What Happens To Your Loyalty Points When You Die?

Most of like a bonus or cashback and hence we collect loyalty points from multiple places and throughout a lifetime the points we collect can have significant value. So I bet you’ve not thought about what happens to your unclaimed loyalty points when you die?

Each year it is reckoned we build up £5.7billion through loyalty schemes. So as you can see there’s a considerable sum which can be lost on death.

Over 90% of people are unaware they can pass on loyalty points after death, so let’s look at how the bigger schemes deal with loyalty points after death has occurred.

Sainsbury’s Nectar Card

The Nectar Card can be used at over 450 different retailers.  Whilst they make it clear that any points accumulated are “personal to the Nectar account and cannot normally be transferred”, they do allow points to be passed on death. Their rules say that “points can only be transferred from a Nectar Account to another Nectar Account on death or divorce if adequate evidence of the legal division of points is given to us.” Sainsbury’s have said they assess what needs to be done on a case by case basis, which may mean just providing a copy of the death certificate. The nominated beneficiary needs to get in touch with Nectar directly if they wish to transfer the loyalty points collected by a deceased relative.

 

Tesco Clubcard

With a Tesco Clubcard people get allocated points for their in-store or online purchases as well as for any fuel they buy.  In their terms and conditions they state “Members may inherit the points or vouchers of a family member who has died by providing a written request informing us of the membership details of the deceased.” All that anyone needs to do is to write to Tesco’s Customer Service Centre to close the account and request for the points to be transferred to their existing Clubcard or a new one. They need to include the member’s name, address and Clubcard number.

 

Boots Advantage

The Boots Advantage Card is one of the longest-running loyalty schemes and gives customers points for their instore or online purchases.  They allow the points of the deceased to pass to a nominated beneficiary once their Customer Care Team have been notified.

Avios

Avios, a British Airways scheme, allows members to collect points for flights, online shopping and hotel visits. The points can then be spent on flights with the International Airlines Group, hotels and car hire. Their terms and conditions clearly state that “Membership will terminate automatically… Upon the death of a Member. Any Avios points, Tier Points and Lifetime Tier Points accumulated by that Member but unused at the time of death shall be cancelled.” However, it seems if they are , British Airways upon the death of a relative, they have transferred the points without any issues.