Tesco Clubcard holders have been furious to discover that the grocery giant is changing one of its popular loyalty perks and many have taken to social media to complain that they will be losing out after the move takes effect in June.
More than 20m people hold a Clubcard, collecting points every time they shop instore or online or use a Tesco filling station. But the retailer has sent emails to customers telling them that it is reducing the value of Clubcard vouchers when they are spent with Rewards partners such as theme parks, cinemas and restaurants from June - and the fact that this is the second reduction in value in five years has not gone unnoticed with shoppers.
However there are a couple of tricks Clubcard members can still do to maximise the value of the perks in the cost of living crisis.
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The changes affect shoppers who exchange their Clubcard points for voucher codes to spend with Tesco's Reward Partners, such as Pizza Express or Legoland. The original scheme allowed shoppers to boost their vouchers' value by either twice or four times, but that was reduced to a standard three times the value in 2018, which also sparked storms of protest at the time.
But from June 14, Clubcard vouchers will only be worth twice their value if exchanged at any of Tesco's Reward Partners and the move has been met with anger, with shoppers branding the move an insult to customers, saying they are not fooled by the grocer's explanation for the change.
A Tesco spokesman told This Is Money: "We are making a change to how members can use their vouchers with our Reward Partners, but they will still be able to unlock great value in the same range of ways as before."
However, there are a few things you can do to buy more time if you act quickly:
1. Exchange your points before June 14
When you swap your Clubcard points for Rewards vouchers, they usually expire after six months. However, Tesco is extending this for an additional six months leading up to 14 June, so any Reward Partner codes ordered before this date will continue to be valid for 12 months from the date of issue. So make sure you swap vouchers for a Reward code by 11.59pm on 13 June, and you'll be able to use the code for a year.
2. Make sure you choose the best deals
According to MoneySaving Expert Martin Lewis, the best deals include:
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Disney+ subscription – 3x value
Martin says: "Every £8 in Clubcard vouchers gets you a three-month subscription to Disney+ (normally £7.99/month, so you're getting three times the value). You'll get a code that's valid until 10 August 2023. So if you already have a subscription, you can wait till it expires then use the code." -
Restaurant vouchers, including Pizza Express, Prezzo – 3x value
Martin says: "A fab deal if 2for1s aren't available. Every 50p gives £1.50 to spend when dining at restaurants, including Bella Italia, Cafe Rouge, Pizza Express, Prezzo and Zizzi. There's a range of restaurants to choose from, and at 3x value it's a good swap to boost a family meal out – but only if no other decent deals are available for that restaurant as Clubcard vouchers can't be used on top." -
Railcards – 3x value
Martin says: "Can be good as discount codes are now rare, and railcards get a third off train travel. £1 in Clubcard vouchers becomes £3 to spend on an annual railcard. Railcards get you a third off most rail travel in the UK, and this is a decent discount on the upfront cost." -
Hotels.com – 3x value
Martin says: "Can mean a significant discount on huge range of hotels. £5 in Clubcard vouchers gets £15 in Hotels.com vouchers. This is a good way to cut down the cost of travelling, providing you can't find a cheaper deal elsewhere." -
Cinema tickets - 3x value
Martin says: "Swap 50p in vouchers for £1.50 towards a Cineworld or Picturehouse cinema ticket. Cinema tickets have become increasingly expensive in recent years (typically £10+ depending on where you are), so this is a strong deal – and if you're a regular at the flicks, the savings can soon add up."
3. Check if you have any lost vouchers
There's an easy way to get back the last two years of unused vouchers if you've lost of forgotten about them. Here's how to check:
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Log in online. Log in to the Tesco Clubcard site (you'll need your email address, password and Clubcard number)
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Check for unspent vouchers. Click on 'my Clubcard account' and then 'vouchers' and you should see a table listing the vouchers you still have to spend.
- Print vouchers or use the codes online. If you want to spend vouchers online, you simply need to use the code listed. To spend in store, print vouchers yourself to use instantly.
4. Extend all of your Tesco vouchers
There's a way extend your Clubcard vouchers beyond their standard two-year expiry date if you're saving up for something:
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Make a small purchase on the Tesco Clubcard site: The remaining balance is credited back to your Clubcard account as points.
- They'll then be reissued as new vouchers: The new vouchers will have an expiry date up to two years in the future when you next get a batch. So if you spend £1 on a £10 voucher, you'll get £9 as new vouchers.
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