ICICI Credit Card - Changing The Flow of Life

Credit cards are so widely used. Earlier they were just a handful of people who used to use credit cards; but now things are the other way around – there are just a handful of people who still don’t use these cards. People are realizing the convenience of carrying a credit card to make payments when they are out of money of when they are low on cash. Banks offer great benefits on their credit card services, which attracts more and more people to make use of cards. ICICI Credit cards come with some of the best benefits offered in the market.

icici credit card

 ICICI Bank offers their customers some special privileges to make their experience more exciting than it already is. They offer various tailor-made services exclusively to the customers who make use of their credit card services. The special benefits offered are made to suit the lifestyle and spending habits of their customers. They make sure you, the customer, have an experience which you will always remember. Here are a few of the privileges you will be entitled to if you get an ICICI Bank Credit Card -

1. They offer complimentary movie tickets so you can enjoy some of your favorite movies at their expense.
2. You will be entitled to some hand-picked privileges at various hotels and airlines across the world. Also, when you travel, whether on business or on a vacation; you will entitled to entry into exclusive airport lounges because of your ICICI credit card.
3. Enjoy a Golf experience by saving on green fees and also by obtaining additional rounds. All of this can be availed at some of the finest golf clubs in India and Abroad.
4. Experience wellness when you take a break now and then from every day’s mundane tasks. Make use of a number of complementary packages and some very refreshing offers at some of the finest places in your city and elsewhere.
5. Get a complimentary insurance cover. This will help you have peace of mind and enhance your life security.
6. Make use of a lot more offers which will be personalized to meet your lifestyle needs.

There are different types of credit cards offered by ICICI bank; you will certainly find one that fits your needs and lifestyle. Each of the specialized ICICI Bank credit cards comes with a lot of benefits and great experiences; some of which are mentioned right above.

You can find details of all the different types of credit cards on offer compare them according to your preferences and pick the one which you would want to apply for. Once you choose which type of credit card you want, you can apply online for your ICICI credit card. Since most of the work is done online, there would be no need of you to keep going to the bank till the work gets done. Once you apply online, your application will be processed and you will be contacted to bring in the required documents.

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Using Your Indian Credit Cards Abroad: Things to Remember

An increasing number of Indians are traveling to foreign countries in recent years. There are many who want to treat themselves or their loved ones to a foreign holiday while others are business travelers who tend to fly to these destinations quite often. When you are traveling abroad you don’t want to carry huge amounts of cash to take care of your everyday expenses. That’s quite understandable and that’s where International cards come into the picture and offer you the cutting edge advantage.

Can I use my Indian Credit Card abroad is the question many are faced with before they embark on their travels. The answer to that question is a yes in case it’s a Visa or MasterCard that allows you to make transactions internationally. You are better off checking these details with your company to ensure that you are not short changed at the last minute. However another important question you need to ask yourself is what are the charges that will be involved in case you use your Indian card to buy or pay for things abroad. There are many who have ended up paying through their nose for these transactions, which is why it’s important to know more about them.

Additional charges when you use your card abroad

Using your Credit Cards in foreign destinations can definitely have its advantages but you have to remember that there are additional costs that are involved in many instances too. That’s because of the fees charged by the issuing bank and those from network service providers like VISA or MasterCard. These additional fees are applied because of the costs that are involved in currency conversion. Hence it’s important to make a note of that when you are drawing out your expenses for your holidays.

Understanding different types of extra charges in detail

Since you have an Indian card, your balance will be in rupees. However since you are spending abroad it will have to be converted into the desired currency, which is why there is a foreign currency conversion fee that you are charged. Around 2.5 to 3.5% of the total transaction amount is charged as Foreign Transaction Charge, which is irrespective of currency, cash withdrawal or the money you have spent. You are charged Cash advance fee back home, but the charges are much higher when you withdraw money overseas.

Choosing the right card to spend money abroad

If you tend to travel to foreign countries quite often then you have to think about the transaction and cash withdrawal fees you are charged before applying for a card. Pay attention to the fine print on the offer document before you sign on the dotted line. It’s possible to find a card that is more suited to spending overseas. You also have to realize that if you pay off your entire outstanding amount, you will be able to keep the charges down as they are often high in case you have made minimum payments.

Your Indian Credit Card can be used to spend money abroad but you have to be aware of the transaction charges involved.

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Credit and Debit Card Offers For June 2014: Pick the Best

An increasing number of consumers in the country are reliant on their cards to carry out their financial transactions. You could have a debit card or a Credit Card for that matter, you want to make the most out of it. The latter also ensures that you can buy whatever you want at the earliest and spend later. But of course there are many other advantages of using your cards, and you can see them materialize them in terms of rewards and discount offers you can get.

