Tesco delays plans to change Clubcard rewards scheme following outcry

Tesco has delayed changes to its loyalty rewards scheme, following an angry reaction from its customers and consumer groups.

The supermarket chain wrote to millions of Clubcard users earlier this week, informing them it had “simplified” its rewards scheme.

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The changes, originally were due to come into effect without notice from this Monday, would involve ending deals which offered customers twice the value and four times the value of their vouchers with partner firms such as PizzaExpress and Cafe Rouge.

Instead, cardholders would be offered three times the face value of their vouchers as standard.

But outraged shoppers argued that they stood to gain less for their points, with those hoping to get four times the value of their vouchers at attractions such as London Zoo missing out.

Consumer group backing

On Wednesday the UK’s largest supermarket chain backpedalled after coming under pressure from customers and the consumer group MoneySavingExpert to review its policy.

Customers have since received emails stating:

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Over the last few days, we’ve listened to feedback from our customers who said they want more time to adjust to these changes, so we’ve delayed them until 10 June 2018. Which means you can still redeem your vouchers at 4x their value until then at tesco.com/clubcard/boost.

“The issue here isn’t the change in itself, Tesco has every right to do that, but the fact it was implemented without notice – that was unfair and left many people missing out on £50 or more,” said Martin Lewis, founder of the group.

He added: “Tesco had seriously misjudged the mood here, especially as by definition those hardest hit were its most loyal customers.

“The fact it has backtracked is good news for its customers, and for its own reputation, as many were talking about changing where they shop after this.”

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Tesco has around 16m active Clubcard customers, according to figures released at the chain’s half-year results announcement, and more than 100 scheme partners.

A version of this article originally appeared in our sister publication, the I