Which card to pair with HDFC DCB for average spenders?

[ilavaeniyil]

Hi, I recently got approved for DCB LTF card under alumini offer. I am upgrading from Millennia to DCB. My main focus is to get 2nd card with Visa/Mastercard and that also provides good cashback/rewards (vouchers preferably). I deliberated so long before actually going for DCB LTF,

1. My average spend would be about 4L to max 5L/year. My stay is mix of Tier-1 (office going for few months) and Tier-2 (remote, WFH) city.
2. Not frequent traveler but have plans to start doing it going forward (coming out few years of really bad phase). Probably 2/4 times a year via flights. Would like to take my aged parents (first time in flight too) foreign some time & make them enjoy the life finally which I have earned now. One of the reasons I went for DCB LTF is unlimited lounge access + Add-on card holders.
3. Most of my spends are mixed with offline and online retail (Bills - Netflix/other OTT, broadband, EB, etc., then swiggy/zomato). Plus yearly bills like term insurance, motor insurance, telecom (mobile bill) crossing 50K easily. Offline spends are dining, hotel stay when traveling, car/bike service, fuel (easily ~4k/month), grocery and shopping (dresses). Also Fuel spend will be consistently ~5k/month.
4. My average monthly spend ~35K to 40K. On vacation month, I can touch close to 80K.
5. Recommendation by many is get one Visa/Master credit card along with DCB. I asked HDFC whether I can keep my Millennia card but they said no. So, I am searching to get another card now but preferably as LTF or less spend limit to waive off annual fee.

• If I could get my 2nd card like Millennia/Regalia, I believe that sufficient. But what are they and how to get them?
• I liked SC ultimate (I am priority customer due to previous salary account). It seems tough to get but based on my interaction with RM, it seems it possible if given push. Then, I read 2 weeks ago that it got devalued recently. I am reading reviews now that its not value for the money.
• I recently switched to ICICI bank as Salary account due to their tie-up with my company. I am expecting, I could get Rupx or Sapphire card as LTF. But based on my reading and reward system, ICICI credit card are least preferred by everyone. I was so shocked that one of premier bank doesn't have good premium credit cards for many to get.
• I have read that after a month or two, I can mail HDFC with list of merchants where I am facing acceptance issue of DCB and asks for floater card. Is it true? Can I do that? May be should I move my salary account to HDFC also to help in this case?
• My first CC is from HDFC and so far my experience is seamless. No issues with rewards and prompt response from customer support. May be me being long time account holder (>10 years) helping. I am reading nowadays that Axis Magnus is really good ( and I like it too) but their customer support/rewarding points in time is really bad. I have to maintain excel to make sure I get things correct which I hate to do. Plus, Magnus more rewarding for frequent travel which I don't think suits me and their spend limit to waive off annual fee is high for me to achieve (even with trick of 3 months of 1L each).
• I learnt recently that HDFC way of working could screw my credit score which is really shocking. I read few suggestions to overcome them. One of them is off-course take other bank credit card like Axis. But I can take ICICI LTF card to maintain good credit score.
• Should I go for TATA HDFC Neu Infinity? I was thinking that could be helpful if I get Rupay variant as LTF for UPI transactions.
• I am not looking for Amex as 2nd card since that also has acceptance issue.
• In comparison of Axis Ace vs SBI cashback vs Amazon ICICI, I was thinking to get SBI cashback card. But with recent devaluation on SBI cashback, I am not sure that's good card still. Axis Ace is tough to get anyway (I don't use Google pay and bank told they are not providing it anymore).

So, I am really confused. Kindly guide me what should I do and which 2nd card should I get for my spending.

 

[WhoU]

You can consider AU cards as well, their swipe up program is offering LTF cards.

 

[Lord Of Darkness]

I think SC ultimate is good for you. Even after recent devaluation it is still a good no nonsense card giving 3.3% rewards on most spends, and rest at 2% !

Also you can consider a visa infinite card as well. IDFC wealth is offered as LTF.

For both of the above cards acceptance will not at all be an issue.

 

[anirban.choudhuryanirban.choudhury is verified member.]

Try for IDFC and AU cards as they are LTF
Based on employer and salary get a LTF card from Icici like Sapphiro .

