Google Street View tracks down some 3V cards in Watford!

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

• Pid says:

  15 Aug15 August 13:00

  There was only 8 left last night at Watford after I had picked up 10. Sorry!!

• John says:

  15 Aug15 August 20:12

  Apparently this is coming to an end. A notice has been sent round informing staff to only accept debit cards or cash for VISA gift cards.

  • James67 says:

    15 Aug15 August 20:34

    Would still be half a good deal. Will try and round up a few more triple amex mr points tomorrow in event this comes to pass.

  • What's the Point says:

    15 Aug15 August 20:36

    Was the internal note referring yo all Visa cards (including the fee charging ones) or just the 3V ones?

  • Rob says:

    15 Aug15 August 21:30

    Almost impossible to do if part of a proper shop. This is, though, what has happened in the US in a similar scenario.

    • James67 says:

      16 Aug16 August 06:17

      Would be particularly interesting if they start refusing their own branded card issued by their own bank in their own stores! I am missing the point anyway, surely restricting to debit card or cash will have minimal impact, what would tesco gain out of that? If they want to limit the run on the cards the solution is so simple.

      • Rob says:

        16 Aug16 August 08:47

        Yes, makes no sense. Why should Tesco give a monkeys if 3V are getting annoyed? After all, Tesco is trying to push the £2.95 / £3.95 fee Visa cards anyway.

        • jb says:

          16 Aug16 August 12:52

          I would think its Tesco because with a debit card payment they may less than 10p transaction fee with a credit card/amex the transaction fee maybe between 0.5-!5 of transaction.

          Now 3v cards are worth £25 and cost £25 and one can redeem them on next online or M&S or wherever they want for £25 , SO WHERE is the margin?

          Where as with a £25 next giftcard next are selling the card to tesco knowing it will be used in their stores ,so example £25 next giftcard sold to tesco for £22.50 ,next know that card will be spent with them so the consumer buys something for £25 in next using giftcard (the product lets say cost next £10 ) So there is margins in giftcards but not 3v.

          3v cards are actually cash as they are paid in full to which ever retailer they are redeemed at so I dont understand where tesco margin in these cards is?

          I would think they are stocked by tesco with a rebate/ or commission per amount sold.

        • john says:

          20 Aug20 August 15:25

          Finding it increasingly hard to come by these but the few I have found are still going through fine with my Amex. I guess it depends on the store / who serves you.

• Me says:

  15 Aug15 August 20:21

  Went out my way to get some cards today…was pleased to see some in the store, making the journey worth it, let someone behind me in the queue go in front to save some time, only to eventually find my credit card got declined at the time of payment…I guess they think my transactions look a bit odd!

  Amex department not open until tomorrow too 🙁

• What's the Point says:

  15 Aug15 August 20:35

  I bought my requirements and left around 10 on the shelf at Tesco Towcester today. I won’t be going back to this store, so happy hunting!

• MoonMan says:

  16 Aug16 August 08:08

  Having said there were none in Watford tesco yesterday morning, I popped in after work after I had analysed the google street view at work and had a definitive position.

  Someone had put 7 behind a pizza express voucher…. Anyone going to own up?

  Paid straight in to me Nationwide/L&G ISA with no issues, what I would have done with the money anyway.

  • Michael says:

    18 Aug18 August 13:52

    How does it work with the Nationwide ISA, as it for example is not possible for me to use 3V cards to top up my ISA (different provider though)

    • Rob says:

      18 Aug18 August 14:39

      Generally not – these cards have some sort of coding on them which blocks them from most financial services transactions. That is why there are only a few exceptions (Barclays credit cards, National Savings bank accounts etc).

      • SingingDwarf says:

        20 Aug20 August 10:30

        Is it not 3V that are blocking the transactions themselves, as when tried with most financial institutions, the attempt shows up on the 3V website?

        Maybe there is no/reduced commission on such transactions – as opposed to purchases – hence the reason that they are being blocked by 3V?

        • Rob says:

          20 Aug20 August 12:16

          Very possible, I agree

    • MoonMan says:

      19 Aug19 August 22:35

      I have a stocks and shares ISA from from nationwide, but it is actually legal and general that operate it. Luckily worked for me!

• Rich says:

  16 Aug16 August 09:00

  I bought 20 in London the other day but got spotted by a manage who made Cust Services pre-authorise my Amex first.
  I got them all in the end, but I think the moral of the story is not to be greedy and put any significant quantities through in a couple of different transactions.

• Singing Dwarf says:

  16 Aug16 August 09:57

  Is it just me, or is this getting seriously addictive 😉

  How many make a detour or special trip to check out whether a Tesco store has some cards in stock?

  I wonder how many CC points have been claimed as a result of this?

  • Elena says:

    20 Aug20 August 18:20

    I did went to few stores to find them. I am actually quite enjoying the whole points hobby 🙂

• Dominic Barrington says:

  16 Aug16 August 12:30

  Just purchased eight in Kettering Tesco Extra, and there were a good number left!

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.