Tesco Fuel Save

TM6

I have posted this over on the Frugal Living Challenge 2014 thread but I feel this needs shouting about, hence a post just dedicated to Fuel Save

Enjoy!

Tesco Fuel Save

With thanks to barafear799 over on PTS

Tescos are launching a new promotion tomorrow nationally having trialled it in Wales and Norwich.

Quote from barafear799 - training rec'd in Tesco at the weekend.
It was very much stressed that this is not a promotion but is ongoing and is costing Tesco a huge investment.

So what is Fuel Save?

For every £50 you spend at Tesco, you’ll earn 2p off a litre of fuel when you fill up at a Tesco petrol filling station. Build up your savings over a number of shops, and you'll get an even bigger saving on your fuel

So how does it accumulate?
Every shop counts, even the smallest ones. Anything from a pint of milk to a weekly shop can save you money on fuel. So if you spend £100, you’d get 4p a litre off, if you spend £150, you’d get 6p a litre off and so on. As long as you scan your Clubcard, each shop adds up to save you money on fuel. Your savings can also be combined over a number of shops so you can get an even bigger discount on your fuel – as much as 20p off a litre.

How is it different from other fuel offers?
Tesco Fuel Save isn't a one off offer; it's an ongoing scheme. Every shop you do can earn you savings, no matter how small.

More info here

http://www.tesco.com/fuelsave/

For those of us that buy 3V cards for 150 points, this is a no brainer as we will not only get 150 clubcard points but also 2p off a litre too.

With careful planning, I can see myself buying a minimum of £500 of 3V cards a month which will give me 20p off a litre of fuel AND 1500 points.

Will put it into my YNAB for budgeting

no1catman

Yes, it seems like being a good scheme. One thing to be aware of though - as it says for every £50.00 - so your end figure at the end of the month (that you can then use before the end of the next month) - needs to be in multiples of 2p. That is if you have 9p at the end of the month, that will get rounded down to 8p.


So the amount for information purposes will rise as per £25.00 but the end of month spend must divide by £50.00


Also, it is only in-store or GHS, not Tesco Direct.

mummyroysof3

I've had a leaflet with my delivery from tesco today

ktk

Could someone explain the 3V thing and how that works with Tesco? It sounds like a good deal, but is new to me. Thanks!

TM6

For a clear explanation of what 3V cards are and how to get the best out of the offer please read this thread over on PTS

http://www.paidtoshop.co.uk/showthread.php?t=79564

ktk

The link didn't work for me. Can anyone explain?

Quietmanc

Apparently you have to be a member of paidtoshop to view it.Also,the Tesco fuelsave scheme is only 'ongoing' till Sept.30th 2014 according to Tesco e mail today.

bubbs

Yes did say till 30th sept and im also sure it said not on gift cards:(

TM6

ktk wrote: »

The link didn't work for me. Can anyone explain?

Ah, of course, I am a member of the forum.

I'll cut and paste

**** 12.12.13 - 3V no longer working to pay into NS&I. Some also saying they can't get them to work on Council Tax****

Tesco are offering 150 points when you spend £50 on gift cards. This applies to all gift cards except Tesco branded ones.

The exciting cards are the Visa branded ones, as these can be paid into an NS&I Direct Saver account. The 3V cards are fee free, so potentially offer FREE points.

Here is the guide - I'll update this page with any new info or changes or if I've forgotten anything!

1. What is a 3V?
It is a Visa prepaid card. They come in multiples of £25


2. How do I use it?
You need to register at https://www.3vprepaid.com and then you enter your cards into the website. Each time you register one they send an email with expiry date (a year after purchase) and CVV code which is the 3 digit code that you will be asked for when using the card

3. How long do I have to use it?
Less than a year, towards the end of the year they start to deduct fees. Read up on the 3v website.

4. Can I use 3v in shops?
No it's an online only card.

5. How is the best way to use this card for points?
Buy in multiples of 2 which earns 150 points for every two. If you buy 4 in one transaction you get 300 points. It is recommended you ask the sales assistant to sub-total between each card and don't buy more than four in each transaction. See 'problems buying 3V' in next post.

6. NS&I, what is that?
National Savings. Open a Direct Saver account online, see next post for how long it takes and the usual process. You can then pay your 3V cards into this. Within a fortnight you can have the cash back in your bank. **** 12.12.13 - 3V no longer working to pay into NS&I. Some also saying they can't get them to work on Council Tax****




Best practice is only buy in transactions of 2 or 4. Ask the SA to subtotal each card and wait till it registers before scanning the next. It has also been stated that they can swipe the card down their monitor and that this is quicker. If a card comes off at the end it should issue a 'card not activated/activation not successful' slip. Any cards activated should produce an activation slip confirming that card has successfully activated. Do not leave the store unless you have one of these for each card.

If there are subsequent problems you will need to return to the store, and more than likely see a manager. Some people have been refunded by the store scanning random goods to the value, other stores have managed to activate the cards subsequently, but these seem to be in the minority.

