Tesco delays Clubcard cuts after outcry

TESCO is delaying changes to its Clubcard rewards scheme after an outcry from customers who objected to a cut in the value of their vouchers without warning.

The UK’s largest retailer said it had listened to customer feedback and decided to delay the introduction of the changes until June 10.

Under the scheme, spending at the tills earns shoppers points that can be used for money off groceries, or vouchers for chains including Pizza Express. Some can be used for up to four times their value.

But Tesco wrote to its 16 million Clubcard customers earlier this week to say it was ‘simplifying’ the scheme from January 15 by offering three times the value of their vouchers with more than 100 partners as the standard offer.

It said it was ending the deals which offered twice the value and four times the value – including some of the most popular, such as meals at Prezzo and Zizzi.

Customers reacted with anger, with one tweeting: ‘We had £89 saved up in vouchers – worth £356. Now they are worth £267. No advance warning, really, really poor.’

Anika Newjoto, the editor of the shopperpoints.co.uk website, said Tesco’s original move devalued the scheme and did not give customers time to spend their saved vouchers at the old rates.

She said: ‘Loyalty schemes are meant to work two ways, not one way.

‘If a shopper gives their business to a store based on the promise of certain rewards, it is totally unfair for those rewards to be taken away or reduced in value with absolutely no notice.’

Tesco said any customers who had already redeemed vouchers at three times the value ‘will not lose out’ and should contact its customer service centre.