Tesco. What are they up to?

gustav

We had a letter from Tesco today, advising that we are being upgraded to a Platinum MasterCard.
Not sure why they're doing this, and whether to decline their kind offer.
We put all our spending on the current Tesco Visa Card, but always pay the balance off every month. We only do this for the AirMiles, and it costs us nothing.
So they dont currently make any money from us, so not sure why we are so honoured?
Maybe I'm just paranoid!

mervyncp

Yes. I've had the same letter.

The suspicious side of me thinks there must be something they're not telling us.

I'm also alittle bemused that the platinum card will be a Mastercard and the current one is a Visa. What's that all about??

Xbigman

I had this last year. Just phone up and tell them you don't want it. You might get some cobblers about a manager needing to change the account back but stick to your guns and don't let them push what you don't want on you.
Regards



X

TetrisX

I don't think this is anything sinister. Halifax are doing the same thing, replacing Visa cards with Mastercards. I believe that has something to do with Bank of Scotland having Mastercards as the default?

I checked the Tesco site and the cards are provided by Royal Bank of Scotland, which although not the same as Bank of Scotland, may be performing a similar change to Visa cards only?

Just a theory that happens to fit the facts! I am sure the reason will be confirmed.

Anthony_MK

I've had the same letter, I called them to cancel and told him it was because I didnt thnk the mastercard offered clubcard deals, he want sure and said it was best to stick with Visa in that case....

gustav

... Halifax are doing the same thing, replacing Visa cards with Mastercards. I believe that has something to do with Bank of Scotland having Mastercards as the default?

So is Visa going to be abandoned eventually?

Not sure I ever saw the need for two similar systems anyway.

Isnt Mastercard accepted in more overseas places than visa?

stevewilliams_2

Hi,

I have also received this letter and pay off my balance in full each month. Is there a simple answer to this?

Stick with Visa or change to MasterCard?

Are there any benefits either way?

Thanks in advance

mm66

visa has better protections and lower charges as a card issuer from our perspective. mastercard is offering cheaper deals to issuers to get them to shift to them. so we should stick to visa and not let the issuers make even more money while slashing our benefits

Xbigman

If you change cards types then you get a new card number. Which might or might not matter to you.
Regards


X

sunny_money_2

0845 number to cancel up to 4p a minute on landline , how many people will query the upgrade , nice money spinner for tesco !!!

JasonLVC

Just called the 0845 number. It's all automated, took about 30 seconds. Just enter in your visa number and bob's your uncle.

I don't like companies I do business with changing things and assuming it's okay by me. Why not just send me a flyer saying 'move to Mastercard, here's the benefits', rather than this fait a complis?.