We asked Get Ahead readers to send in their opinions on the credit card vs debit card debate. Here are a few responses from readers about their credit card experiences:
'How I use my credit cards smartly'
I personally feel that one should keep only two credit cards at a maximum -- Master and Visa, preferably co-branded.
I have a Citi Indian Oil card which I use to fill petrol only. It gives me reward points which entitle you to fill free petrol worth the points you have accumulated. Another card I am having is ICICI HP card, which I don't use to fill petrol, but ICICI has better penetration in the market than any other bank. ICICI cards come with lots of offers floating around in the market -- like converting your purchases into EMIs without paying any interest on that.
Another smart move I think I made in the recent past is that I had HDFC Gold card, which I have got upgraded into HDFC Health Plus card, which comes with a free personal medical insurance of Rs 50,000 for the primary cardholder as well as for the add-on card holders of more than 18 years of age. Additionally, by paying a one-time fee of Rs 99 I have obtained a Petro card along, which entitles me to fill petrol from 'any' petrol pump without any surcharge for all transactions of more than Rs 400.
-- Inder Vaid
'Credit card is not for long-term borowing'
It's a tool, as The Business Telegraph has put it, is meant for managing a 'short-time-cash flow-mismatch' and not for long-time-borrowing. I believe it indeed, barring an unfortunate experience of defaulting payment even though I was not actually a defaulter.
I had to pay fine despite all my arguments. It was with ICICI Bank, my banker as well as credit card issuer. The cheque was retraced a month later at their custody but I was not allowed the remission.
-- Chitta Basu
'We cannot blame the credit card company for our mistakes'
With regards to the question that credit cards are silent killer, I would like to say that when one is using the credit card, s/he has to see to it whether s/he will be in a position to settle the bill without payment of interest charges.
I personally do use 4 credit cards, and till date I have not paid any single rupee as interest on credit. It all depends on how well you judge the things. Having credit card in hands does not mean you can get everything that you want.
It's just a facility given by us to purchase goods and merchandise on credit and settle the bill. For the mistakes which the card user makes, we cannot blame the credit card company for it; what they are doing is their duty by charging interest on outstanding balances.
If we are able to do the things of our own side correctly then there will not any problem arising due to credit cards.
-- Balakrishnan Iyer H
'Who said cards are silent killers?'
I am a frequent traveller who travels once in 3 months spending about Rs 2,00,000 on each trip.
I've 4 credit cards, each one with its own speciality. Most of the travel related websites offers promotions on specific periods and I choose if I've to use the Visa or Mastercard.
For instance, ABN Amro gives 2 % Cash back on all purchases.
Moreover one of them is cash back card on all purchases of 2 %, so even if there is no promotion, I get benefited out of it. One of them is a co-branded one and I exchange my rewards points toward fuel. The Other 2 are used as back-ups for promotionals and mostly travel sites offer 20% Cash back on the base fare, either it is air travel or Hotel. So it really makes sense for me and I really earn money using cards. When I do a booking for Rs 5000, I get Rs 1,000 back after the stay or travel.
But Beware, you should always pay the full amount before the due date as the rate of interest is crazy and it is not worth.
So simple, Credit Cards can be used, safe and secure as long as you take care, and you just need to be smart to use it and now I am looking forward to apply a co-branded card with an Airline tie-up in order to accumulate the points quicker! Who said cards are silent killers? If you think they are and succumb to their tactics then it is your fault; else it is the consumer who wins.
-- Prabhu D
Also read: 'Credit cards are sugar-coated posion' Credit cards: 'A beautiful tool to manage cash' 'Credit cards are silent killers'
Disclaimer: This is a reader-driven feature. The views expressed by the readers are their own, and not that of Rediff.com. Rediff.com has not altered the material presented here and does not endorse it in any way.
Reader invite: Dear reader do you have an opinion on the debit card vs credit card subject? What do you think is more convenient to use and what are the pros and cons of using each of them? Share your experiences of using credit cards and/ or debit cards with getahead@rediff.co.in, and we will feature the best entries right here.