Is The Clubcard Pay+ Worth Getting?

Last week Tesco opened the Clubcard Pay+ to the general public after a series of trials last year. The card is a prepaid debit card that you can load via bank transfer on the app. But is it any good for collecting points? Read on to find out!

The Clubcard Pay+

Clubcard Pay+ is a prepaid Visa debit card with no annual/application fees. To top it up you simply make a transfer from your bank account in the app. In Tesco, it acts as your ‘normal clubcard as well as a debit card and you get the standard earning rate of 1 point per £1. Outside of Tesco, you will earn 1 point per £8. There is a 2.75% FX fee so unfortunately, it is no good for travelling abroad and you won’t receive points on ATM withdrawals, payments to financial institutions e.g. credit card bill or gambling to name a few examples. You can learn more about the card here – https://www.tesco.com/zones/clubcard-pay-plus

For the first 100 days, you will earn an extra 1 Clubcard point for every £1 spent at Tesco or in a Tesco garage. So you’d be earning 2 Clubcard points per £1 spent at Tesco or in a Tesco garage.

What does the Clubcard Pay+ earning rate translate to in rewards?

Remember 1 Clubcard point doesn’t necessarily equal 1p worth of rewards so the earning rate isn’t as poor as you might think (still not amazing though!)…

First 100 days at Tesco/Tesco Garage

2 Clubcard points per £1 which equals…

2p off your Tesco shop
5 Virgin points
6p worth of Hotels.com vouchers
6p worth of Best Western vouchers

If you shop at Tescos the first 100 days is an interesting proposition as you’d be receiving up to 6% back on your spend if redeemed for Hotels.com or Best Western vouchers. Even 5% back with Virgin points (we value Virgin points at 1p. How to value your own?) is pretty good!

Tesco/Tesco Garage

1 Clubcard point per £1 which equals…

1p off your Tesco shop
2.5 Virgin points
3p worth of Hotels.com vouchers
3p worth of Best Western vouchers

Everywhere else

1 Clubcard point per £8 (0.125 per £1) which equals…

1p off your Tesco shop (0.125p per £1)
2.5 Virgin points (0.3125 Virgin points per £1)
3p worth of Hotels.com vouchers (0.375p per £1)
3p worth of Best Western vouchers (0.375p per £1)

You can view all of Tesco Clubcard’s travel-related partners here – https://secure.tesco.com/clubcard/travel

Clearly, the maths doesn’t work if you have any reward-based credit card. You are much better off using a traditional Clubcard alongside your credit card when shopping in Tescos BUT it might make sense if you make regular substantial payments that can only be made by debit card. One such example is HMRC, if you don’t have a Curve metal card (£150 annual fee with £10K monthly limit) The Clubcard Pay+ is the only way you can earn points on your VAT, PAYE & self-assessment bills.

Conclusion

The Tesco Clubcard Pay+ is a useful thing to have in your arsenal of point collecting tools, particularly if you make regular substantial payments that can only be made by debit card. You can read more about The Tesco Clubcard Pay+ on the website here – https://www.tesco.com/zones/clubcard-pay-plus