Your First Credit Card Story - How did you get your first credit card?

[TechnoFinoTechnoFino is verified member.]

Hello every,
The first credit card is special for everyone. We all remember the experience of getting our first card 😃
Let's share our first credit card experience...
My experience-
My first credit card was ICICI HPCL Coral, which I received in 2015. My home address at that time did not fall within any bank's serviceable area, so they asked me to apply for credit card against FD. But I needed an unsecured credit card, so I talked to my branch manager and I told him I needed an unsecured card.
He told me that... we can give you an unsecured card but for that you have to purchase an ICICI Prudential Ulip policy of Rs. 2 lakhs (minimum).
At that time I desperately needed a credit card because my business was in USA and I needed a credit card for its payment. I was unemployed that time with zero CIBIL score, No bank was offering me a credit card so I had purchased a policy of two lakh rupees at that time and got my first ever credit card ICICI HPCL coral credit card (chargeable), later icici converted that card to a lifetime free hpcl coral credit card and I'm still holding that one 😄

 

[Copycat]

I never had a credit card till 2019. I had a misguided idea all these years that a credit card was something bad to have and using a credit card signalled bad financial discipline (yes, you can laugh 🙂 ). So it was only Net Banking for payments as I would be too bothered about adding my debit card anywhere.

Then Amazon came up with all the incentives for the ICICI Amazon Pay card and I really wanted the incentives more than the card. I've been an avid online discount shopper (meaning I only buy if the discount is really large or I really need the item) from 2008 onwards. And being a glutton for free offers I wanted the Amazon incentives more than the card itself. Unfortunately, for months, Amazon/ICICI just wouldn't service our location for the APay card. My colleagues and I used to check several times a day to see if our area was serviceable. It took many frustrating months, may be even a year, before ICICI finally started providing the card to our area as well. Then some more frustrating months while all my colleagues got pre-approved for the card and I didn't. I guess it was because they all had loans and I didn't have a single loan, ever.

Once I had the ICICI Amazon Pay card, I realised the benefits that came with it. So then I changed to paying with a card for everything and making sure I paid my card bill in full, 8-10 days before the due date. Since then I've been trying hard to accumulate as many free cards as I can. I stayed away from all paid cards until Magnus came along. The Technofino community (and the new rule that allows tax payments via card) played a large role in convincing me to go for a Magnus in October this year. So that's my CC story.

Sometimes, I feel a certain regret that I didn't try for credit cards earlier when all the best offers were going on.

My cards:
LTF cards: ICICI Amazon Pay, Axis Flipkart, HDFC Moneyback+, IDFC Select (w. add-on), BOB Select (w. add-on), IndusInd Legend, Kotak League Platinum
Paid cards: Axis Magnus
What I want: IDFC Wealth, BOB Eterna LTF and some way to make Magnus LTF without the 15L spend (which would be impossible)

 

[AsB]

I never had a credit card till 2019. I had a misguided idea all these years that a credit card was something bad to have and using a credit card signalled bad financial discipline (yes, you can laugh 🙂 ). So it was only Net Banking for payments as I would be too bothered about adding my debit card anywhere.

Then Amazon came up with all the incentives for the ICICI Amazon Pay card and I really wanted the incentives more than the card. I've been an avid online discount shopper (meaning I only buy if the discount is really large or I really need the item) from 2008 onwards. And being a glutton for free offers I wanted the Amazon incentives more than the card itself. Unfortunately, for months, Amazon/ICICI just wouldn't service our location for the APay card. My colleagues and I used to check several times a day to see if our area was serviceable. It took many frustrating months, may be even a year, before ICICI finally started providing the card to our area as well.

Once I had the ICICI Amazon Pay card, I realised the benefits that came with it. So then I changed to paying with a card for everything and making sure I paid my card bill in full, 8-10 days before the due date. Since then I've been trying hard to accumulate as many free cards as I can. I stayed away from all paid cards until Magnus came along. The Technofino community (and the new rule that allows tax payments via card) played a large role in convincing me to go for a Magnus in October this year. So that's my CC story.

Sometimes, I feel a certain regret that I didn't try for credit cards earlier when all the best offers were going on

My cards:
LTF cards: ICICI Amazon Pay, Axis Flipkart, HDFC Moneyback+, IDFC Select (w. add-on), BOB Select (w. add-on), Indusind Legend, Kotak League Platinum
Paid cards: Axis Magnus
What I want: IDFC Wealth, BOB Eterna LTF and some way to make Magnus LTF without the spends (which would be impossible)

I have this exact same regret. Several times, I was offered a Credit card since 2018, but, it was very late when I entered the game. But, better late than never.

 

[Patil007]

When we got placement after college. In office itself ICICI guy came to open salary account and there itself they offer us ICICI HPCL Coral card lifetime free. Using since then.

Short and simple story ✌️

 

[anonymuos]

Sometimes, I feel a certain regret that I didn't try for credit cards earlier when all the best offers were going on.

