Credit Card News & Update - ICICI Bank iShop Times Black, Axis Airtel, HDFC Tata Neu, Zomato, Swiggy

Welcome back to our deep-dive review, where we unpack recent devaluation moves and fee additions across a range of financial and lifestyle services. From ICICI’s latest portal fees and credit‑point devaluations to Airtel’s new utility payment charges, Tata Neu’s revamped cashback links with Zomato, and Swiggy’s pared‑down Lite benefits, there’s plenty to cover. 

ICICI iShop & Times Black Credit Card Updates

ICICI iShop Devaluation

ICICI’s iShop portal has quietly aligned its convenience‑fee structure with HDFC SmartBuy by introducing a 2.95% (2.5% + GST) processing fee on Amazon voucher purchases—a clear shift from no‑fee redemptions to nearly 3% charges that eat into your reward value.

ICICI Times Black Credit Card Devaluation

The ICICI Times Black Credit Card, once lauded for 1 Reward Point (RP) = ₹1, now sees 1 RP = ₹0.60—a 40% cut that drops your maximum 12% portal‑back benefit to just 5.4% net after fees. With competing offerings like SBI Cashback, HDFC Swiggy, and HSBC Live+ delivering 5% back without portal gimmicks, it’s worth re‑evaluating your go‑to premium card.

Airtel Thanks App Utility Payment Update

Usage Fee for Utility Bills

The Airtel Thanks app has added a ₹48.5 usage fee for an electricity bill payment of ₹3911 made with the Airtel Axis card—previously, such payments were usage fee‑free.

• Bill Amount: ₹3911

• Usage Fee: ₹48.5

• Total Paid: ₹3959.50

• Cashback (10%): ₹250

• Net Benefit: ₹201.5

Even after the new fee, Airtel Axis users still net ~8.7 to 8.8% on such spends—but remember the 10% cashback on utility payments is capped at ₹250/month (i.e., up to ₹2,500 spend only) Airtel. Non‑Airtel Axis cardholders may find this fee outweighs the benefit, as most alternate portals now levy similar charges.

Tata Neu Car Revaluation & Zomato Offer

Tata Neu has linked its card ecosystem with Zomato via direct cashback credited to your Zomato Money wallet (not NeuCoins) on all orders, capped at 10% back.

• NeuCard Infinity: 10% back with code NEUCARD10

• NeuCard Plus: 5% back with code NEUCARD5

If you’re a frequent Zomato user and hold Tata Neu cards, these targeted codes can maximize your savings.

Swiggy Lite Benefit Devaluation

Swiggy has quietly scaled back its Lite‑level perks for Swiggy One members, mirroring Zomato’s earlier changes:

• Instamart Surge Charge Fee Waiver: Raised from ₹199 to ₹399

• Free‑Delivery Radius: Shrunk from 10 km to 7 km

• Coupon Applicability: Many ₹149 coupons now require orders ≥ ₹249

• Dineout Pre‑booking Fee: Flat ₹149 in some cities

• Minimum Bill for Dineout Benefits: Now ₹3,500 (₹4,000 for Infinia) up from lower previous limits.

These layered devaluations signal that Swiggy is prioritizing its BLCK tier; regular users should weigh alternatives or adjust ordering habits.

Key Takeaways & Next Steps

• Portal Fees Matter: Convenience fees on voucher portals can erode up to 40% of your reward value—always calculate net returns.

• Cap‑Aware Planning: Keep track of monthly cashback caps (e.g., Airtel Axis’s ₹250 utility cap) to avoid unexpected fee drag.

• Promo Codes & Ecosystems: Leverage targeted codes (NEUCARD10/5) to unlock maximum cashback within closed loops like Tata Neu + Zomato.

• Membership Review: If premium delivery memberships (Swiggy One/Zomato Gold) no longer align with your needs, consider downgrading or pausing renewals.