Martin Lewis issues urgent Tesco Clubcard alert you don’t want to ignore
The Money Saving Expert (MSE) team, headed by Martin Lewis, is back with a Tesco Clubcard warning that you have just days to act on.
It comes just days after Lewis, who founded MSE way back in 2003, issued important advice on the true cost of our energy bills after the energy price cap fell again.
And with the holiday season right around the corner, he's also here to tell us why we should think twice before using our bank cards abroad.
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Lewis also known for his polls over on X, with one recent one sparking a fiery debate among his followers.
In his latest MSE newsletter, sent to subscribers this morning (29 May), Lewis issued an urgent alert when it comes to anyone with a Tesco Clubcard.
And it is a big one, worth a combined £44 million for all those impacted by the changes afoot.
Two day warning
The MSE newsletter warns that Tesco Clubcard vouchers worth a combined £17m are set to expire on Friday (31 May).
It doesn't end there. There's also £27m in something called Reward Partner codes that will expire.
These are vouchers that have exchanged with Tesco to spend at third-party retailers.
"If you've got a Tesco Clubcard, check when your vouchers are due to expire as you've only days left to spend or extend nearly £17 million's worth before they run out on Friday, 31 May," MSE says.
"In addition, more than £27 million in 'Reward Partner' codes - vouchers that have been exchanged to spend at various third-party retailers - are set to expire."
When do my Tesco Clubcard vouchers expire?
Any Tesco Clubcard voucher that is issued has a period of two years to be used. After that, they are no longer valid.
MSE says: "To check online, go to the Tesco Clubcard website, select 'Clubcard account' and then 'Vouchers'.
"You'll need to be registered for a Tesco.com account and must know your Clubcard number, which is printed on Clubcards and Clubcard key fobs. You should then be able to see a table listing your available vouchers and their expiry dates.
"To check on the app, open it up (download it free from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store if necessary), then go to 'Clubcard' and then to the 'Vouchers' section."
Reward Partners to double your money
This is a nifty trick to seemingly make money out of thin air.
Let's set the scene. 100 points on your Clubcard equates to a £1 voucher to spend in Tesco. But if you opt to spend with a Reward Partner, that 100 points becomes £2.
There's a tonne of places to spend this, such as Disney+, Fitbit, Thorpe Park, railcards, BrewDog and cinemas.
Don't want to spend yet? All is not lost
Despite Friday being the cut off for £44m of vouchers and Reward Partner codes, you could be able to extend the deadline by another two years if you're lucky.
"Technically, under the Clubcard T&Cs, Tesco can refuse a Reward Partner order if it decides you're trying to game the system by redeeming vouchers just to extend their validity - but we tested the trick at MSE Towers this month and it worked just fine," MSE says.
Following the following pointers to have a go at extending your vouchers:
- Make a small purchase on the Tesco Clubcard Rewards page (not in store or on other Tesco pages), or donate to one of its partnered charities.
- Swap points for vouchers manually, or wait for them to be converted with your next statement.
- There's no minimum spend, but the aim is to fork out as little as possible. A good option might be a 50p restaurant voucher (worth £1 at your chosen restaurant).
As as a final reminder, if you do nothing, your vouchers will disappear after 11.59pm on Friday, 31 May.
Topics: Tesco, Martin Lewis, Money, Shopping, UK News
Tom Earnshaw