£17 million of unspent Tesco Clubcard vouchers expire in May

How to use your Tesco Clubcard vouchers before they expire - and how to extend them

tesco clubcard
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Shoppers are being urged to check the dates on their Tesco Clubcard vouchers after it emerged that £17 million of unspent vouchers will expire at the end of May.

The vouchers, which can be used to top up fuel, pay for days out or buy household goods can help take the edge off the cost of living, yet thousands of households will miss out unless they use them soon.

The unused vouchers were issued in May 2020 and will expire on 31 May 2022.

The supermarket giant said redeeming forgotten Clubcard vouchers would help customers 'spend less and get more for their money' - especially as fuel prices remain high and food prices soar.

Clubcard holders earn a point for every pound spent with Tesco. The points are then converted on vouchers which can be used to pay for groceries at the till or swapped for three times their value via Tesco’s Clubcard Reward Partners such as Pizza Express and Cineworld.

Tesco says the £17 million of vouchers expiring in May was enough to fill up nearly 200,000 family cars.

Here's everything you need to know about using your Tesco Clubcard vouchers before they become worthless.

How can I check if I have unclaimed vouchers?

Tesco says the easiest way for customers to access their vouchers is to download the Tesco Grocery & Clubcard app. Clubcard members can also log into their account on the Tesco website to check how many points they have and whether they have any unspent vouchers.

If you are unable to access your account online, you can call Tesco Clubcard customer service on 0800 591 688

The supermarket says it will contact affected customers via email - if it has their contact details - to remind them to use any vouchers that are about to expire.

Where can I spend Tesco Clubcard vouchers? 

Tesco Clubcard vouchers can be spent in-store or online with Tesco - including at the supermarket’s filling stations - with each point worth 1p. This means if you have 500 points, you’ll get £5 in vouchers.

But shoppers can get more for their money by exchanging them with a Clubcard Reward Partner, where they can triple in value. From zoos and theme parks to flights and breakdown cover, there are more than 100 partners to choose from.

So, £10 of vouchers is worth £30 at Bella Italia, or £8 of Clubcard vouchers could buy you a three-month Disney+ subscription (worth £24).

Other Reward Partners include RAC, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club, Hotels.com, Alton Towers and Colchester Zoo.

Alternatively, Clubcard vouchers can be donated to charity, such as the British Red Cross or food bank charity the Trussell Trust.

About 20 million people have a Tesco Clubcard. Members can get exclusive deals in the supermarket thanks to the “Clubcard Prices” scheme, as well as earning vouchers. Tesco Bank customers can also collect points when using a Clubcard Pay+ debit card.

Can I extend my Tesco Clubcard vouchers?

Tesco Clubcard vouchers are valid for two years. While it’s not possible to extend the expiry date on them, there is a way to get some of the points refunded back to your account, giving you longer to spend them.

The trick is to make a small purchase on the Tesco Clubcard website. For example, use a £5 Clubcard voucher to spend 50 pence on Legoland Windsor Resort admission. The £4.50 change will then be credited back to your Clubcard account in points.

The points will be reissued as new vouchers in the future, which will be valid for another two years.

I’ve lost my Clubcard vouchers. What should I do? 

If you’ve lost your paper vouchers, don’t panic. You can still access them in the Tesco Grocery & Clubcard app or by signing into your Clubcard account online. All of your active vouchers will be listed; it doesn’t matter if you’ve lost the paper versions.

Likewise, it doesn’t matter if you’ve damaged the paper vouchers as you can use the online vouchers instead (or print them out from your online account and take them with you if you prefer to spend paper vouchers in-store).

Ruth Emery

Ruth Emery is contributing editor at The Money Edit. Ruth is passionate about helping people feel more confident about their finances. She was previously editor of Times Money Mentor, and prior to that was deputy Money editor at The Sunday Times. A multi-award winning journalist, Ruth started her career on a pensions magazine at the FT Group, and has also worked at Money Observer and Money Advice Service. Outside of work, she is a mum to two young children, a magistrate and an NHS volunteer.