Co-op shoppers have ’21 days’ before points will be lost

The current scheme allows customers to earn 2p in ‘Member Rewards’ every time they spend £1 on Co-op branded items or services

MoneySavingExpert (MSE) has urged Co-op customers to do one thing in the weeks ahead, following an update from the supermarket. The deadline for this is Tuesday, December 31, meaning there are just 21 days left to act.

The site’s financial gurus explained last week: “If you’re a Co-op loyalty scheme member, check now if you have any cash left on your rewards balance, as any unused amounts will expire on Tuesday 31 December…Instead of the rewards, you now get discounts on your shopping through Co-op’s “Member Prices” scheme, plus personalised offers based on what you buy.”

The current loyalty scheme, which ends on New Year’s Eve, allows customers to earn 2p in ‘Member Rewards’ every time they spend £1 on Co-op branded items or services. But these cash discounts will be unavailable from 2025, meaning that any accumulated points will be lost if not used.

In its place, shoppers will benefit from ‘Member Prices’, which the supermarket describes as ‘limited deals’ available on select products in Co-op food stores. Its terms of service add: “Member Rewards have no cash value and you cannot swap Member Rewards for money.

“To spend your Personal Member Reward, you must present your Membership card or give us your Membership number when you pay (depending on which Co-op business you’re buying from).” You can view your current Member Reward balance by looking at a Co-op shopping receipt and by using the supermarket’s app or website.

Shoppers can spend points in Co-op Food stores or on legal services, like making Wills, Advised Lasting Power of Attorney or funeral care. Another option is donating points to local causes supported by the supermarket’s Local Community Fund.

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“The local cause may be in your community or located in another community,” the terms of service adds. “When we first register you as a Member or you change your address we’ll automatically assign you to a community based on your postcode.

“When you log on to your Membership account, you’ll see a list of causes you can choose from. You can only choose one cause at a time. By the end of the funding period (October 2024, but we may change this at any time) we provide a grant to each cause (or arrange for a third party to pay) in the Local Community Fund, depending on the amount of funding available in their community and the number of members that choose them.

“At the start of each funding period we’ll let you know about the new causes available to choose from.”