क्रेडिट कार्ड के छुपे चार्जेस को समझो – वरना पछताना पड़ेगा!
Credit card lena आसान है, swipe करना और भी आसान —
लेकिन जो charges silently lagte hain, वही आपको tension दे सकते हैं।
“Why is my ₹5,000 bill now ₹6,200?”
Mostly because of extra charges like late fee, GST, interest, and more!
In this blog, we’ll break down every type of credit card charge — in easy Hindi-English, so you don’t get surprised again.
📌 1. Late Payment Charges (लेट फीस)
💡 What is it?
अगर आपने credit card bill due date तक पूरा payment नहीं किया, bank charges a late fee.
💣 How much?
Depends on total outstanding amount:
| Outstanding Amount | Late Payment Fee (Approx) |
|---|---|
| ₹0 – ₹500 | ₹0 |
| ₹501 – ₹5,000 | ₹400 – ₹500 |
| ₹5,001 – ₹10,000 | ₹750 – ₹950 |
| ₹10,000+ | ₹1,000 – ₹1,300+ |
Hindi Tip:
सिर्फ ₹100 का बाकी balance भी late चला गया तो ₹500 का जुर्माना लग सकता है!
📌 2. Finance Charges (Interest on Outstanding Balance)
💡 What is it?
अगर आपने bill partially pay किया या सिर्फ minimum due भरा, तो बचे हुए amount पर interest लगता है।
🔥 Rate of Interest:
Most cards charge 30% – 42% annually (2.5% – 3.5% per month).
Hindi Warning:
₹10,000 का balance 6 महीनों में ₹12,000+ बन सकता है – वो भी बिना shopping किए!
📌 3. Overlimit Charges (जब आप limit से ज़्यादा खर्च करते हो)
💡 What is it?
अगर आपने अपनी credit limit cross कर ली, bank charges an overlimit fee.
💸 Typical Charges:
- 2.5% of the overlimit amount
- Minimum ₹500 – ₹600
Hindi Example:
आपकी limit ₹50,000 है और आपने ₹52,000 खर्च कर लिए, तो overlimit चार्ज लगेगा ₹500 – ₹700 के आसपास।
📌 4. GST on Credit Card Charges
💡 What is it?
All service charges (late fee, interest, processing fee, etc.) attract 18% GST.
Hindi Reminder:
₹500 का late fee लगेगा, तो GST मिलाकर ₹590 हो जाएगा!
📌 5. Cash Withdrawal Charges (ATM से cash निकालना)
💡 What is it?
अगर आपने credit card से ATM में जाकर पैसा निकाला, तो bank charges:
- 2.5% – 3% of amount withdrawn
- Minimum ₹300
📌 Plus, interest starts immediately, no interest-free period.
Hindi Tip:
Emergency के अलावा card से cash निकालना avoid करो – बहुत महंगा पड़ता है।
📌 6. Foreign Transaction Fee (International Spend)
💡 What is it?
International websites या countries में card इस्तेमाल करने पर markup fee + conversion charges लगते हैं.
💱 Standard:
- 2.5% – 3.5% of transaction value
- Plus GST
Hindi Example:
आपने $100 swipe किया = ₹8,400 approx
Final debit होगा ₹8,650 के आसपास (markup + GST मिलाकर)
📌 7. Annual/Renewal Fees
💡 What is it?
कुछ cards हर साल renewal fee लेते हैं — unless waived off on reaching spending limits.
💳 Typical Range:
- ₹500 – ₹5,000
- Premium cards like HDFC Infinia or Axis Magnus charge ₹10,000+
✅ Waiver possible if you spend ₹1L – ₹5L/year depending on card
Hindi Tip:
Lifetime free card लो या spending waiver वाले card choose करो!
📌 8. EMI Conversion Charges
💡 What is it?
अगर आपने कोई purchase EMI पे convert किया:
- Processing fee: ₹99 – ₹500
- Interest rate: 12% – 18%
- Foreclosure fee (अगर जल्दी बंद करना चाहो): 2% – 3%
Hindi Insight:
No-cost EMI भी कई बार hidden interest या GST लेकर आता है — terms ज़रूर पढ़ो।
📌 9. Card Replacement or Reissue Fees
💡 What is it?
Card lost या damaged होने पर reissue charge लगता है:
- ₹100 – ₹300
Some premium cards offer free replacement.
🧾 Summary Table: All Charges at a Glance
| Charge Type | Typical Amount |
|---|---|
| Late Payment Fee | ₹400 – ₹1,300 |
| Interest (Finance) | 30% – 42% p.a. |
| Overlimit Fee | 2.5% of exceeded limit |
| GST | 18% on all service charges |
| Cash Withdrawal Fee | 2.5% – 3% + interest from Day 1 |
| Foreign Markup | 2.5% – 3.5% |
| Annual Fee | ₹0 – ₹10,000+ |
| EMI Processing Fee | ₹99 – ₹500 |
| Replacement Fee | ₹100 – ₹300 |
🔐 Bonus Tips to Avoid These Charges
✅ Always pay full bill before due date
✅ Don’t cross 30–40% of your credit limit
✅ Avoid withdrawing cash via card
✅ Turn off auto-save on risky websites
✅ Set SMS/email alerts for all transactions
✅ Use lifetime free or cashback cards
Hindi Mantra:
Card se फायदा तभी होगा जब आप उसपर control रखो – नहीं तो charges silently जेब खाली कर देंगे।
🏁 Final Thoughts: पढ़ो, समझो, फिर swipe करो
Most people lose money on cards not by shopping — but by ignoring charges.
So stay aware, stay updated, and treat your credit card like a financial tool, not a trap.
Hindi Wrap-Up:
Card swipe करना आसान है – लेकिन bill समझ के भरो, वरना bill आपको बहुत महंगा पड़ सकता है।
