Nectar points problem

pyramidls

Hello,
Not sure if this is the correct board for this thread or not.
I have collected some 23,000 nectar points worth £115 but have been unable to spend them.  Sainsburys told me to contact nectar and when I tried to create vouchers on ebay it says that I need to contact the primary cardholder to request permission to spend points.
I contacted nectar who told me that I was a secondary cardholder and that I needed the primary cardholders permission to spend points.  I didn't realise this and it turns out that the primary cardholder is an ex partner who I have had no contact with for over 10 years.  I explained to Nectar that I have had no contact with her for over 10 years and had no way of getting in touch with her.  I asked them to contact her but they said that they couldn't contact her.as it was against policy.  I asked them If I could open a new account and then they could transfer the points to the new account but again they said that they couldn't do that as it was against policy.  I asked them what they could do to resolve the problem and they basically said nothing.
I found Nectar customer service very useless and unhelpful.  I asked for an email address for the complaints department and she just said that I could leave feedback on the website!

Has anyone else encountered this problem and been able to solve it.  It seems ridiculous that I have collected all these points and yet have no way of being able to access them and spend them.
I would be grateful for any help with this.
Thanks

retiredbanker1

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but you have no claim on these points at all. Doesn't the statement go to his address? Did you not notice her name on the account at all?
Strange also that all new cards issued in last 10 years have come to you?

Flip this over though - you are under no obligation to pay anything back on the card since the responsibility and liability rides with the principal cardholder!

My advice - get your own card in your own name.

mebu60

No idea how they distinguish who is primary / secondary. My partner has one of my Nectar cards and happily uses it to get the Esso petrol discount.
Perhaps try buying something inexpensive that you need from Sainsbury's and pay for it with Nectar points using your card. If that works you can at least redeem some benefit that way by spending them in-store.
I am presuming that your ex-partner is not still using the account.
You'd hope that there is a process to resolve this type of situation in the unfortunate situation of a primary holder dying. 

sheramber

It would appear your ex partner has pprevented you from spending the points

https://www.nectar.com/about/privacy-and-legal/collector-rules#:~:text=Anyone issued with a Nectar,is not authorised to redeem.

Anyone issued with a Nectar Card for a Nectar Account can redeem points from that account for any available Reward, unless the Primary Collector notifies us a particular Additional Collector is not authorised to redeem.

Slinky

retiredbanker1 said:

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but you have no claim on these points at all. Doesn't the statement go to his address? Did you not notice her name on the account at all?
Strange also that all new cards issued in last 10 years have come to you?

Flip this over though - you are under no obligation to pay anything back on the card since the responsibility and liability rides with the principal cardholder!

My advice - get your own card in your own name.

I think the OP is talking about a Nectar loyalty card, not a credit card. These don't have an expiry date on them, therefore new cards not needed unless requested.

Slinky

sheramber said:

It would appear your ex partner has pprevented you from spending the points

https://www.nectar.com/about/privacy-and-legal/collector-rules#:~:text=Anyone issued with a Nectar,is not authorised to redeem.

Anyone issued with a Nectar Card for a Nectar Account can redeem points from that account for any available Reward, unless the Primary Collector notifies us a particular Additional Collector is not authorised to redeem.

I'm guessing that the ex partner has no knowledge of these points being on the card, given there's £115 of them. Surely they'd have spent them themselves before now.