HDFC Imperia Experience: Promised LTF Credit Card by Branch, But Customer Support Says It's a Paid Card

[moglibhai]

Hello everyone,


Mera HDFC me Imperia account hai (1 year purana), and I wanted to share my recent experience regarding a pre-approved credit card offer, which turned out to be quite confusing and honestly, disappointing.

---

Timeline​

• 7 months after opening my account, I got to know (through self-check via NetBanking) that I have a pre-approved card offer.
  
  

  No call/email from branch or customer support regarding the offer.

• I called the Imperia desk, but they refused to tell me the credit limit, saying “branch visit karo ya card apply karke hi pata chalega” – very strange.
• When I tried to apply online:
  
  • Initially, it was showing DCP, IOCL, Swiggy cards — all paid variants.
  • I skipped applying at that time because thinking that holding Imperia account might get better premium card if I wait.
  • Later again I checked, it showed DCP as LTF (Lifetime Free), but I didn’t want that card due to weak benefits.
• Recently, I requested a callback from the branch through phone banking.
  
  • Got a call back and was told only Millennia Card (LTF) is available.
  • I was aware that HDFC sometimes shows LTF but later charges annual fee, so I asked the executive to share a screenshot or written proof – she denied, saying “system photo share nhi kar sakte, aap branch aa jao”.

---

Branch Visit Experience:​

• I visited the home branch:
  
  • They showed me on system that Millennia card is LTF, while when I was checking from net banking it was showing priced.
  • I asked: What if I receive the card and it turns out to be paid?
    
    

    Reply: “Aisa kaise ho sakta, yaha system m dikha rha h aise kaise kuch bhi ho jaayega" hoga bhi to mail karenge ki system m ltf tha

• Before visiting home branch, I visited another HDFC branch who said it was paid card, not LTF. When I mentioned this to my home branch, they said “wo kisi aur jagah check kr rhe honge ”.
• Anyway, I finally applied for the card. Within 30 mins, it was approved with 1.08L limit.

---

Confusion Begins:

• I called customer support – they said it’s a paid card.
• I called again – same answer.
• I called my branch back – they said “customer support doesn’t know, card is LTF” and asked me to visit branch again and they will call from my registered number to confirm.
• I don’t have anything in written, and they also denied giving anything before application.

---

Now the Question:

Should I now raise a grievance with HDFC or escalate to RBI ombudsman, since:

• I was misguided by branch staff into applying a paid card by showing LTF in system.
• I had clearly asked for written confirmation, but they denied.
• My intention was to either get Millennia or any other premium card like DCB as LTF, or at least get Millennia made LTF, as promised.
• Now I am in loop branch is saying let card come & activate if charges gets deducted then contact us they will make it reverse, now am thinking that time kharab hoga yha wha complain raise krne m sidhe grievance p raise karu bt no proof

---

Looking for Advice:​

• Should I raise a complaint to HDFC Grievance Cell?
• Any way/trick to request DCB as LTF, by explaining this miscommunication by branch to grievance or higher authority.
• Anyone had similar experience where branch says LTF, but support says priced?

Now my intention is to get any hdfc premium card as ltf by citing this miscommunication as fraud selling, I will not activate millenia will request them to change my card to another is this possible or not considering limit what they had given??

@SSV @Vasuki @Aniket Sharma @HumorSimpson @SJM

---

Thanks in advance.
Any suggestions/help from the community will be appreciated.

---

 

[kiwi195]

Email Grievance.Redressalcc@hdfcbank.com with your concern.

If it goes unresolved, you should email PriorityRedressal.CreditCards@hdfcbank.com

Final step just in case: pnohdfcbank@hdfcbank.com

Explain in detail. They will most likely make it LTF, but you can not use this to get an upgrade to DCB. Definitely not LTF.
Let us know how it goes
Edit: there is also escalation.cc@hdfcbank.com but I'm not aware of where it falls in the hierarchy

 

[Aniket Sharma]

Hello everyone,


Mera HDFC me Imperia account hai (1 year purana), and I wanted to share my recent experience regarding a pre-approved credit card offer, which turned out to be quite confusing and honestly, disappointing.

---

Timeline​

• 7 months after opening my account, I got to know (through self-check via NetBanking) that I have a pre-approved card offer.
  
