Tesco and Sainsbury's issue loyalty card points warnings
Tesco and Sainsbury's are both urging customers to act as they risk losing out on points earned on Clubcard and Nectar cards.
While the old Nectar Connect scheme ended in late 2023, 2026 shoppers must now focus on the 'Activity Rule' to protect their balances.
Do Nectar points expire?
Nectar points do not have a fixed expiry date, but your account can be closed and points wiped if you do not earn or spend at least one point in a rolling 12-month period. To keep your account active, ensure you scan your app or card at Sainsbury’s, Argos, or eBay at least once a year.
In an email to users, Nectar wrote: “We wanted to let you know that Nectar Connect is coming to an end on 27 October – this is the last date you can collect points on Nectar Connect offers.”
Take a look below to read more about how Nectar points work.
Do Tesco Clubcard points expire?
Tesco continues to issue Clubcard vouchers in February, May, August, and November each year, and the 'two-year rule' still applies in 2026—meaning, vouchers expire exactly 24 months after they were issued. For example, any vouchers earned in summer 2024 must be used by the upcoming May or August 2026 deadlines, as appropriate. You can check your specific expiry dates in the 'Vouchers' section of the Tesco Grocery & Clubcard app to ensure your rewards don't go to waste.
At Tesco, shoppers get one point for every £1 spent in-store and online, and vouchers are issued once a customer hits 150 points. (And you can turn points into vouchers manually in the app starting from as little as 150 points.)
As of 2026, the standard exchange rate for Clubcard points remains twice (2x) their in-store value when spent with Reward Partners like Disney+, the RAC, and English Heritage. While the old 'triple value' (3x) offers are a thing of the past, Tesco occasionally runs seasonal 'Power-Up' events where specific partners—often in the dining or travel sectors—return to 3x value for a limited time. Always check the app before redeeming to see if a 'Power-Up' is active.
How do Nectar points work?
Nectar card holders can collect points when shopping with participating retailers. The scheme is most associated with Sainsbury's, which also offers cardholders discounts on hundreds of items in its supermarkets when they scan their card at the checkout — these are known as 'Your Nectar Prices'.
You earn one point per £1 spent in-store at Sainsbury's, and one point per litre of fuel at Sainsbury's petrol stations and Esso.
Each Nectar point is worth 0.5p when spent at Sainsbury's, but some redemption options offer significantly better value—most notably the Esso fuel discount.
As of February 2026, swapping 300 Nectar points (worth £1.50 at the Sainsbury's checkout) gives you 5p off every litre of fuel at participating Esso stations. The discount applies to the first 60 litres per fill, meaning you can save up to £3 on a 60-litre tank—effectively doubling the value of your points compared to spending them in-store. There is a minimum fill of 10 litres to qualify.
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