This feature of the Freedom Credit Card actually dons the role of a regulator. To be precise you regulate your own spending habits through your card. A limit can be set by yourself on how much you can spend through your card. In other words, the Freedom Credit Card holder assigns a limit for himself. This is a flexible option since if you have an idea of your limited resources during a certain period of time, say three months. You can assign the limit you can afford to spend by just making a telephone call to the Bank by Phone Executive, who will reduce the limit. In case, you want the credit limit to be raised to the original level again, the same option can be followed.

The card holder can also work as a regulator of his her additional card holders, which is all the more important. The card holder can assign a specific percentage of his/her credit limit for use by each of the additional card holders like spouse, children etc. The idea is to share your finances with your kith and kin and at the same time exercise some sort of control over it. You get one free add-on card for your spouse, parents, children over 18 years dependent brothers or sisters.

Alerts: Every time your are reminded about your spending pattern, you would be able to exercise better control over your impulse to spend. This is extremely essential in the fast-paced modern scenario in which you hardly get time to go a routine check of what your spending limit is and how you have utilized your credit card. Active Alerts of the Freedom Card is essentially a service which keeps you updated on yourself in the form of friendly e-mails and SMS at regular intervals. These friendly messages would highlight the key transactions you have made. So the reminder about your spending it self works as a check against a probable impulse to overspend.

At the end of the year, many people wouldn’t have the time to do an analysis of what, where and how you have spent your money. The absence of this is the reason why many people end up abusing rather than using their credit cards. The Year-end Statement Summary of the Freedom Credit Card offers you exactly the pattern of your spending during the year. It provides a consolidated categorized summary of your spending vis-à-vis, food clothing, jewellery etc. The scientific analysis helps you spend better, for sure.

The Freedom Card gives 50 days of interest free credit on your purchases, with a rider that you pay your outstandings in full. The card holder also can pay in installments by remitting 5% of the total outstandings each month and opt for payment of balance in installments which suit you. But this is not applicable to cash advances taken through credit card.

Outstanding balance on any of your current credit cards can be transferred at 1.49% per month (rate valid only for six months).

Cash can be accessed at 30% of your credit card limit from any ATMs. A transaction fee of 2.5% will be applicable on all cash withdrawals. A finance charge will also be applicable from withdrawal date to settlement date for cash advances.

In case you have insufficient funds for a draft, you can make a draft on credit through phone banking. This can be used to make payments even to places that do not currently accept credit cards.

Moreover you earn bonus points every time you use the card. This can be exchanged for exclusive gifts including card renewal fee. Use the card for Rs 100 and get 2 points.

Discounts of up to 3% on domestic travel and 5% on international travel an be availed with the card for tickets brought through SITA World Travel. Discounts in select hotels also come with the card.

A car rental discount of 15% can be availed when you rent a car from Hertz. The global calling card allows you to make international phone calls. The billing will come in you monthly statement. You pay in Indian Rupees.

Insurance cover is another attraction. While the actual cost is Rs 360, for air mishaps you get Rs 6,00,000. For an actual cost of Rs 45 you get 1,00,000 for other mishaps.

In case you Freedom card is lost or stolen, while you are abroad the Mastercard Global Assistance would provide you emergency cash or even an emergency card. The Freedom card comes to you at an annual fee of Rs 595.

ABN AMRO SMART GOLD CARD

Smart Gold earns you 2 bonus points for every Rs 100 you spend. If it sis an international transaction you earn 3 points for Rs 100. The points can be converted to smart miles and redeemed against free tickets. The smart miles programme allows you to get the flexibility of flying any airline to any destination. The redemption is also against full fare as well as apex fare. This can be used for part payment of fares as well as hotel stay. You pay the rest with your ABN Amro Gold Card. The same is applicable for purchase of mechandise.

Smart Reward points can be redeemed at select BPCL outlets also. Accumulate 500 smart reward points for a re-fill. The petro-plus plan offers you 0% surcharge in any pumps in the country. Smart Gold card also various privileges in select hotels in India & abroad, apart from brand discounts.

Get a free add-on card for your loved one. In case you need 2 additional cards pay an annual fee. The card offers higher limit than what you are eligible. Smart Gold Card also offers interest free credit for 50 days. Make a part payment of 5% of the total amount (minimum Rs 200) and balance installments. You can withdraw cash up to 30% of your credit limit.

Smart Gold Card offers free personal accident insurance.

For loss of life in air mishap you get Rs 15 lakh and other mishaps Rs 5 lakh. For lost or damaged baggage you get up to Rs 10,000. For flight delay in excess for 12 hours and delayed baggage in excess of 12 hours after check in you get Rs 10,000. Loss of passport may fetch you up to Rs 10,000. A car rental discount of 20 % can be availed through the card when you rent a car through Hertz. A 3.5 % discount on domestic air fares and 5% discount on basic international fares also await you.

International telephone calls at extremely competitive rates will be available overseas, through the MCI WorldCom global calling card. Billing is through monthly Gold Card and payement can be made in Indian Rupees.

Smart Gold Card also offers you complimentary snack and non-alcoholic beverages in international airport lounges in India, in association with Oberoi Airport Service and WelcomGroup Airport Operations in Mumbai, Kolkata, Cochin, Chennai and Delhi airports.

BY A CORRESPONDENT