Latest news with #Avios
The Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
The FIVE reasons why I never use my debit card – I think they're pointless, you should ditch them too
OUR wallets are crammed with plastic - but there's one card I never use and is completely pointless. For many, a debit card is a go-to for everyday shopping. 1 But I think everyone should ditch it - and there's a much better option that will MAKE you money and offer more protection on your purchases. When it comes to being a savvy spender, debit cards are rubbish. Instead, I use a credit card and here I explain the five reasons why I think everyone else should make a switch too. Make use of a secret weapon in your wallet If you've ever bought a big-ticket item – perhaps a new sofa, a swanky TV, or even booked a holiday – and then had it go wrong? It's a nightmare scenario we all dread. And if you paid with your debit card, you might be in for a nasty surprise. While debit cards offer " chargeback", where your bank tries to recover your money from the retailer, it's not guaranteed. It's a voluntary agreement, not a legal right, so your bank can try - but there's no promise you'll get your money back. Now compare that to credit cards. If you spend over £100 and under £30,000, you're automatically covered by Section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act. Four methods you can use to clear debt This is consumer protection gold. It means your credit card company is equally liable with the retailer if something goes wrong. So, if your new sofa doesn't arrive, is faulty, or your holiday company goes bust, paying with a credit card gives you far better protection. You're missing out on loyalty points This one really grinds my gears. In a world where every click and every purchase is tracked, why aren't you getting something back for your loyalty? Every time you tap your debit card, you're throwing away free money - or in my case, free holidays. Every time I spend a quid on my British Airways Premium Plus American Express credit card, I'm racking up 1.5 Avios airmiles. If I'm booking a flight on that jumps to a whopping three Avios per £1 spent. Those points can go towards free flights, holiday bookings, cabin upgrades, and more – just for spending money I was going to spend anyway. American Express has credit cards for Nectar members too, giving shoppers two points for every £1 spent. If you want flexibility with how you use your points, American Express Reward, Gold, and Platinum cards let you earn one "membership" point for every £1 spent. This means you could exchange some of these points for airmiles with airlines like British Airways, Iberia, Qatar, Emirates, and Virgin Atlantic. Then redeem more for discounts on hotel bookings with Hilton, Marriott, and Radisson. Plus, Amex allows you to convert points to help lower your credit card bill, with 1,000 points worth £4.50. My debit card gives me nothing - no perks, no points, no rewards so why spend money without getting something back? Free cash when you spend Most high street banks and their debit cards are notoriously tight-fisted when it comes to cashback. Some bank accounts with monthly fees or challenger banks like Chase do offer up to 1% cashback, but if you're like the majority and have a standard fee-free high street current account, your debit card won't give you any instant savings. But with my credit card, it's a completely different story. My American Express app is packed with offers. I just tap to add them to my card, and I get instant savings on things like my weekly shop or streaming services. Right now, I'm getting 15% back on my Disney+ subscription every month – free money for something I'd be paying for anyway, automatically applied. Plus, if you're an Amazon Prime fan like me, my fee-free Amazon Barclaycard gives me 1% cashback on all my online orders. The best part? Cashback doubles during events like Prime Day, letting me earn even more while I shop. If cashback is your only concern, the American Express Cashback Everyday Credit Card is a great option for those expecting a high-spend period. It offers an impressive 5% cashback on purchases for the first five months (up to £125). After this introductory period, you can earn up to 1% cashback, but you'll need to spend over £10,000 annually to qualify for ongoing rewards. For those who might not meet the £10,000 annual spending threshold, the American Express Cashback Credit Card is another strong choice. It also offers 5% cashback for the first three months (up to £125), followed by 0.75% cashback on spending up to £10,000 per year and 1.25% above that. What is cashback? CASHBACK is a type of reward offered by banks, credit card providers, and retailers where customers receive a percentage of their spending back as cash. Essentially, it's a way to earn money while making purchases. For example, if your card offers 1% cashback and you spend £100, you'll earn £1 back. Cashback can be credited to your account, deducted from your balance, or saved up for future use, depending on the provider's terms. It's often offered on everyday purchases, such as groceries, fuel, or online shopping, and may be part of a promotional deal or an ongoing benefit of your account. However, remember to check the terms and conditions, as some transactions may not qualify for cashback rewards. By using cashback offers wisely, you can usually make your money go further on purchases you'd already be making. It does nothing for your credit score Building a good credit score is crucial. It's not just for big loans like mortgages - it affects everything from mobile phone contracts to car finance. Using a debit card without an overdraft doesn't help your credit score because you're just spending your own money. But, using a credit card responsibly – that is, making sure you pay it off in full and on time every single month – is a fantastic way to prove you're a trustworthy borrower. It demonstrates