SBI Card is India's second-largest standalone credit card company with over 1.9 crore active cards. While SBI Card is known for relatively transparent fee structures compared to private banks, it still carries several charges that customers regularly dispute — from late fees to fuel surcharges and annual fee waivers. Here is the complete breakdown.
SBI Card's late payment fee schedule — lower than HDFC/ICICI for most brackets:
How to dispute: Call 1800-180-1290 (toll-free) or 39020202. First-time waivers are routinely approved. For written disputes email customercare@sbicard.com and cite RBI Master Direction on Credit Cards 2022, Clause 8.
SBI Card offers spend-based annual fee waivers. Common thresholds by card:
Check your annual spend in the SBI Card app under "My Account." If you met the threshold and were still charged, email customercare@sbicard.com with your spend summary as proof.
SBI Card charges 3.5% per month (42% annually) — slightly lower than HDFC and ICICI. Like all banks, interest applies on the full statement balance if you pay less than the total due. SBI Card must disclose the APR on every statement and notify you 30 days before any rate change.
A 1% surcharge applies on fuel transactions at petrol stations across India. Many SBI cards — including the BPCL SBI Card and SBI Card PRIME — offer fuel surcharge waivers for transactions between ₹500 and ₹4,000. If your card offers a waiver and you were still charged, this is a disputable charge. Check your card's terms for the specific waiver conditions.
SBI Card also offers protection and insurance add-ons. Like HDFC and ICICI, these are sometimes enrolled without clear opt-in consent during welcome calls or via pre-ticked forms. If you find a recurring monthly charge from "SBI CARD SHIELD" or similar on your statement without having actively enrolled, file a dispute immediately.
How to dispute: Call SBI Card helpline and ask for cancellation + proof of your enrollment consent. Under RBI Master Direction Clause 10, the bank must produce this. If they cannot, you are entitled to a full refund from activation date.
SBI Card charges 2.5% (minimum ₹500) for cash advances, with interest from day one at 3.5% per month. Failed ATM transactions where your account was debited are refundable within 5 business days (RBI mandate). If not refunded, you are entitled to ₹100/day in compensation.
SBI Card tip: SBI Card's grievance resolution is faster when you quote your complaint reference number in follow-up communications. Always note down the reference number during your first call or email, and use it when escalating to the Nodal Officer. SBI Card's Nodal Officer email is significantly more responsive than general customer care.
Time limit: All disputes should be filed within 30 days of the charge for best results. Annual fee waiver disputes must be filed within the same billing cycle. For protection plan refunds, you can claim up to 6 months retroactively.