Diners Club Credit Cards

Diners Club cards offer a range of features, including complimentary travel insurance, 0% interest instalment plans and rewards points that can be used to redeem merchandise, air miles, and more. With several cards to choose from including charge cards and co-branded cards, there’s a card to cater to a range of needs.

Read on to find out everything you need to know about Diners Club Credit Cards.

Types of Diners Club cards

Diners Club offers a wide array of cards for different needs. Available cards include:

• Credit cards

Diners Clubs credit cards include 0% interest-free instalment plans for vehicle road tax and other eligible purchases, complimentary Diners Club lounge access at the airport, 58 days interest-free credit period on purchases when you pay your balance in full, a frequent flyer program, club reward points and travel insurance.

• Charge cards

The difference between a charge card and a regular credit card is that a charge card requires you to pay your balance in full at the end of each billing cycle, whereas with a regular credit card, you can opt to make monthly minimum payments on the balance over several months. Diners Club charge cards also offer no pre-set spending limits and a wide range of benefits, which may include higher insurance coverage.

• Co-branded cards

Through joint sponsorship with popular retail merchants, Diners Club issues co-branded credit cards that provide extra perks and rewards for cardholders that shop at these establishments frequently. For example, cardholders can earn a 5% rebate of up to S$1,000 spent per month at Sheng Siong outlets with the Diners Club/Sheng Siong Cobrand Regular Credit Card.

Benefits offered to Diners Club cardholders

• Global usage. The Diners Club network includes over 1 million ATMs and cash access locations in more than 100 countries.
• Diners Club Rewards. Cardholders can get access to hundreds of Diners Club airport and member lounges around the world, dining discounts, preferred seating at major concerts and events, international travelling offers and more.
• Over-the-counter cash advance. You can access an emergency cash advance of up to US$1,000 every 7 days at designated counters such as Diners Club offices, selected Citibank branches, participating banks and hotels worldwide.
• 0% interest instalment plans. With the Diners Club instalment plan, you can pay your vehicle road tax in 6 monthly instalments at 0% interest. Eligible purchases are also entitled to 12 interest-free monthly instalments.

The perks listed above are a non-exhaustive list of Diners Club benefits. You’ll want to check the terms and conditions of each type of card you compare, in order to understand all the benefits (and exclusions) that apply to the card.

Features of the Diners Club cards

• Annual fees. At the time of writing (June 2020), all Diners Club cards come with a first-year annual fee waiver. This applies both to your primary card and one supplementary card. Subsequent annual fees range from S$30 to S$180 for credit cards, S$15 to S$80 for supplementary cards and S$35 for charge cards.
• Complimentary insurance. Diners WorldTraveller provides travel benefits including international travel insurance, flight inconvenience compensation and transit accident insurance.
• Rewards points. For every S$1 spent on your Diners Club card, you will earn 1 Club Rewards point. You can use your points to redeem merchandise, travel, gift cards, annual fee waivers and other rewards. Rewards points aren’t capped or limited by an expiry, allowing you to accumulate and save points at your leisure.
• Interest-free payment period. Diners Club offers one of the longest interest-free payment periods among credit card providers in Singapore. Receive up to 58 days interest-free when you make a purchase on the card and you pay your account in full each month.
• Card limit. Typically, Diner’s credit card has a S$500 limit. Be aware of the high fees that apply if you exceed this borrowing figure.

How to apply for a Diners Club card

You can apply for a Diners Club card online in around 15 minutes, or by mailing or faxing with a completed application form. Make sure you meet the eligibility requirements and have all the relevant details ready for the application.

Eligibility criteria

• Age. Be between 21 to 65 years old. Certain cards, such as the Diners Club International Ace Credit Card, allow applicants above 18 to apply with a parent or guardian’s permission.
• Residential status. Singaporean citizens, permanent residents and foreigners with valid employment passes may be eligible for Diners Club cards.
• Minimum income. Different cards have different minimum income requirements. Remember to check the annual income requirement for the card you are interested in.
• Credit rating. You need to have good credit standing.

Required documents

• Personal documents. You’ll need to provide a photocopy of your NRIC (front and back) or passport. Foreign applicants are also required to submit a photocopy of a working visa with at least 12 months validity.
• Income documents. Depending on your residential and employment status, you’ll need to provide various income proof such as CPF statements, Income Tax Notice of Assessment, billing proof and computerised payslips.

Frequently asked questions

• How quickly will I get my card?

  Once you get word that your application has been processed and approved, you should receive your Diners Club card within 7 to 14 business days. If you haven’t had a response from Diners Club about the status of your application, you can call Diners Club customer service and quote your application reference number.

• How do I make a payment to my Diners Club card?

  You can pay your account using the following methods:

  • AXS network. Make your payment through any AXS self-service terminals, online, or handheld devices.
  • Internet or phone banking. DBS, POSB, Maybank, OCBC or UOB account holders can settle their Diners Club bills via Internet Banking.
  • ATM. DBS/POSB ATM cardholders can pay their Diners Club card bills at any DBS/POSB ATMs.
  • GIRO. You may set up a direct debit and choose to deduct the minimum payment (for credit and $500 limit cardholders only) or the full amount as indicated in your monthly statement from your bank account.
  • Cheque. Cardholders can mail crossed cheques using the enclosed pre-paid envelope. Write your name, card number(s) and the amount for each card on the back of the cheque.
  • Cash. You can also make cash payments directly at a Diners Club’s office.

  Your credit card statement has detailed information about how to make a payment for your Diners Club card.

• How can I order a replacement Diners Club card?

  If you lose your Diner Club card or need to get it replaced before it expires, Diners Club will issue a free replacement card and send it to you within 24 hours.

• How do I order an additional Diners Club card?

  You can order an additional Diners Club card by adding an additional cardholder when you apply. If you have already applied for a card, apply for an additional card by completing an Additional Card Application.

  Here are things to remember about adding an additional cardholder to your account:

  • The main cardholder is responsible for all spending on the account and must pay for any spending on additional cards.
  • The primary and additional cards have different numbers.
  • The card statement shows which cards completed each transaction.

• How can I get complimentary international travel insurance?

  You can get comprehensive international travel and medical insurance by meeting the following two conditions:

  • Your entire return journey has a duration of fewer than three months.
  • The total cost of the return overseas travel ticket was charged to the eligible Diners Club card account

  Any dependent children or spouses are also eligible for cover when they meet the above two conditions and are travelling with the primary cardholder for the entire journey. Keep in mind, Diners Club Singapore’s insurance coverage and policies are underwritten by AIG Asia Pacific Insurance Pte. Ltd and may be subject to change.

Bottom line

Diners Club cards offer a number of beneficial features, including 0% interest-free instalment plans for eligible transactions, a $0 first year annual fee and complimentary insurance. However, you won’t find this card to be as widely accepted in Singapore as Visa or Mastercard. Before applying, make sure to weigh up the benefits and costs of the card with other credit card options to get the most value.