  
• I called the Imperia desk, but they refused to tell me the credit limit, saying “branch visit karo ya card apply karke hi pata chalega” – very strange.
• When I tried to apply online:
  
  • Initially, it was showing DCP, IOCL, Swiggy cards — all paid variants.
  • I skipped applying at that time because thinking that holding Imperia account might get better premium card if I wait.
  • Later again I checked, it showed DCP as LTF (Lifetime Free), but I didn’t want that card due to weak benefits.
• Recently, I requested a callback from the branch through phone banking.
  
  • Got a call back and was told only Millennia Card (LTF) is available.
  • I was aware that HDFC sometimes shows LTF but later charges annual fee, so I asked the executive to share a screenshot or written proof – she denied, saying “system photo share nhi kar sakte, aap branch aa jao”.

---

Branch Visit Experience:​

• I visited the home branch:
  
  • They showed me on system that Millennia card is LTF, while when I was checking from net banking it was showing priced.
  • I asked: What if I receive the card and it turns out to be paid?
    
    
• Before visiting home branch, I visited another HDFC branch who said it was paid card, not LTF. When I mentioned this to my home branch, they said “wo kisi aur jagah check kr rhe honge ”.
• Anyway, I finally applied for the card. Within 30 mins, it was approved with 1.08L limit.

---

Confusion Begins:

• I called customer support – they said it’s a paid card.
• I called again – same answer.
• I called my branch back – they said “customer support doesn’t know, card is LTF” and asked me to visit branch again and they will call from my registered number to confirm.
• I don’t have anything in written, and they also denied giving anything before application.

---

Now the Question:

Should I now raise a grievance with HDFC or escalate to RBI ombudsman, since:

• I was misguided by branch staff into applying a paid card by showing LTF in system.
• I had clearly asked for written confirmation, but they denied.
• My intention was to either get Millennia or any other premium card like DCB as LTF, or at least get Millennia made LTF, as promised.
• Now I am in loop branch is saying let card come & activate if charges gets deducted then contact us they will make it reverse, now am thinking that time kharab hoga yha wha complain raise krne m sidhe grievance p raise karu bt no proof

---

Looking for Advice:​

• Should I raise a complaint to HDFC Grievance Cell?
• Any way/trick to request DCB as LTF, by explaining this miscommunication by branch to grievance or higher authority.
• Anyone had similar experience where branch says LTF, but support says priced?

Now my intention is to get any hdfc premium card as ltf by citing this miscommunication as fraud selling, I will not activate millenia will request them to change my card to another is this possible or not considering limit what they had given??

@SSV @Vasuki @Aniket Sharma @HumorSimpson @SJM

---

Thanks in advance.
Any suggestions/help from the community will be appreciated.

---

Hey bro, I read your full post but as you mentioned you don't have any proof for this misselling.

(1) I will suggest you to better stay away from your RM and BM.

(2) Now the situation is your card got approved with 1 lacs limit, so if you don't activate or try to cancel it then there must be a gap of 6 months to apply a new card.

(3) As per your limit now even you are an imperia account holder you need to submit income proof to get the limit increased.

(4) if you have income docs then only now you will be able to get the limit increased and then you can request for card upgrade to Regalia gold as its base limit is 3 lacs, for dcbm you need atleast 5 lacs limit and for infinia 12 lacs.

(5) My suggestion would be continue with this card & try to get manual LE if you have income documents then get upgrade.

(6) Even the card isn't LTF, Millennia cost is Rs. 180 per year, so you can afford it easily then why wasting your time & taking tensions?

(7) Whatever complaint you want to do, if you don't have proof it's a waste of time.

 

[sunit123]

Nothing will happen in your case...you will be wasting time in raising the complaint...when other branch clearly told that it is paid card, it was clear signal that home branch is fooling around.

Congrats to RM for completing her target and Sorry for you as verbal communications has ZERO value in this world...RM always look for LTF CC desperate people to complete their target. Fortunately, she found you easily.

 

[drvirag]

Its better to take this card. Try for better limit. And next year send mail to convert it ltf. They will most probably do it if ur spends r gud. This card is good. take it in rupay u can easily get spend based waiver

 

[thanix]

Don't activate the card. Close your imperia and move away from HDFC. During closing, give this as reason in writing with Email as well branch.

 

[moglibhai]

Hey bro, I read your full post but as you mentioned you don't have any proof for this misselling.

(1) I will suggest you to better stay away from your RM and BM.

