ICICI Bank is India's second-largest credit card issuer with over 1.7 crore active cardholders. Its CardSafe and i-Secure add-on products are among the most disputed charges in Indian banking. This page documents every hidden or frequently contested ICICI credit card charge, the exact amounts, and how to dispute each one.
ICICI Bank's late payment fee structure:
How to dispute: Call 1800-200-3344 and ask for a goodwill waiver. First-time waivers are standard for customers with a clean history. For written disputes, email headservicequality@icicibank.com citing RBI Master Direction on Credit Cards 2022, Clause 8.
ICICI's CardSafe and i-Secure plans are India's most complained-about credit card add-ons. They are frequently enrolled during the card welcome call or via a pre-ticked checkbox on the welcome email — neither of which constitutes explicit opt-in consent under RBI rules.
Look for charges labeled "CARDSAFE", "I-SECURE", "CARD ASSURE", or "ICICI LOMBARD" on your statement. If you find these and did not actively enroll, you are entitled to a full refund from the activation date under RBI Master Direction, Clause 10.
How to dispute: Call ICICI customer care and demand the cancellation date and proof of your enrollment consent. If they cannot produce the consent recording, demand a full refund. File written complaint at headservicequality@icicibank.com. Escalate to cms.rbi.org.in after 30 days if unresolved.
ICICI charges 3.75% per month on revolving balances. Like all Indian banks, interest is applied on the entire statement balance — not just the unpaid portion — if you pay less than the full amount due. ICICI must disclose the APR on every statement and cannot change rates without 30 days' notice.
ICICI offers spend-based fee waivers on most cards. Common thresholds:
If you met the spend threshold, request your annual spend summary from ICICI iMobile and compare against the waiver condition.
ICICI charges quarterly SMS alert fees on some card variants. Under RBI guidelines, basic transaction alerts above ₹5,000 are mandatory and cannot be separately charged on standard accounts. If you are being charged for alerts on a basic savings-linked credit account, dispute this charge.
ICICI charges 2.5% on amounts exceeding your credit limit. If you were not told about the overlimit facility at the time of card issuance — or never opted into it — the fee is disputable under RBI Master Direction Clause 9.
ICICI-specific tip: ICICI's "Head Service Quality" email is taken more seriously than the general customer care line. When writing, mention the specific product name (e.g., "CardSafe"), the exact amounts charged, and the dates — this gets significantly faster response times than vague complaint emails.
Time limit: Dispute charges within 30 days for best success rates. CardSafe / i-Secure refund claims can go back up to 6 months from the date of complaint. Don't delay.