So You Want to Cancel the Credit Card? Well, What If We Give You a Titanium Card Instead?

I have an HDFC Bank Credit Card — one that I haven’t used since I received it over an year ago. I therefore decided to cancel it. A week back, I dropped a request-for-cancellation letter at an HDFC ATM near my house. Today morning, I called to check the status of my request. A few points from my conversation with customer care (my thoughts during the call within [ ]):

• We have received the request letter. [Great!]
• The card has been temporarily blocked. [Ok. Getting nervous.]
• We’re working on canceling it permanently. [?]
• But, why are you canceling the card? Blah blah…lifetime free…blah… [CANCEL]
• We will upgrade the card to a Titanium Card. [WTF?]

Again, WTF mate?

I haven’t transacted a single time on this “standard” credit card and HDFC Bank wants to upgrade it to a Titanium Card (higher credit limits, extra dangerous to carry around, unwanted misery)! That aside, does HDFC Bank even care whether I have the capacity to repay? Isn’t this exactly what has happened elsewhere in the world? So, who was that who said that Indian banks are safe and sound?

What do you think?

Further reading:

1. Tip Tuesdays: Why You Should Not Own a Credit Card From a Bank Where You Also Have Other Deposits
2. The Order in Which Your Credit Card Payments are Applied for Settling Dues

Tagged as: credit cards, WTF