(2) Now the situation is your card got approved with 1 lacs limit, so if you don't activate or try to cancel it then there must be a gap of 6 months to apply a new card.

(3) As per your limit now even you are an imperia account holder you need to submit income proof to get the limit increased.

(4) if you have income docs then only now you will be able to get the limit increased and then you can request for card upgrade to Regalia gold as its base limit is 3 lacs, for dcbm you need atleast 5 lacs limit and for infinia 12 lacs.

(5) My suggestion would be continue with this card & try to get manual LE if you have income documents then get upgrade.

(6) Even the card isn't LTF, Millennia cost is Rs. 180 per year, so you can afford it easily then why wasting your time & taking tensions?

(7) Whatever complaint you want to do, if you don't have proof it's a waste of time.

yes I know that base limit to upgrade for regalia is 3 lakh but I dont want to upgrade I just want to negotiate with bank citing misselling, and I read some post on this forum that infinia was offered at not sure but with limit of 1.5 lakh apprx,

actually I was asking in written but the executive which was applying the card showed me that product code of millenia is ltf and she also showed me that in ltf card list is millenia is listed and in priced card category iocl and swiggy is listed, thats why I proceeded

 

[moglibhai]

Nothing will happen in your case...you will be wasting time in raising the complaint...when other branch clearly told that it is paid card, it was clear signal that home branch is fooling around.

Congrats to RM for completing her target and Sorry for you as verbal communications has ZERO value in this world...RM always look for LTF CC desperate people to complete their target. Fortunately, she found you easily.

Any other method to raise complain because I had talking with retail manager also she also confirmed me ltf status and the executive who was applying the card also showed me ltf code list with millenia card listed in it and priced card code with iocl and swiggy in it.
Plus what other branch told me I told to my home branch to which they are saying they nust be new at work or they might be not knowing how to check correctly and after that she asked me tell me her number I will call and confirm after that I told I dont have there number, jo hua so hua
now tell me what possible ways to negotiate with bank for getting any other card citting misselling of card to imperia customer

 

[The_One]

Its been one year for me with HDFC imperia banking, will move the salary account to HSBC this year end. Enough of HDFC to be honest.

 

[moglibhai]

Nothing will happen in your case...you will be wasting time in raising the complaint...when other branch clearly told that it is paid card, it was clear signal that home branch is fooling around.

Congrats to RM for completing her target and Sorry for you as verbal communications has ZERO value in this world...RM always look for LTF CC desperate people to complete their target. Fortunately, she found you easily.

I know that without proof I will be wasting my time but want to f****k these bank official by futher raising complain

 

[hender]

How much you maintained till date in saving or in FD or both.

Hello everyone,


Mera HDFC me Imperia account hai (1 year purana), and I wanted to share my recent experience regarding a pre-approved credit card offer, which turned out to be quite confusing and honestly, disappointing.

---

Timeline​

• 7 months after opening my account, I got to know (through self-check via NetBanking) that I have a pre-approved card offer.
  
  
• I called the Imperia desk, but they refused to tell me the credit limit, saying “branch visit karo ya card apply karke hi pata chalega” – very strange.
• When I tried to apply online:
  • Initially, it was showing DCP, IOCL, Swiggy cards — all paid variants.
  • I skipped applying at that time because thinking that holding Imperia account might get better premium card if I wait.
  • Later again I checked, it showed DCP as LTF (Lifetime Free), but I didn’t want that card due to weak benefits.
• Recently, I requested a callback from the branch through phone banking.
  • Got a call back and was told only Millennia Card (LTF) is available.
  • I was aware that HDFC sometimes shows LTF but later charges annual fee, so I asked the executive to share a screenshot or written proof – she denied, saying “system photo share nhi kar sakte, aap branch aa jao”.

---

Branch Visit Experience:​

• I visited the home branch:
  • They showed me on system that Millennia card is LTF, while when I was checking from net banking it was showing priced.
  • I asked: What if I receive the card and it turns out to be paid?
    
• Before visiting home branch, I visited another HDFC branch who said it was paid card, not LTF. When I mentioned this to my home branch, they said “wo kisi aur jagah check kr rhe honge ”.
• Anyway, I finally applied for the card. Within 30 mins, it was approved with 1.08L limit.

