• Hey there! Welcome to TFC! View fewer ads on the website just by signing up on TF Community.

My HDFC credit card journey and the way forward

Apply For Lifetime Free IDFC First Credit Card
cardio_guy

cardio_guycardio_guy is verified member.

TF Legend
TF Family
Moderator
Moderator Verified User
I am someone who spoiled many good chances of getting better cards early on. But HDFC has been overall good to me, and nothing went wrose.
When I started my credit card journey, I was not aware about core/cobranded problems of HDFC.
I have posted in different threads about these milestones but I thought a dedicated post will help to document everything in one place.
Here's a rough timeline of my journey with HDFC so far:
  • April 2023: Applied and got Tata Neu Plus FYF (Limit 86k)
  • July 2023: Closed Neu Plus permanently (Because I wanted Infinity)
  • November 2023: Applied and got Swiggy (Paid 500 JF + 500 AF, Limit: 1.25L)
  • September 2024: Credit limit of Swiggy card increased to 1.52L
  • October 2024: Applied and got Neu Infinity. (FYF, same limit, 1.52L)
  • November 2024: Got both Neu and Swiggy converted to LTF
  • December 2024: Opened HDFC salary account (Preferred variant)
  • January 2025 onwards: Salary started crediting in HDFC account (net monthly: 2L)
  • March 2025: Limits of Neu Infinity and Swiggy enhanced to 7.63L (used these cards extensively in the last 2 months)
  • May-end 2025: Waited for 2-3 months but no preapproved offers have come yet.
  • May 26-29. 2025: Applied for Freedom card via Paytm, got it approved & received the physical card. Same limit as other existing cards.
  • June 1 2025: Applied for Mariott Bonvoy card. got rejected. (will have to wait for cooling period to apply for a new card)
  • June 2 2025: Wrote mail to greivence redressal and PNO to upgrade Freedom card. Waiting for their response.
  • June 10, 2025: Mariott card approved. (VKYC, address verification etc completed last week)
  • June 11, 2025: Upgrade request rejected by PNO/GRO (Freedom to RG/DCB)
As of now I am standing with 4 cards - HDFC Swiggy, Tata Neu Infinity, Mariott Bonvoy, and Freedom.
My future plan is to upgrade Freedom to a better core card - RG/DCB/Infinia and also to get the MB card.
I will also have to change/alter my spend patterns to align with the best case usage of these cards.
There is a long way to go in front of me. I will update my future journey here as and when it happens.
 
Last edited:
Apply For LTF IndusInd Bajaj Tiger Credit Card
Sort by date Sort by votes
My journey is somewhat similar,
Jan 2023 - LTF Diners Privilege(my salary was not enough to get DCB via alumni offer)
Feb 2023 - LTF Neu Infinity
had credit limit increase from 4.48 to 5.9
Aug 2024 - FYF upgrade from privilege to DCB Metal
Sept 2024 - Applied for pixel, but it did not go through cz of cooling period
Mar 2024 - Visa and rupay variants of Pixel is automatically issued
May 2025 - Got offer LTF swiggy, I just went and tried and to my luck it got issued with shared limit between DCB and Neu Infinity.

I have used my DCB quite well and even got the 10k bonus points this month for quarterly milestone, I am waiting to see if I get an option to upgrade to Infinia.

