Nov 20, 2013, 1:03 pm
Last edit by: Steve Oh
*** NS&I & HMRC NO LONGER AVAILABLE FOR 3V USE ***
Introduction 3V cards and Avios
Tesco gives 150 Clubcard point (convertible to 360 Avios/375 Virgin Miles) for every £50 spent on gift cards. These include the 3V 'Internet Shopping' Visa gift cards (which carry no fee) and have the ability to be recycled back into cash or to pay off bills where an Avios earning card is not accepted. To earn the points just purchase in multiples of £50; you combine with other gift cards (e.g. iTunes, Prepay Visa cards (with fee), Nandos etc).
Spending 3V cards
The original loophole of recycling 3V cards via NS&I direct saver accounts appears to have been closed as of 12/12/13. Other potential routes to dispose of cards can be found here, although this list is now out of date and some disposal methods listed are no longer available.
Current Disposal Options
Following the discontinuation of the NS&I loophole the following websites are still accepting payment by 3V and may be an ongoing useful source of 3V spend to collect points:-
Sky (but there are reports of Sky reversing the transactions); Orange/EE; BT; Virgin Media;Talk Talk, topcashback.co.uk (gift cards); PayPal; Highstreet Vouchers; ParentPay, United Utilities, EDF Energy, Scottish Power, Npower, Amazon (via giftcard), VoucherExpress
Purchasing cards at Tesco
It is strongly recommended when purchasing 3V cards at Tesco that a maximum of 4 cards is purchased in any one transaction (and ensure you have all four activation slips before leaving the store) due to the system limitations of Tesco's checkouts giving rise to potentially being charged for cards which haven't activated. Official Tesco advice to stores is for a maximum of 5 cards (although in this scenario no Clubcard points would be earned on the fifth card). Store policy on how many cards you can take away in one visit is variable although in an unknown store it is wise not to immediately draw too much attention to your activity - if staff are happy to proceed then you can always build to larger quantities before they decline to sell you more.
Non-Tesco 3V outlets
3V cards can also be found in Morrisons, Boots & Homebase. With Morrisons usually having large quantities, sometimes in excess of 100 cards per store and the offer of 1p off of every litre of fuel for every £10 spent makes this is a very good alternative if you're having problems locating stock at Tesco.
Introduction 3V cards and Avios
Tesco gives 150 Clubcard point (convertible to 360 Avios/375 Virgin Miles) for every £50 spent on gift cards. These include the 3V 'Internet Shopping' Visa gift cards (which carry no fee) and have the ability to be recycled back into cash or to pay off bills where an Avios earning card is not accepted. To earn the points just purchase in multiples of £50; you combine with other gift cards (e.g. iTunes, Prepay Visa cards (with fee), Nandos etc).
Spending 3V cards
The original loophole of recycling 3V cards via NS&I direct saver accounts appears to have been closed as of 12/12/13. Other potential routes to dispose of cards can be found here, although this list is now out of date and some disposal methods listed are no longer available.
Current Disposal Options
Following the discontinuation of the NS&I loophole the following websites are still accepting payment by 3V and may be an ongoing useful source of 3V spend to collect points:-
Sky (but there are reports of Sky reversing the transactions); Orange/EE; BT; Virgin Media;Talk Talk, topcashback.co.uk (gift cards); PayPal; Highstreet Vouchers; ParentPay, United Utilities, EDF Energy, Scottish Power, Npower, Amazon (via giftcard), VoucherExpress
Purchasing cards at Tesco
It is strongly recommended when purchasing 3V cards at Tesco that a maximum of 4 cards is purchased in any one transaction (and ensure you have all four activation slips before leaving the store) due to the system limitations of Tesco's checkouts giving rise to potentially being charged for cards which haven't activated. Official Tesco advice to stores is for a maximum of 5 cards (although in this scenario no Clubcard points would be earned on the fifth card). Store policy on how many cards you can take away in one visit is variable although in an unknown store it is wise not to immediately draw too much attention to your activity - if staff are happy to proceed then you can always build to larger quantities before they decline to sell you more.
