Prepaid money card for NI residents

motorguy

Money_Grabber13579 said:

The whole scheme is an absolute waste of money anyway, but guess after RHI, we should expect nothing less…

Exactly what benefit is the scheme going to provide to the local economy when the majority of the funds will be spent in Tesco and end up lining the pockets of shareholders, the majority of which won’t live in NI (or maybe even in the UK)? It should be for local businesses only, so that the money remains in circulation in the local economy.

Like you, i'm not sure i see any point.  People are shopping anyway, and for every £100 spent theres likely only a £10 net profit for the business anyway.   Granted if 100 people came in to your store and did that, then thats a decent amount, but will they be buying something they wouldnt have bought anyway?  And as you say the bulk of people will talk in to Currys or some other big conglomorate and buy something with it and any benefit will be sucked out of the economy anyway.

donnac2558

Here is the latest announcement.   They are now coming in September.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-58012540

donnac2558

Well, now launched, and strangely the only bar is shopping online.   So you can shop in supermarkets, and anywhere that has a card machine.

I got my email this morning saying I had been verified, and my card would follow in a few weeks as it had to be made.  Oh, and not to contact them as I would get a card.

Mnoee

Yep, people have already pointed out that you could buy a gift card for online shopping in a supermarket. There's absolutely nothing in place to stop that. 

My plan is to have a nice meal out, as I know that independent restaurants were really mucked around having little notice of when they could open - and it's an industry I've worked in so I know a weekends worth of food being binned is a big deal. 

There's not many independent shops in my town, and those that do exist are for hobbies and interests that aren't my kind of thing. 

guiriman

Already there's a few shops offering a bonus if you spend it with them, worth all of the NI community keeping an eye out locally for these so we can start a thread with a sticky to list them in a week or so once cards start arriving. Noticed the WeAreVertigo will give you £150 if you spend it there, Secret Garden in Dundonald the same and there's some stove place will count it as £200 if you spend over a grand

avoniel

Binkys restaurant Belmont Road is giving 20% off your bill when you pay with prepayment card 
Salty dog Bangor will give you a free cocktail each when purchasing a 2 course meal. 

motorguy

avoniel said:

Binkys restaurant Belmont Road is giving 20% off your bill when you pay with prepayment card 
Salty dog Bangor will give you a free cocktail each when purchasing a 2 course meal. 

Nice one RE: Salty Dog.  Will look up Binkys also.  

motorguy

JJ Donnellys Menswear Downpatrick offer just popped up on Facebook.

Copied from the offer-

Option 1: Spend your £100 with us and get an extra £20 credit.
Option 2: Spend just £50 of your £100 pre-paid card with us and get an extra £10 credit.

The pre-paid cards can also be used to purchase gift vouchers which do not have any expiry date so you therefore have longer to spend your money.

qwert_yuiop

Anyone listen to Steven Nolan this morning? Give the £100 to charity.

donnac2558

I have read a number of people going to buy pet food and give it to animal charities.   So I imagine you can do that with human groceries too.

Seems you have to use a pin with the card.