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BA Avios Programme: 5,000 Bonus Avios awarded if the cardholder spends £1,000 within three months of account opening. 1 Avios for every £1.00 of qualifying spend on the card. Automatically enrolled as an Executive Club member, if not already, on account opening. If a cardholder makes £20,000 of qualifying spend in an anniversary year, they will receive a free ticket for a companion, on the same flight, when the miles are redeemed for a BA flight.
Amex Offers Exclusive discounts and offers from American Express.
BA Miles Programme: Collect 25,000 bonus Avios when the cardholder spends £3,000 on the card in the first three months. 1.5 Avios for every £1.00 of qualifying spend on the card. 3 Avios for every £1.00 the cardholder spends directly with British Airways and BA Holidays. Automatically enrolled as an Executive Club member on account opening. If a cardholder makes £10,000 of qualifying spend in an anniversary year, they will receive a free ticket for a companion, for the same flight and cabin, when the miles are redeemed for a BA flight. Valid for 24 months.
Amex Offers Exclusive discounts and offers from American Express.
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18 monthsPartnership Card Reward Programme Earning Points The cardholder will earn points on eligible purchases made at John Lewis and Waitrose at the rate of 5 points for every £4 spent. For all other eligible purchases, made at other retailers, points will be accrued at the rate of 1 point for every £4 spent. Redeeming Points Points will automatically be redeemed three times a year, with 500 points equating to £5 of vouchers, which will be sent to the cardholder. Vouchers are issued in multiples of £5. Any points that have not been redeemed will be carried forward to the next redemption period. Vouchers can be used to make purchases of goods and services at John Lewis, Waitrose, and any other locations that is advised by John Lewis.
Partnership Cardholders can take advantage of exclusive online travel & leisure offers and competitions.
Double points promotions are offered during special events at John Lewis during the year. Details can be found at www.johnlewisfinance.com Use the International Payments service to transfer £3000 or more, and receive 1,000 extra bonus points.
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18 monthsRewards Points Programme 1 point for every £1 of eligible spend within the UK and earn 2 points for every £1 spent outside the UK. Points are valid for three years Points can be redeemed in the following ways: Retail Vouchers Fine wines and champagne Donate points to charity Rewards for Miles
HSBC Premier Privileges HSBC is partnered with retailers and brands offering discounts/privileges on hotels, travel, restaurants, shopping and leisure activities.
Membership Rewards customer loyalty programme: Earn one Membership Rewards point for every full pound spent on purchases. The types of Rewards available are subject to change. Those available to the customer will be shown online at membershiprewards.co.uk. Points will give access to a range of rewards including: Shopping rewards - gift cards and vouchers. Travel rewards - access to frequent flyer and hotel reward programmes.
Amex Offers Exclusive discounts and offers from American Express.
Nectar Points: 2 points awarded for every full £1 spent on the Card Minimum of 3 points awarded for every full £1 spent with Nectar Partners
Amex Offers Exclusive discounts and offers from American Express. Annual Fee No fee in the first year. From year two onwards the annual fee will be charged.
Membership Rewards customer loyalty programme: Cardholders earn 1 point for every £1 purchase. 2 points for every £1 spent directly with airlines or in a foreign currency. 3 points for every £1 spent at American Express Travel, the Card member exclusive online travel agency. Spend £15,000 or more during any Card membership year and the card holder will earn an additional 10,000 bonus points when they renew their card. Points will give access to a range of rewards such as shopping rewards, travel rewards and entertainment rewards.
Amex Offers Exclusive discounts and offers from American Express. Annual Fee No fee in the first year. From year two onwards the annual fee will be charged.
Rewards Points Programme 2 point for every £1 of eligible spend in sterling currency. 4 points for every £1 of eligible spend in non-sterling. Points can be redeemed for vouchers to spend in certain retailers.
HSBC Premier Privileges HSBC is partnered with retailers and brands offering discounts/privileges on hotels, travel, restaurants, shopping and leisure activities.
Clubcard Points: - 5 Clubcard points for every £4 you spend at Tesco stores - 5 Clubcard points for every £4 you spend on Tesco fuel (excludes Esso Fuel) - 1 Clubcard point for every £8 you spend everywhere else Clubcard points are redeemed in the form of rewards sent to the cardholder as vouchers to be used in store.
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6 monthsM&S Rewards: 4 points are earned for every £1 spend at M&S in the first 12 months with 3 points earned thereafter. 1 point is earned for every £5 spend elsewhere. Bonus Points: 500 bonus points the first time the cardholder shops at M&S, subject to terms and conditions. From time to time M&S offer the cardholder bonus points for specific promotions, subject to availability. Redemption: Four times a year, points are exchanged for M&S Reward Vouchers to be spent in-store, at a rate of 100 M&S points = £1 M&S Reward Voucher. Points Offer In First 12 Months: Extra points on M&S spend for the first 12 months (4 points per £1 then 3 points per £ after). Terms and conditions apply.