Non-Tesco 3V outlets
3V cards can also be found in Morrisons, Boots & Homebase. With Morrisons usually having large quantities, sometimes in excess of 100 cards per store and the offer of 1p off of every litre of fuel for every £10 spent makes this is a very good alternative if you're having problems locating stock at Tesco.
3V cards | master thread
Dec 7, 2013, 2:19 am
#301
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,709
Steve Oh, hopefully the UK doesn't follow suit on this 
http://www.smh.com.au/business/cap-f...206-2yvjv.html
http://www.smh.com.au/business/cap-f...206-2yvjv.html
Dec 7, 2013, 3:45 am
#302
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mostly UK
Programs: Mucci Extraordinaire, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold (ex BD)
Posts: 11,209
I decided that with my Diamond Club Amex giving me 4 miles/£ and where I'm working at the moment is near a Morrisons I thought I'd join in the fun.
Has anyone looked at the Amex gift cards Morrisons stock? I had a quick read of the back of them and it looks like they're £50 with no extra fee and come with a physical card. The only benefit of this would be the fuel discount as you'd have to use the card somewhere that accepts Amex anyway. Although if you were willing to do two sweeps you could double your fuel discount. Buy the Amex cards first. Go and unwrap them all in your car, then pop back in and buy the 3V cards using the Amex cards as payment. You'd then get two lots of fuel discount.
Has anyone looked at the Amex gift cards Morrisons stock? I had a quick read of the back of them and it looks like they're £50 with no extra fee and come with a physical card. The only benefit of this would be the fuel discount as you'd have to use the card somewhere that accepts Amex anyway. Although if you were willing to do two sweeps you could double your fuel discount. Buy the Amex cards first. Go and unwrap them all in your car, then pop back in and buy the 3V cards using the Amex cards as payment. You'd then get two lots of fuel discount.
Dec 7, 2013, 3:53 am
#303
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Ether
Programs: Some, not all.
Posts: 1,595
I decided that with my Diamond Club Amex giving me 4 miles/£ and where I'm working at the moment is near a Morrisons I thought I'd join in the fun.
Has anyone looked at the Amex gift cards Morrisons stock? I had a quick read of the back of them and it looks like they're £50 with no extra fee and come with a physical card. The only benefit of this would be the fuel discount as you'd have to use the card somewhere that accepts Amex anyway. Although if you were willing to do two sweeps you could double your fuel discount. Buy the Amex cards first. Go and unwrap them all in your car, then pop back in and buy the 3V cards using the Amex cards as payment. You'd then get two lots of fuel discount.
Has anyone looked at the Amex gift cards Morrisons stock? I had a quick read of the back of them and it looks like they're £50 with no extra fee and come with a physical card. The only benefit of this would be the fuel discount as you'd have to use the card somewhere that accepts Amex anyway. Although if you were willing to do two sweeps you could double your fuel discount. Buy the Amex cards first. Go and unwrap them all in your car, then pop back in and buy the 3V cards using the Amex cards as payment. You'd then get two lots of fuel discount.
No problem with stacking fuel saver vouchers so 10 x 5p is just as good a 1 x 50p
Dec 7, 2013, 4:21 am
#304
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mostly UK
Programs: Mucci Extraordinaire, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold (ex BD)
Posts: 11,209
Buying gift cards with gift cards is hit or miss, so this would need to be tested and verified. However, if it works you can minimise the outlay - buy one £50 card to start paid on CC, then buy another £50 card paid with GC, repeat until all all cards have been bought. Then do £50 grocery shop in Tesco to get 50 cc points.
No problem with stacking fuel saver vouchers so 10 x 5p is just as good a 1 x 50p
No problem with stacking fuel saver vouchers so 10 x 5p is just as good a 1 x 50p
Dec 7, 2013, 5:03 am
#305
Join Date: Sep 2001
Location: Singapore
Posts: 2,317
Couldn't find any in my Tesco today.