Also you can get Axis Myzone as LTF during the offers

 

[ilavaeniyil]

Received DCB card today.. Just registered it via Netbanking and generated PIN... Card looks good and I hope to have good experience..
Thanks for input.. I will try for IDFC Wealth and ICICI bank LTF card first 🙂
SC Ultimate.. I checked with RM and he is unsure of approval for Ultimate card

 

[saucy]

Go for ICICI ltf cards last.

Axis ace are being issued. Got mine yesterday.
Ace/flipkart cards are good because of good flat 2% reward rate. For most of your online needs, DCB and Amazon vouchers via smartbuy should be sufficent.

So unless you are into becoming a card enthu and cashback hunter, a decent flat cashback card is the best in terms of peace of mind.

Try installing Google pay and check if you have the offer. Sometimes they also offer it on the axis website. If not that then you may wait for the Flipkart card for Lifetime free offer.

Floater card sounds like a good deal - millenia should be a good option.

Also you can try looking at debit card that gives 1% extra cashback on credit card bill paymemt

 

[bugmenot]

Not frequent traveler but have plans to start doing it going forward (coming out few years of really bad phase). Probably 2/4 times a year via flights.

Checkout axis vistara cards if you have good connectivity at your location.

ICICI cards are useless in terms of reward. Only useful for instant discounts.

Don't worry about devaluation. If you can take already devalued DCB then no harm in taking recently devalued cards like SBI CB/SC Ultimate.

 

[jack333]

Sbi cashback still giving 5% for all online shopping. Has been devalued for only gift voucher, insurance, utility, education fee payment and railway tickets.
Try for ace or airtel for utilities. Use gpay trick of receiving money for few days. You'll get the option in few days in gpay
Get neu infinity or bob snapdeal for upi transactions
Tell hdfc about dcb acceptability issues, they'll give you millenia visa LTF

 

[ilavaeniyil]

@saucy okay..
I don't buy much in Flipkart. My online purchases if any, mostly in Amazon. So I am not sure Flipkart/Axis card will be much benefit. ICICI Amazon Pay may be but then I could use DCB to buy Gift cards for 5k/10k. Also, one thing I hate with ICICI bank is they insist on Aadhaar card (I don't like to share them).

Axis Ace will check again with bank. Yes, hopefully HDFC agrees for floater card. I am not sure how soon I can go back and ask bank about acceptability issues.

@bugmenot Totally Agree about ICICI. Also, I hate that they insist on Aadhaar card for process. I escalated once and then went to bank for directly applying. There manager finally told, they can proceed without Aadhaar.
I took DCB only because its LTF. If I can get SBI Cashback or SC Ultimate as LTF, then I will take it.

@jack333 Thanks. Will try to get SBI cashback as LTF and also trying for HDFC Neu Infinity. Gpay - no chance and they ask to share location (Hate that -personal choice) for each transaction.

 

[ilavaeniyil]

Attached image about comparison of different entry level cards rewards. One good soul posted this on reddit chart. I believe some are changed now with recent devaluation but still its superb useful.

 

[bugmenot]

Attached image about comparison of different entry level cards rewards. One good soul posted this on reddit chart. I believe some are changed now with recent devaluation but still its superb useful.

The latest image is available at https://cardmaven.in/social/d/93-cashback-comparison-cashback-millennia-flipkart-axis-ace-and-others

 

[ilavaeniyil]

Assuming:

Swiggy/Zomato - 20k
Online - 1L
Flights/Hotels - 40k
Shopping - 60k
Grocery - 1L
Offline - 50k
Dining - 20k
Bills/ - 50k
Fuel - 60k

Possible options (based on above assumptions):

Axis Magnus ~3.5%* (don't have to track or wait, just let it settle and check portal after 7 days of purchase because it is without any milestone and voucher purchases)
SC Ultimate ~2.8%**
Zenith/Eterna/Ace ~2%***

But if you can split your spends to atleast 3 cards, you might get 3-4% on each of those cards (ex: grocery and shopping alone can give you 5% on SC manhattan), so if you ok just try to find these cards otherwise above list your option.

*1edge point = 0.4p (easy to get, anything more extra reward)
**in terms of un-predictable vouchers
***statement cashback or equivalent voucher in amzn.