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6 monthsM&S Rewards: 2 points are earned for every £1 spend at M&S in the first 12 months with 1 point earned thereafter. . 1 point is earned for every £5 spend elsewhere. Bonus Points: 500 bonus points the first time the cardholder shops at M&S, subject to terms and conditions. From time to time M&S offer the cardholder bonus points for specific promotions, subject to availability. Redemption: Four times a year, points are exchanged for M&S Reward Vouchers to be spent in-store, at a rate of 100 M&S points = £1 M&S Reward Voucher. Double Points: Double points paid on M&S spend for the first 12 months (2 points per £1 then 1 point per £ after). Terms and conditions may apply.
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3 monthsClubcard Points: - 5 Clubcard points for every £4 you spend at Tesco stores - 5 Clubcard points for every £4 you spend on Tesco fuel (excludes Esso Fuel) - 1 Clubcard point for every £8 you spend everywhere else Clubcard points are redeemed in the form of rewards sent to the cardholder as vouchers to be used in store.
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17 monthsStandard Nectar Points: 2 points awarded for every full £1 spent with Sainsbury's on fuel or shopping (terms and conditions apply) 1 point awarded for every other qualifying £5 spend elsewhere.
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15 monthsClubcard Points: - 5 Clubcard points for every £4 you spend at Tesco stores - 5 Clubcard points for every £4 you spend on Tesco fuel (excludes Esso Fuel) - 1 Clubcard point for every £8 you spend everywhere else Clubcard points are redeemed in the form of rewards sent to the cardholder as vouchers to be used in store.
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22 monthsClubcard Points: - 5 Clubcard points for every £4 you spend at Tesco stores - 5 Clubcard points for every £4 you spend on Tesco fuel (excludes Esso Fuel) - 1 Clubcard point for every £8 you spend everywhere else Clubcard points are redeemed in the form of rewards sent to the cardholder as vouchers to be used in store.
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20 monthsStandard Nectar Points: 2 points awarded for every full £1 spent with Sainsbury's on fuel or shopping (terms and conditions apply) 1 point awarded for every other qualifying £5 spend elsewhere.
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20 monthsM&S Rewards: 3 points are earned for every £1 spend at M&S. 1 point is earned for every £5 spend elsewhere. Bonus Points: 500 bonus points the first time the cardholder shops at M&S, subject to terms and conditions. From time to time M&S offer the cardholder bonus points for specific promotions, subject to availability. Redemption: Four times a year, points are exchanged for M&S Reward Vouchers to be spent in-store, at a rate of 100 M&S points = £1 M&S Reward Voucher.
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20 monthsM&S Rewards: 1 point is earned for every £1 spend at M&S. 1 point is earned for every £5 spend elsewhere. Bonus Points: 500 bonus points the first time the cardholder shops at M&S, subject to terms and conditions. From time to time M&S offer the cardholder bonus points for specific promotions, subject to availability. Redemption: Four times a year, points are exchanged for M&S Reward Vouchers to be spent in-store, at a rate of 100 M&S points = £1 M&S Reward Voucher.
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6 monthsPay with Rewards 10 points for every £1 spent at selected retailers. 1 points for every £5 spent spend elsewhere £2,500 reward points awarded after the first transaction. Plus spend £10,000 or more in the first year to receive 2,500 reward points. Customers can earn extra bonus reward points at a range of national brands. These offers are updated frequently, see website for details.
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18 monthsStandard Nectar Points: 2 points awarded for every full £1 spent with Sainsbury's on fuel or shopping (terms and conditions apply) 1 point awarded for every other qualifying £5 spend elsewhere.
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29 monthsM&S Rewards: 3 points are earned for every £1 spend at M&S. 1 point is earned for every £5 spend elsewhere. Bonus Points: 500 bonus points the first time the cardholder shops at M&S, subject to terms and conditions. From time to time M&S offer the cardholder bonus points for specific promotions, subject to availability. Redemption: Four times a year, points are exchanged for M&S Reward Vouchers to be spent in-store, at a rate of 100 M&S points = £1 M&S Reward Voucher.
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29 monthsM&S Rewards: 1 point is earned for every £1 spend at M&S. 1 point is earned for every £5 spend elsewhere. Bonus Points: 500 bonus points the first time the cardholder shops at M&S, subject to terms and conditions. From time to time M&S offer the cardholder bonus points for specific promotions, subject to availability. Redemption: Four times a year, points are exchanged for M&S Reward Vouchers to be spent in-store, at a rate of 100 M&S points = £1 M&S Reward Voucher.
