Need Guidance on HDFC Credit Card Reward Points Issue After Upgrade & Downgrade

[Rakesh Biswas]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some guidance and suggestions regarding a frustrating experience I've had with HDFC Bank’s credit card upgrade process. Here's a quick timeline of what happened:

1. Original Card – Millennia:
I had accumulated 13,927 reward points over couple of years, which are valued at ₹1 per point under the Millennia card's reward structure.

2. Upgrade to Regalia Gold (13th May):
On my Relationship Manager’s suggestion, I was upgraded to the Regalia Gold card. Unfortunately, I wasn’t informed that this would drastically reduce the value of my existing reward points to ₹0.20 per point. Although the exact 13,927 reward points were transfered to my new card, their cash value was just around ₹2,700 which was a huge loss for me.

3. Immediate Action:
Realizing this on the same day (13th May), I contacted HDFC Phone Banking and requested an immediate downgrade back to Millennia and restoration of all my reward points back to Millenia. Over multiple calls on 13th, 14th, and 15th May, I was repeatedly assured that my reward points would be fully reinstated at ₹1 per point once the downgrade is processed.

4. Downgrade Processed – New Millennia
The downgrade has now gone through, but I was shocked to see that only 6,963 points were reinstated (half of what I originally had).

The phonebanking personals don't have any solution as it appears they are only trained on a standard set of situations. Even the Relationship manage is only concerned about selling loans, or additional credit card and is not able to help me nagivate this mess which is created due to their misinformation.

I have now written an email to the Nodal officer (Kolkata), but not sure if they will provide any resolution.
What I’m Seeking:

• Restoration of my original 13,927 points at ₹1 per point.
• Suggestions on how to escalate this further — should I approach the Banking Ombudsman, National Consumer Helpline, or RBI CMS portal?
• Any success stories or advice from people who've gone through something similar?

Would really appreciate any help or insights from this community, especially from those in the banking or credit card industry.

Thanks in advance.

 

[helloworld]

No, as per tncs of HDFC card upgrade that is what you'll get and it clearly mentioned during upgrade (mail) and that upgrade form (if you filled it).. same might have mentioned when you did upgrade/downgrade (as you like) again..

Here is what happened!





1.. U have 13,927 reward points (which has only 1 year validity) = 13,927 at best rate in Millennia
2.. Upgraded to Regalia Gold which gives you 100% points = 13,927RP = 8356.2 at best rate in Regalia Gold
3.. Upgraded/Downgraded to Millennia which gives you 50% points = 6963.5 at best rate in Millennia

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I was repeatedly assured that my reward points would be fully reinstated at ₹1 per point once the downgrade is processed.

1. Unless u have written confirmation or recorded call and that too they were mentioned about 13,927 points instead of 8356.2

Deal slowly with NO and PNO, explain your situations, spends, and association and request them to reissue same points again.. Have patience to deal with them because it takes time and some times they just extend week after week to look into your issue..

RBI won't intefere, AFAIK because as mentioned it clearly mentioned in upgrade forms which we sign and send to them or check box during upgrade..

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Not exactly your case but people somehow managed (due to luck) when by mistake it was redeemed for POS purchase with Axis/Amex etc. where the value is less and its not the intended there. Same can possible with HDFC but deal with patience..

Good luck!