Credit card questions
How joining fees, reward rates, billing cycles and eligibility checks actually work on Indian credit cards.
What credit score do I need for a credit card in India?
Most unsecured cards are underwritten at a bureau score of 750 or above. Between 700 and 750 approvals happen but usually on entry-level variants, and below 700 a secured card against a fixed deposit is the practical route.
How is the annual fee waived on a credit card?
Issuers waive the renewal fee when annual spend crosses a stated threshold in the card year. The waiver is applied on the next statement after the anniversary, and cash withdrawals, fuel surcharge and EMI conversions usually do not count towards the threshold.
Do reward points expire?
Most Indian issuers expire points 24 to 36 months after they are earned; a few premium cards keep them valid while the card is active. Points are also forfeited if the card is closed or goes past due.
What is the interest-free period on a credit card?
Between 18 and 52 days depending on where the purchase falls in the billing cycle. It applies only if the previous statement was cleared in full — carrying any balance removes the grace period on fresh spends.
Is a lifetime-free card genuinely free?
There is no joining or renewal fee, but usage charges still apply: forex markup, cash-advance fees, late payment charges, EMI processing and GST on all of them.
Does closing a credit card hurt my credit score?
It can, because closing a card reduces total available limit and raises utilisation on remaining cards. Closing your oldest card also shortens average credit age.