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26 monthsStandard Nectar Points: 2 points awarded for every full £1 spent with Sainsbury's on fuel or shopping (terms and conditions apply) 1 point awarded for every other qualifying £5 spend elsewhere.
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29 monthsStandard Nectar Points: 2 points awarded for every full £1 spent with Sainsbury's on fuel or shopping (terms and conditions apply) 1 point awarded for every other qualifying £5 spend elsewhere.
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12 monthsIHG Rewards Club Points: - 2 IHG Rewards Club points for every £1 spent at any IHG family of hotels. - 2 IHG Rewards Club points for every £1 spent abroad. - 1 IHG Rewards Club point for every £1 spent on purchases elsewhere. Guaranteed IHG Rewards club "Gold Elite" status with the life of this card.
Clubcard Points: - 5 Clubcard points for every £4 you spend at Tesco stores - 5 Clubcard points for every £4 you spend on Tesco fuel (excludes Esso Fuel) - 1 Clubcard point for every £8 you spend everywhere else Clubcard points are redeemed in the form of rewards sent to the cardholder as vouchers to be used in store.
Clubcard Points: - 5 Clubcard points for every £4 you spend at Tesco stores - 5 Clubcard points for every £4 you spend on Tesco fuel (excludes Esso Fuel) - 1 Clubcard point for every £8 you spend everywhere else Clubcard points are redeemed in the form of rewards sent to the cardholder as vouchers to be used in store.
There are many different reasons why people choose particular credit cards. Some may offer low standard rates or 0% introductory rates on balance transfers or purchases. Some are designed specifically for customers with low credit ratings and still others offer points-based rewards schemes that give customers different types of reward. The value of these rewards are based on the amount that the customer spends on their card during a given period of time.
Reward credit cards work in the same way as other credit cards. They can be used to make purchases in person or at a distance – online, over the phone or by mail order. Most can also be used to obtain cash from cash machines in the form of cash advances or to make balance transfers. This is when you transfer the money that you owe on one credit card account to another, usually at a better rate of interest. In addition, reward cards allow you to earn points that can be redeemed for rewards of various kinds. There are various different reward schemes available but most allow you to build up points depending on how much you spend on your card. These can then be redeemed for different rewards depending on your credit card and award scheme.
Most rewards cards award you points for every £1 you spend. Some schemes will, however, award more points depending on where you use your card. Cards issued by the major supermarket chains, for example, may offer more points when you spend in their stores. When you have enough points, you can redeem them for vouchers that can be spent at participating retailers or used as discount vouchers at participating entertainment and retail outlets. Some may be put towards the cost of flights instead, in the form of Avios (formerly known as Air Miles) or schemes such as Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club. Points earned for existing loyalty schemes such as Nectar Points can usually be added to the customer's account and thereby pooled with points earned from other sources. Multiple rewards card holders can choose to spread their spending across different cards, giving them access to different schemes, or they may choose to concentrate on a single scheme, allowing them to save for the more valuable rewards on offer. Cash back cards are a special type of rewards card that give you a straight cash reward instead of points that can be redeemed for various rewards. The amount of cash you earn is usually a straight percentage of the amount you spend on the card in a given period of time. If you spend £100 on a card with a cash back rate of 2%, for example, you would earn £2 of cash back. This is usually paid into your credit card account, paid directly into a nominated bank account or paid by cheque on an annual basis. Reward cards of all kinds usually only award points (or cash back or air miles) for purchases made on that credit card. Cash advances and balance transfers do not usually count towards points.
A debit card draws from funds that you already have in your account. A credit card gives you access to a line of credit and so you can still use it even if you do not have funds in the bank. Most credit cards also have an interest-free period. As long as you pay your balance in full each month by the date shown on your statement, you will not have to pay any interest. Paying by credit card is quick and easy and, with contactless payments becoming more popular, it looks set to become even more convenient.
Some rewards cards have comparatively higher interest rates than other credit cards. If you pay your balance in full every month this should not be too much of an issue but if you have an outstanding balance that incurs interest, the extra interest charged could outweigh the value of any rewards you earn. The value of cash back rewards are relatively simple to work out but the exact equivalent value of other types of reward can be trickier to work out. Some rewards schemes may also be withdrawn if you fail to make at least your minimum payment for a given month. If this is the case you may lose any points that you had already built up. Even if you do not pay off your balance in full you should always ensure you make the minimum payment as this can also trigger fees and affect your credit rating. Setting up a Direct Debit to cover at least your minimum amount is a good way to make sure you never accidentally miss a payment.