How I Lost a Credit Card Trying to Get One
An upgrade journey that ended in subtraction.
There’s a certain kind of confidence that comes with upgrading a credit card.
It feels like a small step up — better limits, better perks, better… access to airport lounges you may or may not use.
So I did what seemed reasonable.
I tried to get a better one.
It started well.
There were conversations.
There was movement.
And, more importantly, there was assurance.
“It’s in progress, sir.”
“Approval is done.”
“We’ll initiate.”
At that point, I wasn’t just hopeful.
I was planning.
Then came the process.
Not a process.
More like a collection of philosophical ideas loosely connected by follow-ups.
Every few days:
“Any update?”
And every time, there was one.
“We’ll re-initiate.”
“It’s a long process.”
“Without invite it’s difficult.”
“But we’ve got approval.”
This was my first introduction to the concept of:
Schrödinger’s Credit Card
Approved and not initiated at the same time.
Documentation added depth to the experience.
My PAN card, for instance, turned out to be quite selective.
Valid for some things
Not valid for others
Valid if signed
Not valid if photocopied
Possibly valid depending on mood
I began to suspect the issue wasn’t the document.
It was me not understanding its personality.
But the real turning point was subtle.
At some point, I stopped being excited about the new card
and started getting tired of the process.
And when that happens, you start simplifying.
“Let’s not proceed with the card.”
A simple message. No drama.
And then, in a moment of quiet clarity (or frustration, depending on how you look at it), I did something unexpected.
I closed my existing credit card.
So just to recap:
I started with one credit card.
Tried to get a better one.
And ended up with… fewer.
If you think about it, it’s quite efficient.
No upgrade.
No confusion.
Just subtraction.
The interesting part is not the outcome.
It’s what the process tells you.
Because getting something should feel like movement.
Not like maintenance.
Somewhere between “approval” and “re-initiation,”
I realised something simple:
If something this small can’t be taken to closure,
it’s worth thinking about how larger things would be handled.
The new card may still happen someday.
Maybe it’s still in progress.
But for now, I have one less card,
and one more story.
