Tesco Clubcard is a free-to-join supermarket loyalty scheme where you can earn points as you shop. Tesco Clubcard customers can earn points on shopping in-store and online as well as when they use its fuel stations and certain other Tesco products like credit cards and mobile phones.
But Clubcard users could soon find the scheme offers less value for money. Changes to everything from the app to Clubcard points and rewards may mean customers lose out.
You’ll typically earn one point per pound spent in-store or online, and once you’ve got 150 points, you’ll get a Clubcard voucher worth £1.50. You can spend or save Clubcard vouchers, and while spending at the till means you’ll get face value, trading them in for treats can often boost their value.
Here are some of the big changes on their way.
1. Tesco Clubcard changes: when you fill up with fuel
Right now if you fill up at a Tesco filling station, you’ll earn one point for every £2 of fuel. However, from 14 June, you’ll only earn one point for every two litres of fuel.
Based on the current cost of petrol and diesel, which according to the RAC is 146.83p a litre for unleaded and 161.85 for diesel, this means you’ll need to spend around £3 or more, depending on the fuel, to get the same number of points. So, you have to spend approximately 50% more than before.
There's no way around this one – although you could always fill your tank to the brim on 13 June to make the most of the chance to earn points at the higher level.
But, if fuel prices fall to £1 a litre or less after 14 June, then you’ll be back to getting the same level of points as you are now.
2. Clubcard voucher exchange rate to be slashed
Saving up your Tesco Clubcard vouchers and swapping them for treats like cheap cinema tickets, trips to Thorpe Park, Legoland, or Pizza Express have always been a big part of the supermarket’s popular loyalty scheme.
But the boost factor when it comes to the chance to triple your points is about to be downgraded. From 14 June Tesco is slashing its triple Clubcard voucher exchange perk.
This means instead of being able to boost your points by three times their value when swapping them with over 100 of its "Reward Partners", you’ll only get double their value.
Tesco’s Reward Partners cover a range of trips and activities including Chessington World of Adventures, Ten-pin bowling and meals at Zizzi and Prezzo along with theatre tickets or subscriptions to organisations including English Heritage.
One handy tip to prolong the triple boost option is to swap your vouchers for tickets or vouchers for attractions, meals or events before 14 June. This way, as well as getting three times the value, you’ll also get a year to use them – whereas the time limit is usually only six months.
3. Tesco Clubcard app to close
If you use the Tesco Clubcard app, you’ll quickly need to download a newer version - which is called the "Clubcard and Grocery" app. This is because its standalone Tesco Clubcard app is shutting down on 18 April.
Using the current app you can view and spend your Clubcard vouchers as well as scan a digital version of your Clubcard at the checkout to qualify for cheaper Clubcard prices on certain products. Another Tesco app, Tesco Pay+, closed on 27 February. This app allowed you to store payment cards as well as Clubcard details so you could pay and earn points in one single process.
The new app is available for Apple and Android users and allows you to do your grocery shopping from the app, scan your barcode to save on groceries in-store and also to check stock in its stores before you go. Do note that even if you don’t download the new app, you won’t lose points or vouchers.
4. Tesco Mobile customers to pay more for using their phone abroad
Pay monthly Tesco Mobile customers, who joined or upgraded their pay monthly deal after 16 June 2022, will be charged to use data roaming services across Europe from 2024. While you can still take advantage of using any inclusive minutes or texts in your package when you're abroad – this change means you’ll be charged for using data in 48 European countries. That's a big change for customers who are used to checking their social feeds and using mobile maps to navigate when on holiday.
According to MoneySavingExpert, details have been written into contracts from 16 June onwards, which means you can’t switch providers without paying a penalty. If however, you joined or upgraded before 16 June, you won’t be liable for the new data charges, unless you upgrade your plan.
And if you’re a Tesco Mobile pay-as-you-go customer, you already pay for calls, texts or data use, both in the UK and abroad.
5. Tesco home delivery shoppers must spend more to avoid a fee
If you shop online with Tesco’s home delivery you’ll need to spend more to avoid a £5 penalty fee. From 2 May, if you place an order, you’ll need to spend a minimum of £50 – instead of the previous £40 minimum – or pay a £5 penalty fee.
This change comes in regardless of whether you are a "Delivery Saver" customer or not. For Click & Collect shoppers the minimum basket order is still £25.
Read more
- Best supermarket loyalty cards for saving money on your shopping
- Tesco to slash triple Clubcard voucher exchange perk
- Tesco Pay+ and Clubcard apps to close
- Pay monthly Tesco Mobile customers to see a 14.4% hike in phone bills
- Sainsbury’s Nectar card offering shoppers discounts on 300 products
- Fuel loyalty cards – how to save money when filling up your car