---

Confusion Begins:

• I called customer support – they said it’s a paid card.
• I called again – same answer.
• I called my branch back – they said “customer support doesn’t know, card is LTF” and asked me to visit branch again and they will call from my registered number to confirm.
• I don’t have anything in written, and they also denied giving anything before application.

---

Now the Question:

Should I now raise a grievance with HDFC or escalate to RBI ombudsman, since:

• I was misguided by branch staff into applying a paid card by showing LTF in system.
• I had clearly asked for written confirmation, but they denied.
• My intention was to either get Millennia or any other premium card like DCB as LTF, or at least get Millennia made LTF, as promised.
• Now I am in loop branch is saying let card come & activate if charges gets deducted then contact us they will make it reverse, now am thinking that time kharab hoga yha wha complain raise krne m sidhe grievance p raise karu bt no proof

---

Looking for Advice:​

• Should I raise a complaint to HDFC Grievance Cell?
• Any way/trick to request DCB as LTF, by explaining this miscommunication by branch to grievance or higher authority.
• Anyone had similar experience where branch says LTF, but support says priced?

Now my intention is to get any hdfc premium card as ltf by citing this miscommunication as fraud selling, I will not activate millenia will request them to change my card to another is this possible or not considering limit what they had given??

@SSV @Vasuki @Aniket Sharma @HumorSimpson @SJM

---

Thanks in advance.
Any suggestions/help from the community will be appreciated.

---

 

[kiwi195]

@moglibhai best way to go is my method. it won't work any other way. they're definitely not offering an upgrade given how tight the eligibility criteria for DCB and Infinia is

 

[drvirag]

After so much pain only thing u ll get is ltf Millennia even if u complain to rbi. Not worth taking pain. Ur goal should be higher limit so that it will be easy to get future cards.
Rest upto u.

 

[moglibhai]

Its been one year for me with HDFC imperia banking, will move the salary account to HSBC this year end. Enough of HDFC to be honest.

what went wrong with u??

 

[hitirfan]

If you don't activate card and email hdfc for LTF on the grounds that your RM applied for it saying its LTF and your Imperia Account. You might get it LTF.

 

[The_One]

what went wrong with u??

They gave me limit of 75K over an imperia salary account and when i requested for DCB metal i have to exchange email for 2 months even though i satisfy the eligibility criteria. even after getting DCB metal now, my CL is not even 2x of my salary. i have more limit than them on SBI CC.

HDFC wants you to start from base then do spends & climb the ladder. Why should i do the spends when i cant get good returns on their card?

I done a wrong UPI transaction and reported immediately to HDFC till now after 2 months there is nothing on it.

I needed some help with a loan & card, RM always out of reach. According to their attitude, i should feel honored they let me open an account in HDFC.

 

[Aniket Sharma]

yes I know that base limit to upgrade for regalia is 3 lakh but I dont want to upgrade I just want to negotiate with bank citing misselling, and I read some post on this forum that infinia was offered at not sure but with limit of 1.5 lakh apprx,

actually I was asking in written but the executive which was applying the card showed me that product code of millenia is ltf and she also showed me that in ltf card list is millenia is listed and in priced card category iocl and swiggy is listed, thats why I proceeded

Nothing can be done.

Go use the card, those were days when infinia was not that much popular but now they will not entertain with this limit.

 

[viru5678]

Never ever trust HDFC. Couple of years back I was also cheated by HDFC selling me ULIP to get a stupid credit card. They never gave me card but I learnt lesson to stay away from HDFC and I am peaceful and happy since then.

 

[Lobogris]

Never ever trust HDFC. Couple of years back I was also cheated by HDFC selling me ULIP to get a stupid credit card. They never gave me card but I learnt lesson to stay away from HDFC and I am peaceful and happy since then.

Could you share some details?

 

[moglibhai]

They gave me limit of 75K over an imperia salary account and when i requested for DCB metal i have to exchange email for 2 months even though i satisfy the eligibility criteria. even after getting DCB metal now, my CL is not even 2x of my salary. i have more limit than them on SBI CC.

HDFC wants you to start from base then do spends & climb the ladder. Why should i do the spends when i cant get good returns on their card?

I done a wrong UPI transaction and reported immediately to HDFC till now after 2 months there is nothing on it.

I needed some help with a loan & card, RM always out of reach. According to their attitude, i should feel honored they let me open an account in HDFC.

what was the initial card u were offered and was it pre approved or self applied??