How-To Guides
Practical guides to EMIs, reward redemptions, lounge access, fee waivers and getting more from your cards.
2030 posts · Page 104 of 170
How-To GuidesNo CIBIL, no salary slip: who secured credit cards are really for
Every year, lakhs of Indians hit the same wall: no credit card without a credit history, no credit history without a credit card. The secured card is the engineered door through that wall — a product designed for exactly
How-To GuidesFD interest vs card cost: the real maths of holding a secured card
A secured card asks you to lock, say, ₹50,000 in a fixed deposit to get a credit card. The FD earns interest — so is the card "free"? Not quite. The deposit has an opportunity cost, the card has its own (small) costs, an
How-To GuidesSecured credit cards in India: how FD-backed cards actually work
No credit history, no salary slip, no problem — at least, that's the promise of the secured credit card. Backed by a fixed deposit you place with the issuing bank, it gives first-time borrowers a real credit card and a r
How-To GuidesWhen a loan on your card makes sense, and when it is a trap
After nine articles of mechanics — rates, fees, foreclosure maths, bureau reporting — the question that remains is judgment. A loan on your credit card is neither a scam nor a bargain; it's a tool with a specific shape.
How-To GuidesThe cooling-off window: cancelling an EMI booking without paying charges
You converted a ₹60,000 purchase into EMI in a hurry at the store, got home, ran the numbers, and realized the 12-month tenure was a mistake — you could have paid in full, or taken 6 months. Most issuers give you a short
How-To GuidesCard loan eligibility: why the offers are pre-approved and who gets them
Nobody applies for a loan-on-card offer out of nowhere — it arrives pre-approved in your app, with an amount and a rate already filled in. That isn't marketing theatre. It's underwriting done in the background, continuou
How-To GuidesJumbo loans: borrowing over and above your credit limit
Your card has a ₹4,00,000 limit and the bank offers you a ₹6,00,000 loan on it. That isn't a typo — it's a jumbo loan, the over-the-limit variant of loan-on-card, where the bank lends you more than your card's credit lim
How-To GuidesProcessing fees and GST on card loans: the true cost beyond the interest rate
The app says 13% per annum. You accept the loan-on-card offer, and the first statement shows a processing fee, GST on the fee, GST on the interest, and suddenly the "13%" cost you quite a bit more than 13%. The interest
How-To GuidesForeclosing a loan-on-card early: the foreclosure-charge maths
Your annual bonus just landed, and the loan-on-card you took nine months ago still has fifteen EMIs to run. Repaying early feels obviously smart — less interest, debt gone, limit freed. Usually it is. But "usually" hides
How-To GuidesConverting a big purchase into EMI after the swipe: the post-transaction route
You bought a ₹84,000 television on full swipe because the no-cost EMI option at checkout looked confusing, and now the statement is looming. Most Indian issuers let you convert an already-posted purchase into EMI through
How-To GuidesLoan on card vs personal loan vs EMI conversion: picking the cheapest credit
You need ₹2,00,000 for twelve months. Three doors are open: the loan-on-card offer flashing in your banking app, a personal loan from the same bank, or putting the spend on the card and converting it to EMI. All three ar
How-To GuidesLoan on your credit card: how instant loan-on-card offers actually work
Open your bank's app and you may see an offer you never applied for: a ready-to-disburse loan sitting on your credit card, money in your account within minutes, no documents, no branch visit. It looks like free money. It