Please let me know if anyone has any tips on how to proceed...
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
cardio_guy said:
I am someone who spoiled many good chances of getting better cards early on. But HDFC has been overall good to me, and nothing went wrose.
When I started my credit card journey, I was not aware about core/cobranded problems of HDFC.
I have posted in different threads about these milestones but I thought a dedicated post will help to document everything in one place.
Here's a rough timeline of my journey with HDFC so far:
  • April 2023: Applied and got Tata Neu Plus FYF (Limit 86k)
  • July 2023: Closed Neu Plus permanently (Because I wanted Infinity)
  • November 2023: Applied and got Swiggy (Paid 500 JF + 500 AF, Limit: 1.25L)
  • September 2024: Credit limit of Swiggy card increased to 1.52L
  • October 2024: Applied and got Neu Infinity. (FYF, same limit, 1.52L)
  • November 2024: Got both Neu and Swiggy converted to LTF
  • December 2024: Opened HDFC salary account (Preferred variant)
  • January 2025 onwards: Salary started crediting in HDFC account (net monthly: 2L)
  • March 2025: Limits of Neu Infinity and Swiggy enhanced to 7.63L (used these cards extensively in the last 2 months)
  • May-end 2025: Waited for 2-3 months but no preapproved offers have come yet.
  • May 26-29. 2025: Applied for Freedom card via Paytm, got it approved & received the physical card. Same limit as other existing cards.
  • June 1 2025: Applied for Mariott Bonvoy card. got rejected. (will have to wait for cooling period to apply for a new card)
  • June 2 2025: Wrote mail to greivence redressal and PNO to upgrade Freedom card. Waiting for their response.
  • June 10, 2025: Mariott card approved. (VKYC, address verification etc completed last week)
  • June 11, 2025: Upgrade request rejected by PNO (Freedom to DCB)
As of now I am standing with 4 cards - HDFC Swiggy, Tata Neu Infinity, Mariott Bonvoy, and Freedom.
My future plan is to upgrade Freedom to a better core card - RG/DCB/Infinia and also to get the MB card.
I will also have to change/alter my spend patterns to align with the best case usage of these cards.
There is a long way to go in front of me. I will update my future journey here as and when it happens.
Click to expand...

super!