Dec 7, 2013, 7:02 am
#306
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: London
Posts: 6,265
I decided that with my Diamond Club Amex giving me 4 miles/£ and where I'm working at the moment is near a Morrisons I thought I'd join in the fun.
Has anyone looked at the Amex gift cards Morrisons stock? I had a quick read of the back of them and it looks like they're £50 with no extra fee and come with a physical card. The only benefit of this would be the fuel discount as you'd have to use the card somewhere that accepts Amex anyway. Although if you were willing to do two sweeps you could double your fuel discount. Buy the Amex cards first. Go and unwrap them all in your car, then pop back in and buy the 3V cards using the Amex cards as payment. You'd then get two lots of fuel discount.
Has anyone looked at the Amex gift cards Morrisons stock? I had a quick read of the back of them and it looks like they're £50 with no extra fee and come with a physical card. The only benefit of this would be the fuel discount as you'd have to use the card somewhere that accepts Amex anyway. Although if you were willing to do two sweeps you could double your fuel discount. Buy the Amex cards first. Go and unwrap them all in your car, then pop back in and buy the 3V cards using the Amex cards as payment. You'd then get two lots of fuel discount.
Last edited by Aus_Mal; Dec 7, 2013 at 7:17 am
Dec 7, 2013, 8:06 am
#307
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Heathrow
Programs: A variety of Platinums, Golds, Silvers and other fancy metals.
Posts: 1,985
I decided that with my Diamond Club Amex giving me 4 miles/£ and where I'm working at the moment is near a Morrisons I thought I'd join in the fun.
Has anyone looked at the Amex gift cards Morrisons stock? I had a quick read of the back of them and it looks like they're £50 with no extra fee and come with a physical card. The only benefit of this would be the fuel discount as you'd have to use the card somewhere that accepts Amex anyway. Although if you were willing to do two sweeps you could double your fuel discount. Buy the Amex cards first. Go and unwrap them all in your car, then pop back in and buy the 3V cards using the Amex cards as payment. You'd then get two lots of fuel discount.
Has anyone looked at the Amex gift cards Morrisons stock? I had a quick read of the back of them and it looks like they're £50 with no extra fee and come with a physical card. The only benefit of this would be the fuel discount as you'd have to use the card somewhere that accepts Amex anyway. Although if you were willing to do two sweeps you could double your fuel discount. Buy the Amex cards first. Go and unwrap them all in your car, then pop back in and buy the 3V cards using the Amex cards as payment. You'd then get two lots of fuel discount.
EDIT: Mal beat me to it.
Dec 7, 2013, 2:48 pm
#308
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Mostly UK
Programs: Mucci Extraordinaire, Hilton Diamond, BA Gold (ex BD)
Posts: 11,209
I need to read the small print properly, it looked to me that the £2.95 was a fee charged if the card had not been used up after a certain number of months. I will read it properly next time.
Dec 7, 2013, 6:34 pm
#309
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Heathrow
Programs: A variety of Platinums, Golds, Silvers and other fancy metals.
Posts: 1,985
Possibly - I didn't pay any attention to be honest cos the Amex cards from Amex are free.
Dec 8, 2013, 4:50 am
#310
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: From ORK, live LCY
Programs: BA Silver, EI Silver, HH Gold, BW Gold, ABP, Seigneur des Horaires des Mucci
Posts: 14,214
Yes, there's a promotion online where Amex is waiving the purchase fee on Amex gift cards bought online.
Dec 8, 2013, 5:04 am
#311
Join Date: Nov 2010
Posts: 5,596
Lots of 3v in tesco dover yesterday.I only bought 8 but they all activated without problems.2 racks remaining.
Dec 8, 2013, 5:27 am
#312
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,709
Lots at Birmingham New St outside Debenhams. Took 12, left about the same. Useful for my new cc spend target.
Dec 8, 2013, 6:29 am
#313
Join Date: May 2009
Location: UK
Posts: 3,951
Found 50 in a local Morrison's yesterday! One transaction, speedily with no issues and a large discount off my next fill up. What is the 3V account limit again before proof of ID is requested?