Westside Charges ₹49 per Swipe: Your Card Costs More

Westside is adding a ₹49 convenience fee on every in-store credit card payment from October 8. This means swiping your card at Westside now costs extra — here's what you can do to avoid the charge.

Here's what happened: Westside, the Tata-owned apparel retail chain, will levy a flat ₹49 convenience fee on every in-store credit card transaction starting October 8, 2026.. The fee applies regardless of the purchase amount — whether you buy a ₹300 accessory or a ₹5,000 outfit, the charge remains a flat ₹49.. This move effectively shifts the cost of credit card acceptance (merchant discount rate) from the retailer onto the customer at the billing counter..

What you should do: Switch to UPI or debit card payments at Westside to avoid the ₹49 fee entirely — most UPI transactions carry zero consumer-side charges.. Calculate whether your credit card's rewards rate on apparel purchases exceeds ₹49 per visit before deciding to still swipe — most standard cards will not break even.. Check if other large retail chains in your city have introduced similar surcharges, and update your payment habit accordingly to protect your monthly budget..

RBI rules permit merchants to levy surcharges on credit card transactions — but they cannot surcharge debit card or UPI payments. Always ask at the counter before swiping.

For readers weighing their credit and loan options, our personal loan guide and CIBIL score resources put this update in context.