  • March 2025: Limits of Neu Infinity and Swiggy enhanced to 7.63L (used these cards extensively in the last 2 months) - how did you get this limit approval? did you get an offer from HDFC or you applied from your end?
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Avatar Aang said:
With CL of more than 7L they should atleast give your RG if not DCBM. Write a strong mail to PNO. Mention your relationship value, spends and CL also mention that HDFC is inconsistent while considering the upgrade requests.
Click to expand...
Yes, thanks I will try this. I just asked for Freedom to DCBM directly and maybe that is one reason for rejection. I will ask for RG.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
msd07 said:
what upgrade? and what is the reason
Click to expand...
Upgrade from Freedom to DCBM. (more details in post #1)
Reason:
At the outset, we wish to inform you that your card membership and patronage to HDFC Bank is extremely important to us. Based on your current representation, we have taken up for an appropriate review and we wish to affirm that your request for a card upgrade has been reviewed in line with the Bank’s internal policy and guidelines. The same is also reviewed based on the usage and payment pattern.
Our records indicate that an upgrade offer is currently unavailable for your card account. We have reviewed your request for card upgrade and regret our inability to accede to your request for a card upgrade to Diners Black Metal/ Infinia Metal credit card currently as the required credit limit and spend criteria were not met.
We wish to inform you that your case has been reviewed by our bank's Internal Ombudsman appointed as per instructions from the Reserve Bank Of India.
Having said so, we assure you that upgrade offers will be reviewed periodically based on the usage and payment pattern on the card account. Hence, we request you to continue usage on your credit card for all your shopping and entertainment needs and provide us with more opportunities to serve you.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
cardio_guy said:
Upgrade from Freedom to DCBM. (more details in post #1)
Reason:
At the outset, we wish to inform you that your card membership and patronage to HDFC Bank is extremely important to us. Based on your current representation, we have taken up for an appropriate review and we wish to affirm that your request for a card upgrade has been reviewed in line with the Bank’s internal policy and guidelines. The same is also reviewed based on the usage and payment pattern.
Our records indicate that an upgrade offer is currently unavailable for your card account. We have reviewed your request for card upgrade and regret our inability to accede to your request for a card upgrade to Diners Black Metal/ Infinia Metal credit card currently as the required credit limit and spend criteria were not met.
We wish to inform you that your case has been reviewed by our bank's Internal Ombudsman appointed as per instructions from the Reserve Bank Of India.
Having said so, we assure you that upgrade offers will be reviewed periodically based on the usage and payment pattern on the card account. Hence, we request you to continue usage on your credit card for all your shopping and entertainment needs and provide us with more opportunities to serve you.
Click to expand...
may be try for RG gold LTF and then try for DCBM after 6 to 8 months
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
cardio_guy said:
Upgrade from Freedom to DCBM. (more details in post #1)
Reason:
At the outset, we wish to inform you that your card membership and patronage to HDFC Bank is extremely important to us. Based on your current representation, we have taken up for an appropriate review and we wish to affirm that your request for a card upgrade has been reviewed in line with the Bank’s internal policy and guidelines. The same is also reviewed based on the usage and payment pattern.
Our records indicate that an upgrade offer is currently unavailable for your card account. We have reviewed your request for card upgrade and regret our inability to accede to your request for a card upgrade to Diners Black Metal/ Infinia Metal credit card currently as the required credit limit and spend criteria were not met.
We wish to inform you that your case has been reviewed by our bank's Internal Ombudsman appointed as per instructions from the Reserve Bank Of India.
Having said so, we assure you that upgrade offers will be reviewed periodically based on the usage and payment pattern on the card account. Hence, we request you to continue usage on your credit card for all your shopping and entertainment needs and provide us with more opportunities to serve you.
Click to expand...
Wait, I missed a detail. You got the freedom card in May 25. They won't give you any upgrade before 6 months. IMO you should try for DCBM somewhere around December 25. Or else get your older card upgraded to DCBM.
I think Tata Neu Infinity has become useless (at least for me) so you can try and request them to upgrade that to DCBM.
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
My journey was completely opposite. Got Regalia Ltf through my Salary a/c RM in 2019. I never used any CC & was not in a mood too so kept denying for atleast an year. Finally upon her insisting, just took it as my first CC. For many yrs, I kept it as it is w/o using. Only used for random spend offers like pay 3000 get 500 voucher types. CL also increased from 3L to 7.6L without much usage and never asked for it. Then after 5 yrs with some financial knowledge kicking over, in April 2023, got Neu Infinity FYF but a month later, TN Rewards League came. I completed it successfully to get my CC converted to Ltf. Then in 2024 finally discovered TF, got so much info, added many Ltf good CCs & got year end gift as Swiggy Ltf through app. Never got rejected for any card be it Idfc wealth, Pinnacle, Amazon pay etc. Life is simple.

Until Axis came & ruined my streak of zero rejection & shattered confidence too when I got rejected for even basic Neo card that too shown Ltf in my app that's why I clicked on it. I thought maybe there was some error so applied again for Airtel cc after 6 months through Airtel app and still rejected. Finally last try this March for Kiwi cc and again rejected. Axis is sh** you guyz are right 😂
When I used to see so many posts about mailing to escalation teams etc, I was like I would never have to mail to any grievance team everything is perfect but ab lagta hai samay a gaya hai. Axis has made it ego issue now.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

I
  • Question Question
Regalia Gold Need help on way forward for upgradation of card
Replies
13
Views
621
iscoopicecreams
I
uipolo
My HDFC Credit Card Journey – Still Waiting for Pre-Approved Offer
Replies
18
Views
466
6ix9ine
6ix9ine
uipolo
My HDFC credit card journey -- Pre-Approved offer finally unlocked
Replies
38
Views
642
GTSaketh
GTSaketh
Navneetnikhil15
  • Question Question
Is my HDFC Credit Card Approved?
Replies
20
Views
2K
Credit_Cards
Credit_Cards
P
  • Question Question
HDFC's "growing young" pains...aka my journey to an HDFC credit card.
Replies
6
Views
445
sunit123
sunit123
Back
Top