To get problems into context - I have activated over 200 cards and to date not had any problems once I have left the store. I have had cards refuse to activate in the store though.

Once bought, you have to register an online 3V account and register your cards. It basically creates a big list of cards in your account showing the amount remaining on each.

You can open a 3V account online instantly. Easiest way is to enter the first 3V number on https://www.3vprepaid.com and it will ask you for your details. Note the limit is £1625 before you need to send verification, BUT if you sit and enter a huge batch of cards in one sitting, without getting logged out, it appears to be endless (although once logged out the next card attempt to enter will fail with a 'suspended' message). I was up to £1200 then managed to enter nearly 100 cards in one sitting, so over £3500 on an unverified account!

Once suspended you can still spend the cards. You just can't activate any more until you verify your account.

To get an unlimited open account you need to send documents to 3V

"We will need to receive the documents ONLY via post:

(A) Evidence of name and residential address must include copies of any two (2) of the following:

* Original Utility Bill within the last three months (not a mobile phone bill)
* Bank or Building Society statement (not a credit card) - within the last three months
* Local Authority Rating Invoice - within the last three months
* Inland Revenue Communication - within the last three months


(B) A certified copy of your current passport or driver’s license.

Send a copy of your passport or driver’s license that has been signed and stamped by:
o The staff of a post office,
o The staff of a banks, a building society or a Credit Union authorised by the Financial Ombudsman,
o A Chartered Accountants or Certified Public Accountants
o Embassy / Consular staff, or
o The Police authority

You can only post the documents to the address below.

3V Transaction Services
PO Box 11852
Blackrock
Co. Dublin

NOTE: Any of the above certifications will only be accepted by Raphaels, if they have been certified within the past 3 month.
Forwarding the required document to us does not guarantee approval.
The information receive will undergo review and verification process."

This process can take a couple of weeks - remember Dublin is not in the UK so postage will cost more than a UK stamp.

If you have problems getting your bank to certify passport/driving license, the post office will do up to three copies for £7.50 for the lot.

Make sure you read the 3V t+c's. I don't intend to replicate all these here. If you leave an amount on a 3V card for nearly a year they start to deduct 'fees'. Don't do it - use it or pay it into NS&I ASAP.

Fee paying Visa cards

You will find silver coloured Visa cards, these have values of £50 (£3.95 fee) and £25 (£2.95 fee). The fee is added to the cost of the card. Unlike 3V, these can be used in stores to purchase goods. They can also be paid into an NS&I account. They also attract the 150 points per £50 and the Visa 100 point 'turkey coupons' work on these too (but remember if you buy two £50 cards you'll only be able to use two 100 pointers). Use of the 'turkey vouchers' is SA willing as they do state not valid on Visa branded cards.

https://www.NSandI.com

**** 12.12.13 - 3V no longer working to pay into NS&I. Some also saying they can't get them to work on Council Tax****
The cheapest way to spend these cards (no fees) is to pay them into an NS&I Direct Saver account. You can open this online, they then send you an email confirming, and a few days later a letter to sign. Then a few days later an email to confirm you are ready to go once you receive your customer number. Altogether from applying to receiving customer number takes around 10-14 days.

Note you will set up password and security questions when you initially set up the account. Keep a careful note of these as the password must have at least one capital, lower case, number and symbol.

When you pay in you do not need to put the 'from date - leave it blank. Your balance may not go up straight away but you will find these credits under 'pending transactions'. These then tend to go through to add to the headline balance in random batches within an hour or so (sometimes longer).
You need to allow around 5 working days for funds to clear and become withdrawable, then a withdrawal takes up to 3 working days to clear into your bank account. Note you must leave at least £1 in the account, this is the minimum deposit.
**** 12.12.13 - 3V no longer working to pay into NS&I. Some also saying they can't get them to work on Council Tax****

Promos

Current promo is 150 points when you spend £50 on gift cards. This is cumulative ie spend £100 get 300 points.

TM6

bubbs wrote: »

Yes did say till 30th sept and im also sure it said not on gift cards

Wrong

This is in the t&c

Qualifying spend excludes purchases of Infant milk formulae, tobacco products, fuel, prescription medicines, stamps, saving stamps, lottery, cafe, E-Top-up, money, insurance, Tesco gift cards, Paypoint and purchases from in-store concessions (including, but not limited to, Costa, Harris & Hoole, Giraffe)

I have already bought 3V cards and they are now showing as part of the conditional spend

projexe

Tesco are trumpeting a "great offer" in 'Fuelsave'.

Yet I remember the days when you spent £50 and got a voucher for 5p off petrol. In this offer you get 2p for each multiple of £50 and you have to start saving again at the end of each calendar month when your total will be wiped!

Bearing in mind the average car (say a Ford Focus) has a tank size of 53 litres (call it 50 because you'll never be bone dry), your saving is £1 per tankful on each £50 spent in store. In other words 2% discount.

Wow!

Sorry, Tesco, but it's not bringing me back from Lidl.