKR1]

Hi,

I wanted to share my experience with HSBC LIV+ credit card (previously known as HSBC Cashback credit card) approval journey. I have been using LTF HSBC Platinum card since 2017. I mostly rely on offline supermarkets like Star Bazaar for monthly grocery shopping. I was looking for a card which gives most rewards/cashback for offline transactions but was unable to find any good option. Then I came across HSBC LIV+ credit card which was offering 10% cashback for grocery shopping in offline+ online stores. I called customer care and enquired how can I get it.

There are 2 options through which one can get LIV+ card:
1. Freshly apply for new LIV+ card directly through its website, it needs all the documents to be submitted and again all approval process will take place, that's time consuming. I already hold around 19-20 credit cards, so I had some doubt of application getting declined as recently SBI had rejected my SBI TATA Star Titanium credit card(Star Bazaar specific card). So, I asked for another option.
2. Upgrade my existing LTF HSBC Platinum card to HSBC LIV+ card keeping the same existing credit limit. Issue with this option was my Platinum card was LTF and LIV+ is a chargeable card and for upgrading card joining fees and annual fees both will be applicable. I requested for waiving off atleast Joining fees but they denied. But the offer of waiving off joining fees upon spending 20k in 1st month was still applicable. This card looked worthy of the offers it gives , so I decided to go with the upgrade offer accepting it as a chargeable card.

My card got delivered within 3 days in my Bengaluru address, here is the timeline of events:
1. Called customer care HSBC - 1800 267 3456 on 02/01/2025 morning for enquiring about the card and asked for card upgrade on call.
2. Got this message minutes after disconnecting the call-
Dear Customer, we acknowledge your request on card reclassification under reference 0201XXX5387. It will be processed in 2 working days. Do quote this reference for any further enquiry
-HSBC
02/01/25 11:50AM
3. Received this message on the same day in afternoon:
Dear Customer, we have successfully closed your request on card reclassification under reference 0201XXX5387. You should receive it within 7 working days.
Do approach us for any further enquiry
-HSBC
02/01/25 02:58AM
4. Digital card visible in the app on 03/01/25 morning. Didn't check on 2nd Jan so not sure when exactly it started appearing on app on 2nd or on 3rd Jan.
Note: I had already installed HSBC app as I was using Platinum card earlier and Platinum card was already listed in the app, after upgrade Platinum card details
was removed and LIV+ was appearing.
5. Got this message from HSBC:
Dear Customer, you will receive a message within 2 days on how to generate your HSBC Card Pin via SMS.
03/01/25 04:55PM
6. Next day directly got out of delivery message from Bluedart:
ARRIVING: Blue Dart will deliver your shipment TODAY. During delivery, our Field Executive will request for KYC, as requested by the Shipper. For real time updates,
Track https://acl.cc/BLUDRT/gAOXXXXX
04/01/25 12:45PM
7. Card delivered:
Your order with Blue Dart AWB# 34094XXXXXX was delivered to MRXXXX. Please Rate our Service on https://acl.cc/BLUDRT/onEXXXXX
04/01/25 03:36PM

Congratulations on your new card and Good Luck if you are freshly applying for HSBC Card. I hope it clears your excitement of waiting for your new card!!!

 

[krishg]

I also did the same process in Nov. But joining fee was charged even after spending 50K+ shortly after receiving the card.
But that's fine. Benefit overweighs the fee.

 

[rajcasio]

But the offer of waiving off joining fees upon spending 20k in 1st month was still applicable.

Are you sure about it?
This offer is not eligible for EXISTING CUSTOMERS.
Am i wrong here?
https://www.hsbc.co.in/content/dam/hsbc/in/documents/credit-cards/live-plus-welcome-cashback.pdf

 

[PKR1]

Are you sure about it?
This offer is not eligible for EXISTING CUSTOMERS.
Am i wrong here?
https://www.hsbc.co.in/content/dam/hsbc/in/documents/credit-cards/live-plus-welcome-cashback.pdf

Customer care guy told me this, I am yet to verify after spending, but someone else also commented he didn't get any such waiver even after spending, there might be chances that customer care guy forgot for a while it's a card upgrade and told me the generic offer, I can verify only after statement generation as today only I received the card

 

[rajcasio]

Customer care guy told me this, I am yet to verify after spending, but someone else also commented he didn't get any such waiver even after spending, there might be chances that customer care guy forgot for a while it's a card upgrade and told me the generic offer, I can verify only after statement generation as today only I received the card

No way you(or any human) are going to get a JOINING FEE waiver from HSBC...that i'm 200% sure 🤪
Here we are talking about the ₹1000 CASHBACK by spending within the first 30 days for EXISTING customers

 

[PKR1]

No way you(or any human) are going to get a JOINING FEE waiver from HSBC...that i'm 200% sure 🤪
Here we are talking about the ₹1000 CASHBACK by spending within the first 30 days for EXISTING customers

😂I'm not very hopeful but it's ok even if they don't waive off, it's not like only I get deprived of that offer and everyone else availed it🙂 but it's my duty to spend and check what if luck favours as I have the call recording 😂

 

[rajcasio]

😂I'm not very hopeful but it's ok even if they don't waive off, it's not like only I get deprived of that offer and everyone else availed it🙂 but it's my duty to spend and check what if luck favours as I have the call recording 😂

GOT IT
Me too got the card(flipped) 2 days back and i used it today on 2 local supermarkets and a grocery shop for TESTING purpose on that 10% CASHBACK👍

 

[mgforce]

Are you sure about it?
This offer is not eligible for EXISTING CUSTOMERS.
Am i wrong here?
https://www.hsbc.co.in/content/dam/hsbc/in/documents/credit-cards/live-plus-welcome-cashback.pdf

I think if we apply for fresh card, the offer will still be applicable.