financial discipline and builds a positive credit history. However, I must give you a big fat warning here... If you're not disciplined with money, credit cards can wreak havoc on your score and future borrowing capabilities. Miss payments, and you'll trash your ability to get a loan or mortgage for years. So, only use them if you can be trusted to clear your balance. How can I boost my credit score? A ROBUST credit score is a golden ticket to better deals. Andrew Hagger, founder of Moneycomms, said the most important move is to register to vote. This is because lenders need to check your identity and address to confirm you're not a fraudster. For Experian, being on the electoral register can yield you 50 points. Also, don't make too many credit applications as this can be a sign of financial distress. And if you already have a credit card or loan, never miss a payment. Kara Gammell, financial expert at MoneySupermarket, said: "A missed payment can negatively affect your rating." Renters who want to boost their credit score can also report their rent payments to three of the major credit reference agencies to prove they can pay their bills on time. CreditLadder introduced rent reporting to the UK for all tenants in 2017. Two out of five households rent, and CreditLadder can report those rent payments to all the main credit reference agencies, which can help you improve your credit history and score. They come with expensive borrowing costs An overdraft lets you spend or withdraw money with your debit card even if your balance is below £0. But overdrafts are one of the most expensive ways to borrow, with most banks charging a steep 39.9% APR. TotallyMoney found that one in five people go overdrawn by an average of £697 a day, quickly racking up interest. Credit cards, however, usually have much lower rates - between 18% and 24.9% APR, according to MoneySuperMarket. If you were to borrow £1,000 for a year on a credit card at 18% APR it would cost you around £180 in interest. Whereas, on a 39.9% APR overdraft, the same £1,000 would cost nearly £400. When it comes to borrowing small amounts, credit cards are the clear winner. Plus, you can even snag introductory 0% credit card deals, giving you a period to borrow completely interest-free. Just remember that these offers are usually tailored for managing existing debt or making planned, affordable purchases. They are not for spontaneous spending sprees unless you're completely debt-free otherwise and can pay it back within the interest-free period.
Daily Record
22-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Shoppers baffled as Nectar card issue leaves them 'overdrawn'
Nectar card owners have expressed their frustrations after they discovered their accounts had somehow become 'overdrawn' with negative balances, something they didn't know could happen A Sainsbury's shopper has taken to Reddit to voice their bewilderment after their Nectar card account displayed a negative balance. The customer posted a screenshot showing they were -115 points in the red, equating to a monetary deficit of -57p. Nectar, one of the UK's most popular loyalty card schemes, enables members to collect points through various large outlets including Sainsbury's, eBay, Argos, and British Airways, which can then be redeemed for discounts in-store or rewards online such as flight savings. Yet, as one user's experience suggests, complications can arise. "Gone overdrawn on my Nectar account," the individual wrote on the CasualUK subreddit, sparking a discussion with others speculating on the cause of the issue. Another Reddit user responded, sharing that their account was also in the red - sitting at -464 points. A second commenter shared their own experience. "Happened to me," they said. "Returned a TV (£1500) bought via eBay. Had already spent the points. Went badly into the Red when they took them back." Meanwhile a third chimed in: "One time an error meant Sainsburys accidentally added 12k Nectar points to my account, they rectified it pretty quickly, HOWEVER, I had auto-convert to Avios enabled, so those 12,000 Nectar points were all turned into Avios immediately. So they took me 12,000 nectar points in debt." A fourth Reddit user expressed frustration, saying: "This happened to me and it took me 6 months to get into the positive! It infuriated me, as surely it's the company's fault?!" A fifth shopper shared: "Someone spent all my Nectar points, in London, I don't live anywhere near London and haven't been for years. "Complained to Nectar, they froze the account, but won't replace the points, because I can't remember the exact year and month I opened the account, all I know is I've had it for about 20 years!" One possible reason for a negative balance could be due to suspected fraudulent activity or other irregularities, as per Nectar's FAQ section, which states: "Redeemed points cannot be used again. If a transaction on which points are issued or redeemed is cancelled, reversed or not completed, we will reverse the associated points movement when instructed by the relevant Sponsor or Supplier. If insufficient points are available, or we suspect fraud or misconduct, Rewards may be refused or cancelled." Earlier this month, Nectar announced a significant update that impacts anyone who collects points with eBay. Starting from September 1, collectors will no longer be able to earn or redeem Nectar points directly on the eBay website. Nevertheless, shoppers can still accumulate Nectar points on eBay purchases by going through the Nectar app or website. To continue earning points, users should search for eBay on the Nectar platform and then proceed to eBay via the provided link to complete their shopping. In a positive twist, you'll now accumulate two Nectar points for every £1 spent on eBay - a rise from the current rate of one Nectar point. Any vouchers that you have already generated on eBay prior to 31 August will remain valid on eBay until their expiry date.
