Can I buy a hearing aid on EMI?
Yes. At Fairfield Hearing Clinics you can pay for hearing aids in monthly instalments (EMI) through Bajaj Finserv — with the Bajaj Finserv Insta EMI Card or a Bajaj consumer loan — over 3, 6, 9 or 12 months, with no-cost EMI on selected tenures, subject to Bajaj Finserv’s approval. You can also use EMI on an eligible credit card. Bajaj Finserv charges a one-time processing fee, and a new EMI Card has a joining fee, so the total you pay is a little more than the price of the hearing aids. This guide shows exactly how much more.
What is the total cost of a hearing aid on EMI?
The total cost of a hearing aid on EMI is:
Total = price of the hearing aids + interest (if any) + GST on the interest + processing fee + card joining fee (if you need a new card)
On a no-cost EMI, the interest part is paid for you, so the total is the price plus the fees. On a regular EMI, you pay interest as well, and on credit-card EMIs GST at 18% is charged on that interest [4]. Always ask for the total amount payable in writing before you sign.
What does “no-cost EMI” really mean?
“No-cost EMI” means you do not pay the interest yourself — the seller or the brand pays it to the lender for you. The loan itself is not interest-free. India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India, has said that in “zero per cent interest” schemes “the very concept of zero percent interest is non-existent”, because the interest is usually recovered some other way, for example through a processing fee or a smaller discount [2]. The RBI asked banks to make sure any discount on a product is passed on to the buyer directly [2].
So a no-cost EMI can still have costs:
- a processing fee charged by the lender (Bajaj Finserv charges one; the amount is shown in your loan summary);
- on credit cards, GST on the interest — even when the interest itself is paid for you [3][4];
- a joining fee if you need a new EMI card.
Personal-finance journalists have shown how this adds up: on a ₹1 lakh purchase, a no-cost EMI cost about ₹1,700 extra in fees and GST in one worked example, against about ₹10,700 extra for a regular EMI [3].
How does Bajaj Finserv EMI work at Fairfield?
Bajaj Finserv EMI at Fairfield works in five steps:
- Hearing test and written quote. You choose the hearing aids, and we give you the price per ear and for both ears in writing.
- Bajaj Finserv check. Bajaj checks your eligibility online with your PAN and Aadhaar (KYC). Its EMI Card is for Indian citizens aged 21 to 70 with a regular income, and approval is at Bajaj Finserv’s discretion [1].
- Choose the tenure. 3, 6, 9 or 12 months; we tell you which tenures are no-cost at the time.
- See the total and sign. The loan summary shows the EMI, the number of instalments, the processing fee and the total payable. Check it before you sign.
- Take your hearing aids home. The EMIs are paid automatically each month from your bank account.
Bajaj Finserv’s published charges for the Insta EMI Card include a joining fee of ₹530 (including taxes), no annual fee, and a foreclosure charge of nil on no-cost (non-interest) schemes — 4.72% applies only to interest-bearing schemes [1]. Late or bounced payments have their own charges, listed on Bajaj Finserv’s fees page [1].
How much will I pay on a no-cost EMI? (worked example)
On a no-cost EMI you pay the price of the hearing aids divided into equal instalments, plus the fees. Here is an example for a pair of hearing aids with an agreed price of ₹1,20,000 for both ears (an example only — your price depends on the model):
| 6 months, no-cost | 12 months, no-cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly EMI | ₹20,000 | ₹10,000 |
| Total of EMIs | ₹1,20,000 | ₹1,20,000 |
| Bajaj processing fee | as shown in your loan summary | as shown in your loan summary |
| EMI Card joining fee | ₹530, only if you need a new card [1] | ₹530, only if you need a new card [1] |
| Total you pay | ₹1,20,000 + processing fee (+ ₹530) | ₹1,20,000 + processing fee (+ ₹530) |
No-cost EMI is offered on selected tenures only. If you choose a tenure that is not no-cost, interest is added — ask us to show you both totals.
How much will I pay on a regular credit-card EMI? (worked example)
A regular credit-card EMI adds interest, and GST at 18% on that interest. For the same ₹1,20,000 at an example interest rate of 15% a year (your bank’s rate may differ):
| 6 months | 12 months | |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly EMI | ₹20,884 | ₹10,831 |
| Total interest | ₹5,304 | ₹9,972 |
| GST on interest (18%) | ₹955 | ₹1,795 |
| Total you pay | ₹1,26,259 + any processing fee | ₹1,31,767 + any processing fee |
If your card offers a no-cost EMI at the time, the interest is usually given back to you as an upfront discount, so the EMIs add up to ₹1,20,000 — but the bank still charges GST on the interest (about ₹955 for 6 months in this example), plus any processing fee [3][4].
Which way of paying is the cheapest?
Paying the full amount at once is always the cheapest, because there are no fees or interest. After that, a no-cost EMI is cheapest — you pay only the fees. A regular EMI with interest costs the most, and the longer the tenure, the more you pay. Choose the shortest tenure whose monthly amount you can afford comfortably.
Can my elderly parents get EMI?
Your parents can apply themselves if they meet Bajaj Finserv’s conditions, including the age limit of 21 to 70 years and a regular income [1]. If a parent is over 70 or has no regular income, a working son or daughter can take the EMI in their own name for the parent’s hearing aids. See our guide to affordable hearing aids for elderly parents.
CGHS beneficiaries can also use EMI: you pay for the hearing aids, and then claim the CGHS reimbursement (up to ₹30,000 per ear) under its rules — see CGHS hearing aids.
What should I ask before I sign an EMI?
Before you sign any EMI, ask these questions:
- What is the total amount payable, including every fee?
- Is this tenure no-cost, or is interest charged? At what rate?
- What is the processing fee, and is GST charged on it?
- Is there a joining fee for the card?
- What are the charges if a payment is late or bounces?
- Can I close the loan early, and is there a charge?
- Is the price of the hearing aids the same as if I paid in full?
At Fairfield we put the cash price and the EMI total in front of you side by side, so you can decide calmly. Book a free hearing test, or see the hearing aid price list for the MRP of every model per ear.
References
[1] Bajaj Finserv. Insta EMI Card — fees and charges (joining fee ₹530 including taxes; no annual fee; foreclosure 4.72% on interest-bearing schemes, nil on non-interest schemes; eligibility 21–70 years). bajajfinserv.in · How does no-cost EMI work? bajajfinserv.in
[2] Reserve Bank of India. Circular RBI/2013-14/292, DBS.CO.PPD No.3578/11.01.005/2013-14, 17 September 2013 — “zero percent interest” schemes. rbi.org.in
[3] Business Today. No-cost EMI: popular, available but misunderstood — expert busts myths, hidden charges, risks (6 December 2025). businesstoday.in
[4] SBI Card. Pay in EMI — terms and conditions (GST at 18% on the interest component; processing fee). sbicard.com
