New Rule at Westside: Pay an Extra ₹49 for Credit Card Transactions – Know the Details
Latest News from Westside: Westside, a retail brand under the Tata Group, has introduced an additional charge of ₹49 for customers who pay using a credit card at its stores. This policy comes into effect on October 8, 2026. It is important to be aware of this charge before your next shopping trip.
How much extra will you have to pay for credit card transactions?
Customers shopping at Westside stores will now be required to pay an additional ₹49—over and above their bill amount—when using a credit card. According to information provided on the company’s official website, this charge has been in effect since October 8, 2026. The fee is applied to every credit card transaction, regardless of the total purchase amount.
In other words, whether a customer spends ₹1,000 or more, an extra charge of ₹49 will be levied for any payment made via credit card. Notably, the company’s notice does not specify a reason for the introduction of this charge.
Why are charges applied to credit card payments?
When a customer makes a payment using a credit card, the merchant may be required to pay fees to banks and payment service providers. This is known as the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR). The credit card payment process involves various entities, including the card-issuing bank, payment providers, and card networks.
Some businesses pass this cost on to customers by levying an additional charge. This fee can be a fixed amount or a percentage of the total purchase value; however, Westside has not provided a specific reason for the ₹49 charge in its notice.
What is the RBI’s stance on credit card charges?
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has not issued any specific directives regarding the imposition of charges on credit card transactions. However, this does not mean that every additional charge imposed by a merchant is automatically permissible. The terms and conditions agreed upon between banks, payment companies, and card networks may also be relevant.
The rules are different for debit cards. In December 2017, the RBI issued a directive requiring banks to ensure that merchants do not pass the burden of the Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) for debit cards on to customers. These directives came into effect on January 1, 2018. It would be incorrect to assume that the same rules apply in the exact same way to credit cards.
What should customers do?
Before making a payment via credit card at Westside, customers should carefully check the total bill amount. If a charge of ₹49 is being applied, they may ask the store for an explanation. Customers can also inquire about alternative payment options and clarify whether any separate charges would apply to those methods.