Daily Mirror
22-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Mirror
Shoppers baffled after getting into 'debt' on Nectar cards
A shopper has been left confused after noticing their Nectar points balance appeared to be in the red, and it seems they're not the only one it has happened to A Sainsbury's customer has expressed their confusion online after seemingly falling into 'debt' on their Nectar card. Taking to Reddit, the shopper shared a screenshot of their account, which displayed a negative balance of -115 points - a monetary value of -57p. Nectar is loyalty-based card programme in which shoppers can accumulate points via a variety of participating retailers - most notably Sainsbury's, eBay, Argos and British Airways. These points can then be redeemed for discounts on future purchases or exchanged for rewards including savings on flights. However, according to one user, it appears things don't always go to plan. "Gone overdrawn on my Nectar account," they penned in the CasualUK subreddit, prompting others to offer a variety of theories as to how the problem may have occurred. It seems they weren't the only one to fall foul of the problem, as a second Reddit user revealed their account is currently 464 points in the red. "Happened to me," one person alleged of their own scenario. "Returned a TV (£1500) bought via eBay. Had already spent the points. Went badly into the Red when they took them back." A third shopper claimed: "One time an error meant Sainsburys accidentally added 12k Nectar points to my account, they rectified it pretty quickly, HOWEVER, I had auto-convert to Avios enabled, so those 12,000 Nectar points were all turned into Avios immediately. So they took me 12,000 nectar points in debt." Meanwhile a fourth Reddit user said: "This happened to me and it took me 6 months to get into the positive! It infuriated me, as surely it's the company's fault?!" And a fifth hit out: "Someone spent all my Nectar points, in London, I don't live anywhere near London and haven't been for years. "Complained to Nectar, they froze the account, but won't replace the points, because I can't remember the exact year and month I opened the account, all I know is I've had it for about 20 years!" One explanation for the negative could be the result of suspected fraud or misconduct, according to Nectar's FAQ page. It states online: "Redeemed points cannot be used again. If a transaction on which points are issued or redeemed is cancelled, reversed or not completed, we will reverse the associated points movement when instructed by the relevant Sponsor or Supplier. If insufficient points are available, or we suspect fraud or misconduct, Rewards may be refused or cancelled." Earlier this month, meanwhile, Nectar announced a huge change that affects anyone who collects points with eBay. As of September 1, you won't be able to collect or spend Nectar points directly on the eBay website. However, you will still be able to collect Nectar points on your eBay transactions when you shop through Nectar. To do this, you'll need to search for eBay on the Nectar app or website, then click on this to go through to the eBay website or app to make your purchase. The good news is, you'll now collect two Nectar points for every £1 spent at eBay - up from the current rate of one Nectar point. Any vouchers that you have already created on eBay before August 31 will remain valid on eBay until their expiration date. Nectar has been contacted for comment.
TTG
21-07-2025
- Business
- TTG
Zulal Wellness Resort partners with Qatar Airways Privilege Club
Zulal Wellness Resort, the Middle East's most iconic wellness destination by Chiva-Som, proudly announces its exclusive partnership with Qatar Airways Privilege Club, becoming the first wellness resort to offer Avios through the Card-Linked Offers programme. This collaboration will allow Privilege Club members to enjoy tailored wellness experiences, seamless bookings, and special rewards when using their linked payment cards at Zulal Wellness Resort. Privilege Club members visiting Zulal Wellness Resort can now collect one Avios for every four QAR spent with their linked payment cards. Through this innovative programme, Qatar Airways Privilege Club members will gain access to curated wellness packages, and bespoke retreats rooted in Traditional Arabic and Islamic Medicine (TAIM) - designed to enhance their journey toward holistic well-being. The initiative underscores Zulal Wellness Resort's commitment to providing world-class wellness experiences enhanced by seamless rewards integration through Card-Linked Offers. The Card-Linked Offers programme is part of Zulal Wellness Resort's ongoing efforts to integrate luxury wellness with seamless customer experiences. Privilege Club members can now enjoy effortless rewards while indulging in Zulal Wellness Resort's personalised wellness programmes. The Card-Linked Offers programme, launched in 2023, integrated Avios in members' everyday spends. Payment cardholders – including cards registered in Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay – are able to link their cards to their Privilege Club accounts. This enables them to collect and spend Avios on everyday purchases at a wide range of retail and lifestyle partners.
Qatar Tribune
16-07-2025
- Business
- Qatar Tribune
Qatar Airways to restart flights to Syria's Aleppo
QNA Doha Qatar Airways announced Wednesday the resumption of three weekly flights to Aleppo, Syria, from 10 August 2025. It will be increased to four weekly flights from 1 September 2025. Qatar Airways' operations to the city first began in 2011. The airline resumed flights to Damascus in early 2025, making Aleppo the second Syrian destination to connect to the airline's global network, the airline said. Aleppo will join Qatar Airways' vast network of more than 170 global destinations. The resumption represents the airline's commitment to increasing connectivity in the region and the world through Qatar Airways' award-winning hub, the world-class Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar. Qatar Airways Privilege Club members can make their trips more rewarding by collecting Avios on their flights as well as shopping and dining at Qatar Duty Free at Hamad International Airport. Members can spend their Avios on travel and lifestyle rewards of their choice including bidding on money-can't-buy experiences with Privilege Club Collection.
