Best credit card for bill payments under ₹40,000 annual fee

Tip from someone who made this mistake: never max out the credit limit in the first 6 months. Banks track utilisation, and high utilisation right after approval often triggers a credit limit decrease or even an account review.

Credit score impact: each hard inquiry (which happens on card application) drops your score by 5-15 points temporarily. Applying for 3 cards in 2 months is fine IF you get all 3 approved. If 2 get rejected, you've taken a hit with nothing to show for it. Apply smart, not fast.

On the annual fee — most premium cards waive it if you spend ₹1.5L to ₹3L in the previous year. Wallet loads (Paytm, Amazon Pay balance) usually DON'T count. But utilities, fuel, and grocery do. Spend pattern matters more than absolute number.