Thanks for this suggestion, will keep this in my mind. I did asked my RM again regarding SC Ultimate. I feel having LTF cards liberate me from having to hit the spend criteria.

My biggest worry with Magnus is high spend criteria to hit and huge annual fees. I have DCB LTF and get good rewards already. I am not able to convince myself fully to go for Magnus yet.

For Axis Ace, it seems only route is either open bank account in Axis bank and hope to get pre-approved list in 6 months or start using Gpay and hope for best. Their credit card section told me that they can't apply for this card from their tab.

 

[ilavaeniyil]

Update - I went to ICICI bank today and asked for credit card since I hold salary account with them. They checked and I am eligible for LTF Sapphiro credit card (I believe limit could be more than 10L). I applied for it. So issue of HDFC reporting credit usage impacting CIBIL is fixed for now.

I will reach out to IDFC First (for Wealth credit card) soon.

 

[ilavaeniyil]

Received LTF Sapphiro credit card (Visa Signature variant) with 10L limit. Is there any benefit for switching to MC+Amex variant other than Amex network offers (not useful for me anyway)?

Now, for IDFC First, should I use Sapphiro (10L limit) or DCB card (4L limit)? Which has higher chance to get IDFC First Wealth card?

 

[Lord Of Darkness]

Thanks for this suggestion, will keep this in my mind. I did asked my RM again regarding SC Ultimate. I feel having LTF cards liberate me from having to hit the spend criteria.

My biggest worry with Magnus is high spend criteria to hit and huge annual fees. I have DCB LTF and get good rewards already. I am not able to convince myself fully to go for Magnus yet.

For Axis Ace, it seems only route is either open bank account in Axis bank and hope to get pre-approved list in 6 months or start using Gpay and hope for best. Their credit card section told me that they can't apply for this card from their tab.

I disagree with your evaluation of Magnus.
If you value airmiles over other rewards, nothing even comes close to Magnus. DCB is far far behind. Even if your spend is minimum, you can still maximize rewards (airmiles) with magnus than any other card.

Ex: Grab deals - 10K per month, Gyftr - many offer 3x/5x/10x with no capping. Also for the 10k Fees you pay, you get a voucher for 10k which means you just pay the GST part.

So a good deal altogether 🙂 You can still think about it.

 

[jack333]

Thanks for this suggestion, will keep this in my mind. I did asked my RM again regarding SC Ultimate. I feel having LTF cards liberate me from having to hit the spend criteria.

My biggest worry with Magnus is high spend criteria to hit and huge annual fees. I have DCB LTF and get good rewards already. I am not able to convince myself fully to go for Magnus yet.

For Axis Ace, it seems only route is either open bank account in Axis bank and hope to get pre-approved list in 6 months or start using Gpay and hope for best. Their credit card section told me that they can't apply for this card from their tab.

There's a trick to get ace invite. Use gpay to only receive money on your upi linked mobile number. Also check cibil score from gpay. After some days you'll get the invite

 

[bugmenot]

There's a trick to get ace invite. Use gpay to only receive money on your upi linked mobile number. Also check cibil score from gpay. After some days you'll get the invite

I think there is no trick at all but several (for ex 4-7) official ways which triggers an invite but each user consider it as a trick.

 

[jack333]

Bro i started using gpay only after I got ace🤣 which i got preapproved in axis mobile app all of a sudden one fine day don't know how?

 

[ilavaeniyil]

I disagree with your evaluation of Magnus.
If you value airmiles over other rewards, nothing even comes close to Magnus. DCB is far far behind. Even if your spend is minimum, you can still maximize rewards (airmiles) with magnus than any other card.

Ex: Grab deals - 10K per month, Gyftr - many offer 3x/5x/10x with no capping. Also for the 10k Fees you pay, you get a voucher for 10k which means you just pay the GST part.

So a good deal altogether 🙂 You can still think about it.

Agree but I am not that frequent traveler (in flights). So, Airmiles value is not priority at the moment for me.

 

[jack333]

Agree but I am not that frequent traveler (in flights). So, Airmiles value is not priority at the moment for me.

You redeem dcb reward points in cash?