Me too! My mom was a PSU employee (IOB) before she retired, she gave up her AmEx and HSBC LTF cards offered to all employees! 🤦🏻‍♂️🤦🏻‍♂️ and she always said "Our family doesn't need a CC, we have so much savings" (since both parents working) so I never paid any attention despite being offered preapproved HDFC CCs. 🤦🏻‍♂️ That wasn't smart. So I too entered the game very late, in 2022 Jan in fact - at the beginning of this year. I realized how much we can save with the right CCs and even some DCs. Most of my cards are entry-level basic ones, over time I plan to get more premium/more rewarding ones but will never pay more than ₹500 charges for any card except maybe something lifestyle oriented like SBI Pulse which is ₹1500 "card fees" for 12 months gym membership at participating gyms.

 

[Operation9343]

First ever card was ICICI Platinum credit card with a measly 15k limit. Got this right after I landed my first job (explains why the CL was so low)

 

[Venky]

2020 Amex Platinum Reserve and MRCC

My friend was working for the Amex office and held 2 cards. As he knew how fascinated I was by the Amex brand and credit cards in general, He offered me his Add-on cards. Though living in a Tier-2 city, I would only be able to use the card on HP Pumps and chain stores. My monthly usage was around 3-5k only.
Suddenly, one fine day I get a call from someone in Indusind bank offering me a LTF platinum credit card with a limit of 3lakhs! I immediately said and got the card delivered in a couple of days. (I do have an Indusind saving account and did maintain a balance of around 4-5lakhs for a few months)

 

[deep@vie]

2016 moneyback, pre-approved from hdfc

 

[Anilkaos]

2012 axis and Hdfc during my first job , ruined 4 years of my LIFE 😛

 

[Rohankore]

Had fascination for credit cards since long. Joined first job in 2017. After getting 2 months salary slip went to icici branch and got icici coral. While I was studying i got offer of ICICI debit card emi with which i purchased ac on Amazon. So my cibil was already generated. And ICICI cc got easily got approved.

 

[pandyag]

2007 my first job, hdfc and sbi card

 

[Akash Topder]

My first card was FD OneCard in around March-April 2022. Now I hold 7 cards.

 

[suhas.gopal]

My first credit card was in 2012. At that time I did not have knowledge of credit cards and always had thought it is a trap. I had to travel to Hong Kong for 15 days for some official work and that time I did not even have an International debit card and as I had to travel ASAP, I did not have time to apply for it too. For the hotel my office had said ask them to send Authorization form and they will pay by CC. In hotel I had asked and after filling the form had given the hotel to charge but they had not till the day of my checkout. On that day they told the charging had failed and I have to pay for the hotel room for 15 days. I did not have full amount so I had to struggle making calls. My office said they thought they had already charged and they had used it elsewhere and there is no limit on that card now and even if they pay it will take 3 days for credit so I was on my own. I had to take money from my colleague there to settle the bills as it was my final day of the visa. After all the trauma faced I decided to have a CC . Applied in HDFC bank where my salary account was and got the Titanium card.

 

[TheTrickySid]

I'll share my story... be with us here

Still waiting for this, do share 😉

 

[Walter White]

My first Credit Card was HDFC Diners Clubmiles issued in 2019, one month after my first job due to my salary account with HDFC (good old days of 10X on Flipkart and Amazon).

Fast forward to 2022, Diners Clubmiles got upgraded to Diners Black LTF this year (post completion of my MBA). Also, got my first Amex card in Nov-22, thanks to referral from @TechnoFino.

Cards Currently Holding:
Diners Black, Amex Platinum Travel, ICICI Sapphiro, OneCard, Axis Bank Vistara Signature, Axis Bank My Zone, ICICI Amazon Pay

Will be looking to add in the near future:
A card in the Rupay Network

 

[avi_devdhar]

my first credit card was in 2018, when i joined internship and hdfc gave one card with it.
and my first project was also on cobranded credit card,
so understood well to use smartly and not fall in debt traps.

 

[CVR]

First credit card in 2006. Icici bank gave it along with salary account without even asking for it 😂. Although I never used it much. Really got into maximising CC rewards after I got DCB 7 years back (which was upgrade from Superia card). Got it converted into LTF 3 years back under alumni program.

 

[tbk]

My first experience using any kind "credit" card was with slice card in 2019, my college batchmate was interning at slice and he introduced everyone to the it, instant 2500 limit with discipline it increases to 70k was super helpful in college.
First proper credit card was onecard saw their Instagram ad, then in 2021 got ola sbi card it was so disciplined of sbi to give less limit than monthly salary.

 

[Xaos]

I got Myzone credit card 7 years back with salary account having a limit of 25K. Now it is LTF and has limit of 4.5L

 

[it_waaznt_me]

Got HDFC Titanium Card back in 2006 with 32K limit after their agent met us on the sutta corner by coincidence. He was like sir take the card there is no fee you'll really like it. Didnt close the card when I left India back in the days and still have a sentimental attachment to the current Regalia which is still LTF based on the initial Titanium Superia etc cards upgrades.

 

[caabhi]

I got my first credit card from hsbc card which came as a part of salary account to me in 2010. Still hold that card and i still hold that card for sentimental value.