Most people look at exactly one number on their credit card statement: the amount due. That is how banks in India earn thousands of rupees a year from customers who believe they are paying on time.
Line What it means Total amount due Everything billed this cycle. Pay this to owe zero interest Minimum amount due Usually 5% of the balance. Paying only this starts interest on the rest Statement date The day the cycle closed Payment due date Usually 18–20 days later Credit limit / available limit Used limit affects your CIBIL score
The trap: paying the minimum due is not paying on time in any meaningful sense. The remaining balance revolves at 3.5–3.8% per month, which is 42–45% a year, and every new purchase loses its interest free period until the balance clears.
Each line has a transaction date, merchant description and amount, with CR marking a credit or refund. Things to look for:
Merchant names you do not recognise (possible fraud or a forgotten subscription billed under a parent company name) The same amount on the same date every month — that is a subscription Duplicate charges from the same merchant minutes apart Small ₹1 or ₹2 entries followed by large ones — a common card testing pattern
Finance / interest charge — on any revolved balance and on all cash withdrawals from day one Late payment fee — up to ₹1,300, plus interest Over limit fee — around 2.5% of the excess Cash advance fee — 2.5%, minimum ₹300–₹500 Forex markup — about 3.5% on international spends, including foreign websites and dollar billed subscriptions Dynamic currency conversion — an extra markup when a foreign merchant bills you in rupees GST at 18% — charged on every fee and interest amount above