 That’s the reason it’s important to keep an eye on Credit Card Offers and other deals that are available in the market. Some of the precious offers in June 2014 include:

• You can get a 6% discount on your Ebay.in purchases when you use your SBI card. It also gets you splendid 15% cash back on domestic flight bookings that are made on Makemytrip.
• CITI Bank Card on the other hand has several lifestyle related benefits for you, including 15% off on food and beverages at Barista. From smart discounts at shopping destinations to fine dining restaurants, this card can help you make good savings as well.
• You can get 35% off on minimum purchases of Rs. 1499 on myntra.com by using your HDFC bank card. The same card can get you 15% off on the base fare of domestic flights on Spicejet.
• Kotak Mahindra Bank card has a fantastic offer for movie lovers where they can buy 1 movie ticket and get another completely free at PVR cinemas. If you buy a cappuccino at any Barista outlet using this card, you can get another one absolutely free.
• Till June 30, using your Standard Chartered Bank card can get you a voucher of Rs. 1000 for gadget at Croma outlets. If you get a flight booking on Goibibo.com you can get Rs. 600 off on your return booking and Rs. 300 on your one way ticket.
• If you want to buy a Samsung Galaxy smart phone, you can use your Axis Bank card to your advantage as it can get you 15% cash back besides no down payment, 0% interest and no processing fees options. Till June 30 you are also eligible to up to 12% off on Cox and Kings.
• ICICI Bank has tied up with musafir.com and lets you have Rs. 600 off on return flights and up to 25% off on hotel bookings that are made using the card. On the other hand, if you make your bookings on makemytrip.com using this card, you can get up to 25% cash back.
• HDFC Card lets you buy one ticket on bookmyshow.com on weekends and you can get the second ticket completely free. The offer is available on all signature cards form the bank. You can also get 15% cash back on the purchase of Samsung Galaxy smart phone using this card.

These are some of the smart Credit Card and Debit card offers available in June 2014 that you can make the most out of.

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Bad Credit Cards - 10 Things You Need To Know

Bad Credit Cards : 

A credit card can be a blessing in disguise when you have no cash in your pocket. It is also a convenient way to carry money and is much easier to make payments with credit cards. But there are instances when credit cards can become bad for you. In fact, if not used with proper care, a credit card can ruin your finances completely. Here are 10 things you should know to recognize that your credit card is bad:

1. When you do not pay your bills on time: The first rule of using credit cards is to pay before the due date. If you fail to do this, you will be charged an exorbitant interest on the unpaid amount, which can be as high as 3.5% per month. Continuing this will not only entangle you in a financial mess, but it will also harm your credit score significantly. Further, late payment fees can harm you as well.
2. When you exceed your credit limit: Banks set the credit limit based on your credit standing, spend patterns etc. It is advisable not to spend more than 75% of the credit limit. If the credit limit is breached, it will again harm your credit score. Some banks stop usage of card when this happens.
3. When you regularly pay only the minimum amount payable: Paying the minimum amount can allow you to continue using the card. But remember that the unpaid amount goes into revolving credit and attracts interest. This ballooning of credit can definitely land you in trouble.
4. When you spend excessively albeit within the credit limit: Some credit card users take care not to exceed the credit limit, but do not think much about spending prudently. Remember that spending too close to the credit limit can also harm your credit score. Further, when you spend excessively, your finances can be greatly harmed, because at the end of the day, you will be the one to pay the bill.
5. When you use it to regularly withdraw cash: Credit cards allow you to withdraw cash. This feature should be used in an emergency. However, when this is made a habit, it can burn a hole in your pocket, as the charges for cash withdrawal are quite steep.
6. When you use your card only to get reward points: Sometimes, one uses the credit card only to gather reward points. If this becomes a habit, then you may end up spending excessively on unnecessary things.
7. When you use multiple cards: Using multiple cards can again land you in trouble. You may end up paying bills throughout the month as the payment becomes due for the different cards on different dates.
8. When you spend excessively while traveling abroad: Almost all major credit cards allow you to use them when you are traveling abroad. While this looks convenient, remember to check on the charges for such usage. Also don’t forget the exchange rate differential. It may be less expensive to use other payment modes when traveling abroad like using prepaid cards or travelers cheques.
9. When you are not careful about your CVV and PIN: Carelessness on the CVV or PIN of your credit card can again make your credit card ‘bad’ for you. This means you are giving an opportunity for someone else to use your card. This is disastrous and therefore you must be extremely careful of such passwords.
10. When you constantly transfer your balance to new cards: Some people transfer their unpaid balance to a new card or another existing card, if they are unable to pay it. You may save on the interest temporarily, but the interest will start to accrue after the initial period. Further, you will also have to pay balance transfer charges.

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