My HDFC credit card journey and the way forward

[cardio_guycardio_guy is verified member.]

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.

 

[cardio_guycardio_guy is verified member.]

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.

Excellent. Congrats. This is the most simplest journey I have dreamt of.

 

[vchouksey80]

We are in same boat brother 😹

 

[iamdhamo]

I see it's becoming tougher to get a core card if first card of hdfc is co branded.

My journey was simple compared to yours

Opened salary acc in 2015 with hdfc
2017 I decided to get my first cc and got regalia first as it was pre-approved

2020 upgraded to regalia international

2022 infinia
2025 got Swiggy hdfc

 

[cardio_guycardio_guy is verified member.]

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.

Correct. Rejected again. Just now got the email. Thanks.

This is with reference to your recent email dated June 11, 2025 regarding your HDFC Bank credit card account.
We understand that you wish to avail upgrade on your credit card account to Regalia Gold card. We take this opportunity to inform you that, the Rupay Freedom credit cards has recently issued on May 30 ,2025 hence upgrade and fresh issuance shall be reviewed after 06 months from the date of card issuance.
We wish to inform that card upgrade offers are periodic which will be determined based on Bank's internal credit policy (which is based on a combination of financial and related criteria and/or statistically determined scores to assess credit eligibility) and operating/credit processes ( which include a combination of verifications, credit bureau reports and document verifications) in addition to parameters such as card usage, re-payments etc.
We reviewed your request of card upgrade in line with parameters explained above , however, we regret to accede to your request at this point in time as it did not meet the necessary parameters set at the bank. We deeply regret the inconvenience caused to you in this regard.
Please be assured that bank will continue to evaluate the card profiles periodically and if your card account is found eligible for card upgrade offer in near future, we shall intimate you appropriately. We seek your earnest understanding in this regard.