The CardBuzz blog
Card-by-card write-ups from our team, features, fees, lounge access and who each card actually suits. For the numbers after every cap and exclusion, head to the card pages.
4161 posts · Page 48 of 347 · View the full archive
How-To GuidesWhich bills belong on autopay: the sorting test
Not every bill deserves a mandate. A four-question sorting test — fixed vs variable, essential vs discretionary, small vs large — to decide what goes on autopay.
How-To GuidesPre-debit notifications: the 24-hour window that saves your mandates
Every recurring debit must now be announced 24 hours in advance, with an opt-out. How the pre-debit notification works and how to use it as a control.
How-To GuidesWho sees your card number in 2026: the shrinking circle
After the tokenisation mandate, only issuers and card networks may hold your full card number. A tour of who sees what now — and where exposure remains.
How-To GuidesWhy some merchants survive card replacement and others don't
Your card number changed, yet Netflix kept billing while the gym failed. The account updater services and token continuity that decide which merchants survive.
How-To GuidesReissued vs replaced: what changes for your mandates and tokens
Card reissue on expiry and card replacement after loss sound similar but do opposite things to your mandates. Which event breaks what — and the recovery order.
How-To GuidesMapping every merchant that holds your card token
Your card number lives on as tokens across dozens of merchants. How to build a complete inventory of where your card is saved — and prune it with confidence.
How-To GuidesOne card for every subscription: the dedicated recurring-payments card
Putting every subscription and e-mandate on a single card turns chaos into one dashboard. The strategy, the setup, and what to watch when the card changes.
How-To GuidesThe Rs 15,000 AFA rule: when recurring payments need your fresh approval
RBI's 2026 e-mandate framework: recurring payments up to Rs 15,000 go through without OTP; above that, fresh authentication is mandatory. How the threshold works.
How-To GuidesOne card, many tokens: how the same card gets different tokens
Save one card on five sites and five different tokens are created — none interchangeable. Why per-merchant tokenisation works this way and what it protects.
How-To GuidesWhat merchants still store about your card after tokenisation
Since October 2022, merchants cannot keep your full card number. But they do keep something — masked PANs, token references and requestor IDs. The post-mandate data map.
How-To GuidesBeyond the plastic rectangle: rings, fobs and sticker payments
Payment rings, key fobs and NFC stickers let you tap without a card or phone. How these in-between form factors work, where they pay, and their limits.
How-To GuidesHolograms and security features: reading your card's defences
The dove hologram, the signature panel, microprinting — your card carries layers of anti-counterfeit tech. What each feature does and how to spot a fake.