ICICI Emeralde Credit Card Upgrade (Paid) – Any Way to Convert to LTF?

[Nandha]

Hi TFians,

I recently received an upgrade to the ICICI Emeralde Credit Card (plastic variant) with a ₹12,000 annual fee (paid) in the iMobile app– not the metal one.

Current Relationship with ICICI:

Amazon Pay ICICI Credit Card

ICICI Coral Credit Card

Combined credit limit: ₹4.2L


The upgrade came through without me explicitly applying, and I was okay with going ahead since I can easily meet the spend requirement in the first year to get the fee waiver.

That said, I’d really prefer to get the card converted to Lifetime Free (LTF) – especially considering my long-standing relationship with ICICI and solid spends across cards.

Questions:

Has anyone here been able to convert Emeralde to LTF through any channel (branch/RM/email/escalation)?

I currently have one RBIO credit card mis selling (Rubyx) case against ICICI bank. Can I negotiate with that?

Any tips, contact points, or escalation path that worked for you?

Would closing Coral or Amazon Pay card help in getting a stronger case for LTF on Emeralde?

I have spent about 60L in the last 5 yrs with ICICI credit Cards.

Appreciate any help or experience you can share!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Nandha]

Experts help me out.

If you don't know then tag someone who might know.

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[cardio_guycardio_guy is verified member.]

From what I know if you have WM account, chances of geting EPVC LTF is more. (still not 100%)
Your existing card limit I think 4.2 is less, if it was more than some 6 or 8L then it could have been good. (Again not 100% sure)
If your spends on existing card for last 6 months is more than 10L you can use chatgpt and write a strong mail and try.

I am also eagerly trying to get EPVC LTF, but haven't gotten any tips, contact points, or escalation paths yet.
If you get any lead, tell me also 🙂

 

[Nandha]

From what I know if you have WM account, chances of geting EPVC LTF is more. (still not 100%)
Your existing card limit I think 4.2 is less, if it was more than some 6 or 8L then it could have been good. (Again not 100% sure)
If your spends on existing card for last 6 months is more than 10L you can use chatgpt and write a strong mail and try.

I am also eagerly trying to get EPVC LTF, but haven't gotten any tips, contact points, or escalation paths yet.

Thank you.

I just have a regular salary account with them. So WM account is out of the picture. I just took this card hoping to upgrade to more premium cards, increase limit and eventually convert it to LTF. This Emeralde card I just applied yesterday. Not received yet. I have spent about 9.6L in the last 6 months in ICICI credit cards combined ( coral + Apay).

That said If you know someone who can help me out here please tag them here.

 

[gabu]

OT: Even I want to upgrade from coral rupay ltf to sapphiro rupay LTF.

 

[Nishan11]

You will not get Emeralde PVC LTF unless it shows you LTF in app/net banking or you hold TRV of 50 L & more.

Or, you have salary account with ICICI with salary above 2.5 L/month, then you can negotiate for Emeralde LTF.

All these needs to be done before getting the card. Once you take paid card, it's rare to convert it to LTF.

 

[Nandha]

You will not get Emeralde PVC LTF unless it shows you LTF in app/net banking or you hold TRV of 50 L & more.

Or, you have salary account with ICICI with salary above 2.5 L/month, then you can negotiate for Emeralde LTF.

All these needs to be done before getting the card. Once you take paid card, it's rare to convert it to LTF.

One pending RBI ombudsman complaint is there. Is it possible to negotiate that for this.


Or how to upgrade it to EPM.

 

[Nishan11]

One pending RBI ombudsman complaint is there. Is it possible to negotiate that for this.


Or how to upgrade it to EPM.

You can always try your luck. You can negotiate with them & see if they accept.

It will depend on how much leverage you have against them with your RBI complaint & how much it gonna cost them.

But unless you ask, you will never know. So no harm in asking. Play your card wisely & see how it turns out.

Best wishes.

 

[Nishan11]

@Nandha It's better to apply EPM as new application if you fulfil the salary/ITR criteria, as upgrade route is less successful.

 

[Nandha]

You can always try your luck. You can negotiate with them & see if they accept.

It will depend on how much leverage you have against them with your RBI complaint & how much it gonna cost them.

But unless you ask, you will never know. So no harm in asking. Play your card wisely & see how it turns out.

Best wishes.

Sure. Thank you

 

[Nandha]

@Nandha It's better to apply EPM as new application if you fulfil the salary/ITR criteria, as upgrade route is less successful.

I don't qualify via salary or ITR route. That's why considered this upgrade.

 

[aayusharyan]

It's very rare to get Emeralde as LTF either the PVC version or the Metal version. But try your luck.
Actually, I'll also send an email to them, _just in case_

 

[Nandha]

It's very rare to get Emeralde as LTF either the PVC version or the Metal version. But try your luck.
Actually, I'll also send an email to them, _just in case_

Does keeping an emeralde card has more chances of higher limit than the coral and Apay cards.

 

[aayusharyan]

Does keeping an emeralde card has more chances of higher limit than the coral and Apay cards.

The limits are synced throughout all, I had a limit of 10L before getting Emeralde, so since last 1-2 years, no CLE... To be honest, I don't need a CLE.

 

[cardio_guycardio_guy is verified member.]

You will not get Emeralde PVC LTF unless it shows you LTF in app/net banking or you hold TRV of 50 L & more.

Or, you have salary account with ICICI with salary above 2.5 L/month, then you can negotiate for Emeralde LTF.

All these needs to be done before getting the card. Once you take paid card, it's rare to convert it to LTF.

After meeting these requirements, whom to talk to for getting EPVC LTF? Regular customer care or RM or any card executive?

 

[Nandha]

The limits are synced throughout all, I had a limit of 10L before getting Emeralde, so since last 1-2 years, no CLE... To be honest, I don't need a CLE.

I only have 4.2 L now.

 

[aayusharyan]

After meeting these requirements, whom to talk to for getting EPVC LTF? Regular customer care or RM or any card executive?

I directly went to the branch since it's 5 minutes walkable from my home and I have good relations with the people there. Talked to the BM, he introduced me to the credit card processing guy who applied. Got rejected unfortunately since my ITR was less than 7 lacs, lol.

You can try to reach out to RM otherwise.

 

[aayusharyan]

I only have 4.2 L now.

Maybe it will be increased, I read somewhere where it as mentioned that Emeralde has a floor of 5L.

 

[Nishan11]

I don't qualify via salary or ITR route. That's why considered this upgrade.

Then you can try but you need to have CL of 8 L & more. People got it on less limit too but it will be tough.

So get your limit increase manually & then apply for upgrade.

 

[Nishan11]

After meeting these requirements, whom to talk to for getting EPVC LTF? Regular customer care or RM or any card executive?

Your Branch RM/BM.