HDFC Credit Cards Why I Strongly Recommend Avoiding the HDFC Pixel Credit Card

I want to share my real experience with the HDFC Pixel Credit Card, hoping it helps others make an informed choice. I’ve been using HDFC credit cards for a long time and never expected this kind of service and confusion.


🔻 1.


Low Cashback Value

• Though Pixel claims to give 5% cashback, the real benefit is limited.
  • Cashback is capped at ₹500 per category/month.
  • Even on SmartBuy, the cap is ₹500, while other HDFC cards give ₹1,000–₹2,000 per month.
• 
  
• Worst part: cashback is not credited to your card. You get Pixel Coins, which:
  • Can’t be redeemed until you reach 1,000 coins
  • Don’t have real cashback value
  • Are harder to track and use

🔻 2.


Very Poor Customer Support

• You can’t raise complaints with HDFC Bank directly for Pixel.
• You are forced to use the PayZapp app support, which:
  • Takes 20–30 days to respond
  • Often closes complaints without resolution
  • Has no proper escalation path

Even when I tried contacting HDFC Grievance/Nodal Officers, they just told me to go back to PayZapp support.

🔻 3.


Limit Transfer Problem (Big Issue)

1. While applying for Pixel, I transferred my limit from my MoneyBack card.
2. But it also reduced the limit on my Swiggy and RuPay Biz cards, which wasn’t explained.
3. It took me almost 3 months of back-and-forth to get my limit restored after closing Pixel.
4. This process is tiring — and not everyone will be able to go through it.​

🔻 4.
Confusion in Lifetime Free Offer

• The app said the card was Lifetime Free, but the welcome email showed ₹500 joining + ₹500 annual fee.
• After follow-up, the fee was removed — but this confused many users. Not everyone got the LTF benefit easily.

❌ Final Words – Not Worth It

• Cashback is too limited and hard to redeem
• Support is one of the worst I’ve seen
• Limit transfer is risky and poorly explained
• There are better HDFC cards like Regalia, Millennia, or even basic MoneyBack with more value

Important Point About HDFC Pixel Card – EMI Handling

One thing most people miss about Pixel:
Unlike other HDFC core cards (like Regalia, Millennia, MoneyBack, etc.), Pixel does NOT offer EMI fee or interest waiver if you cancel early.

🔻 Here's my real experience:

With most HDFC cards:
If you cancel a No Cost EMI purchase within 7 days (before statement) → no EMI charges or interest is applied.

But with Pixel Card:
Even if you cancel early: ✔️ You still pay the EMI booking fee
✔️ You still pay interest on EMI (even if you cancel right away)
✔️ There's no reversal – not even within 7 days


😓 I had to pay both EMI interest + cancellation charges, even though the product was returned in time. This is not customer-friendly, and no other HDFC card behaves like this.

📌 Just a heads-up for users considering Pixel – EMI terms are stricter, and there’s no flexibility like regular HDFC cards.

It’s not about hating the card — it’s about knowing these real, fine-print issues before applying


💬 My Suggestion:


Avoid this card, especially if you’re applying based on influencer videos or offers. Please read and understand the full terms and think twice before going for Pixel.

 

[HumorSimpson]

From when? August 1 2025?

Long back. Might be an year ago. Almost all ccs stopped rewards on edu fee when used from 3rd party apps.

Pay on the educational institute portal or their pos or on their QR code

 

[rajcasio]

Long back. Might be an year ago. Almost all ccs stopped rewards on edu fee when used from 3rd party apps.

Pay on the educational institute portal or their pos or on their QR code

Did you read my previous comment?
I never used ZAPP in paying EDU payments. Reason - It always shows some error while transaction. Raised a ticket but they couldn't fix it.
Only SCAN & PAY with GPAY/Super.Money
Till JULY 2025 i've got 1% CP on my PIXEL

 

[HumorSimpson]

Did you read my previous comment?
I never used ZAPP in paying EDU payments. Reason - It always shows some error while transaction. Raised a ticket but they couldn't fix it.
Only SCAN & PAY with GPAY/Super.Money
Till JULY 2025 i've got 1% CP on my PIXEL

Yes I read, got little lost.
Before your quoted post, there were abrief references to HDFC millenia and icici pay. Both dont reward on third parties.
I particularly don't know about PIXEL and HDFC sent a TnC saying all their CCs won't reward on 3rd party edu fee pay like cred etc.

 

[Sree CC]

I

Did you read my previous comment?
I never used ZAPP in paying EDU payments. Reason - It always shows some error while transaction. Raised a ticket but they couldn't fix it.
Only SCAN & PAY with GPAY/Super.Money
Till JULY 2025 i've got 1% CP on my PIXEL

Is it about QR code issue? , yes I too faced the problem. I use my pixel rupay on phonepe.
When it comes to edu payments, most of the CCs stopped giving rewards. If we use third party app for paying edu fee, 1% convenience fee will be collected. This happened to me once (OTP method).
But you can do upi payments at schools using QR codes tagged to edu MCC Or any other. Here you can get rewards.

 

[TheCreditCardGuy]

please help me out i applied this piece of garbage in the month of march 2025 just a month after opening a savings account with hdfc bank now im stuck with shit limit of rs 31k where as my sbi and idfc cards have 130k+ limits now if i try to apply for a new hdfc card it says that i dont have any offers. ive been trying since 3 months still the result is same. i wanna know few things here first

since my pixel card is the first hdfc card i ever had if i apply for a mid premium segment cards like mariott bonvoy and dcp will i get the same limit as my pixel card or seperate? if yes, please suggest me something where i can get better limits with premium cards in hdfc