HDFC credit Card Fees increased from 1st July
HDFC credit Card Fees increased from July 1, 2025, HDFC Bank is implementing significant changes to its credit card policies, affecting fees, reward points, and lounge access. Below is a detailed overview of the new rules based on available information:
Key Changes to HDFC Credit Card Rules (Effective July 1, 2025)
HDFC credit Card Fees increased 1% from 1st July
A 1% fee, capped at ?4,999 per transaction, will apply to the following categories when monthly spending exceeds specified thresholds:
Online Skill-Based Gaming:
Transactions exceeding ?10,000 per month on platforms like Dream11, Rummy Culture, Junglee Games, or MPL will incur a 1% fee on the entire spend. No reward points or CashPoints will be earned on these transactions.
Wallet Loading:
Loading third-party wallets (e.g., Paytm, MobiKwik, FreeCharge, Ola Money, excluding PayZapp) beyond ?10,000 per month will attract a 1% fee on the total amount.
Utility Payments:
Utility bill payments (e.g., electricity, water, gas) exceeding ?50,000 per month for consumer cards or ?75,000 for business cards will incur a 1% fee on the entire spend, capped at ?4,999 per month. Insurance payments are exempt from this fee.
Fuel Transactions:
A 1% fee applies to fuel spends exceeding ?15,000 per transaction for consumer cards or ?30,000 for business cards, capped at ?4,999 per transaction.
Rent Payments:
A 1% fee continues to apply on all rent payments, capped at ?4,999 per month.
Education Payments:
A 1% fee applies to education-related transactions made via third-party apps (e.g., CRED, Paytm). No fee is charged for payments made directly on school/college websites or POS machines.
Reward Point Caps for Insurance Transactions:
Reward points for insurance transactions (identified by Merchant Category Codes: 1411, 1235, 5960, 6300, 6381) are now capped monthly, replacing the previous daily caps:
Infinia and Infinia Metal Cards: Up to 10,000 reward points per month (previously 5,000 per day).
Diners Black, Diners Black Metal, H.O.G Diners Club, Biz Black Metal: Up to 5,000 reward points per month (previously 5,000 per day).
All Other Cards: Up to 2,000 reward points per month (previously 2,000 per day).
Marriott Bonvoy Cards: No cap on reward points for insurance transactions.
These caps apply from July 1, 2025, and are designed to prevent reward point abuse while maintaining benefits for most users.
No Reward Points on Online Gaming:
No reward points or CashPoints will be awarded for online skill-based gaming transactions across all HDFC credit cards, effective July 1, 2025.
Lounge Access Changes (Effective June 10, 2025):
For Tata Neu Infinity and Tata Neu Plus cardholders, domestic lounge access will shift from swipe-based to a spend-driven voucher system. Cardholders must meet quarterly spending milestones (e.g., ?50,000) to receive lounge access vouchers. Direct card swipes at lounges will no longer grant access. Check eligibility via HDFC Bank’s SmartBuy page or your card’s account page.
Impact on Cardholders
Low to Moderate Spenders: If your monthly spends in categories like wallet loading, utilities, or fuel stay below the thresholds (?10,000 for gaming/wallets, ?50,000 for utilities, ?15,000 for fuel), you won’t face the new 1% fees. Direct payments for education via institutional websites or POS machines also avoid fees.
High Spenders: Heavy users in gaming, wallet loading, or utilities may face additional costs unless they adjust spending habits. The reward point caps on insurance transactions could also reduce benefits for premium cardholders.
Lounge Access: Tata Neu cardholders need to monitor quarterly spending to maintain lounge access benefits.
Tips to Minimize Impact
Avoid Third-Party Apps: For rent and education payments, use direct school/college websites or POS machines to bypass the 1% fee.
Monitor Spending Thresholds: Stay below the monthly limits for gaming (?10,000), wallet loads (?10,000), utilities (?50,000), and fuel (?15,000) to avoid fees.
Use Marriott Bonvoy Cards: For insurance payments, Marriott Bonvoy cards remain uncapped for reward points.
Leverage MobiKwik: Paying credit card bills via the MobiKwik app may offer cashback or SuperCash to offset some charges.
Track Lounge Eligibility: Regularly check HDFC’s SmartBuy portal or account page to ensure you meet spending milestones for lounge vouchers.
What HDFC bank says for doing this
HDFC credit Card Fees increased from 1st July, and the bank claims that these changes aim to curb reward point misuse and ensure the sustainability of HDFC’s credit card program. All fees are subject to GST as per government regulations.
Also read, Disadvantages of HDFC Add-On Credit Card