 

[PKR1]

I think if we apply for fresh card, the offer will still be applicable.

In TnC, nowhere it's written offer not applicable to existing HSBC customers, it says offer is valid for new LIV+ card holders, still have some hope , will see.

 

[PKR1]

GOT IT
Me too got the card(flipped) 2 days back and i used it today on 2 local supermarkets and a grocery shop for TESTING purpose on that 10% CASHBACK👍

Does that give flat 10% cashback on supermarket bill, or it depends if it falls under grocery category or not, what if someone buys non grocery items like a bucket or anything else? Did u check that?

 

[rajcasio]

Does that give flat 10% cashback on supermarket bill, or it depends if it falls under grocery category or not, what if someone buys non grocery items like a bucket or anything else? Did u check that?

Everything is in TESTING process
Answers for all the questions are replied only in the STATEMENT generated on 9th JAN
I'm eagerly waiting for it🙂

 

[mgforce]

Does that give flat 10% cashback on supermarket bill, or it depends if it falls under grocery category or not, what if someone buys non grocery items like a bucket or anything else? Did u check that?

Depends on MCC code of the store. If it comes under Grocery then you get 10% on full amount.

Eg. from DMart you can purchase clothes, plastic items and still it will give you 10%

Luckily as of now, banks don't check invoice and segregate the spends 🙂

 

[PKR1]

Depends on MCC code of the store. If it comes under Grocery then you get 10% on full amount.

Eg. from DMart you can purchase clothes, plastic items and still it will give you 10%

Luckily as of now, banks don't check invoice and segregate the spends 🙂

Excellent. and what about Flipkart grocery and Amazon Fresh, did u check, does it give 10% cashback even in those platforms?

 

[rajcasio]

Luckily as of now, banks don't check invoice and segregate the spends 🙂

Don't give them DAMN ideas 🤪

 

[itsMrKPK]

HI @rajcasio @krishg
Hey KrishG, did you try contacting customer care for the joining benefits.
I have just out of a call with HSBC cc and they say Joining benefit is not applicable if we are upgrading the card.

So, I have requested them to cancel the upgrade request.

 

[krishg]

HI @rajcasio @krishg
Hey KrishG, did you try contacting customer care for the joining benefits.
I have just out of a call with HSBC cc and they say Joining benefit is not applicable if we are upgrading the card.

So, I have requested them to cancel the upgrade request.

during the upgrade itself, cc told joining benefit will not be there for upgrade...and I did not bother much and went ahead with upgrade as the card is worth of the fee 😎

 

[rajcasio]

I have just out of a call with HSBC cc and they say Joining benefit is not applicable if we are upgrading the card.

So, I have requested them to cancel the upgrade request.

So did you just applied/upgrade just to get JOINING BENEFITS😳

 

[itsMrKPK]

So did you just applied/upgrade just to get JOINING BENEFITS😳

Yes. I have 1.5% unlimited cashback card with me already. Cards for 30%, 40% cashback on Swiggy/Zomato twice a month.
So, barely use Live card for swiggy/zomato. For swiggy I have swiggy HDFC.

And I have office food card which will be loaded with 2200 per month.


And I am unsure if I can juice out 1000CB per month easily. Max to max 200-300 per month I can get.

So for a year, 3000 on average, if we takeout joining fee + GST

Assume I Will get 2000 cashback.

So, On purchases of 30000 I am getting 2000 which is only 6.6% and not 10% cashback.

I have regalia gold to purchase gift vouchers for instance ( More Super Market) which gives 6.6% worth reward points.

And If I do not complete 2L per year. The same cycle as above starts. It is the same for everyone. It is not 10% card. It is lesser than that.

 

[PKR1]

Yes. I have 1.5% unlimited cashback card with me already. Cards for 30%, 40% cashback on Swiggy/Zomato twice a month.
So, barely use Live card for swiggy/zomato. For swiggy I have swiggy HDFC.

And I have office food card which will be loaded with 2200 per month.


And I am unsure if I can juice out 1000CB per month easily. Max to max 200-300 per month I can get.

So for a year, 3000 on average, if we takeout joining fee + GST

Assume I Will get 2000 cashback.

So, On purchases of 30000 I am getting 2000 which is only 6.6% and not 10% cashback.

I have regalia gold to purchase gift vouchers for instance ( More Super Market) which gives 6.6% worth reward points.

And If I do not complete 2L per year. The same cycle as above starts. It is the same for everyone. It is not 10% card. It is lesser than that.

yes, no card is meant for all, its primarily meant for families, Sodexo coupons of 2200 wont be sufficient for monthly grocery of an avg family, plus occasional dine outs r common, there r cards which will give better discount using dineout or easydiner but mostly have minimum spending criteria, middle class family dont always visit costlier pub restros , in normal family restuarants also it'll come handy, u can get 30-40% swiggy zomato off using Axis neo , myzone or rewards that can be used twice a month, after that quota is over it'll come handy, overall if one has the needs of spending 10k monthly with this card which I guess most families can, its an excellent card to have, not to forget it not only gives 10% cashback in offline marts but in online as well, basically 1 card for all. Its not a standalone card one wants to have but its an excellent supplementary card which provides great value to an avg household wallet

 

[rajcasio]

My FIRST statement is generated today.
When can i expect the CASHBACK credit?