Today only: how to redeem any 3V cards you still hold for free
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Last year, buying 3V Virtual Visa cards from Tesco was very profitable. For £50, you got £50 of Visa gift cards. Tesco also gave you 150 bonus Clubcard points and (if you had an Amex sign-up bonus to meet) you got to spend £50 on your Amex card at Tesco. You could then liquidate your 3V cards by paying them into certain bank accounts or paying your tax or council tax bills.
Back in December, 3V suddenly stopped letting people use their cards for ‘financial’ transactions. This left some people holding large stocks which were now trickier to use up. It also made them less attractive to buy.
If you are still sitting on some 3V cards, help may be at hand – but you must act today.
On January 3rd, 3V sent an email to all registered customers.
It outlined the changes to the regulatory regime governing 3V cards. It also placed a limit on the number of cards you could buy in a year of £25,000.
These changes amounted to a change in the terms and conditions governing 3V cards. Clause 8.3 of the Terms and Conditions for 3V cards states with regard to changes to their terms and conditions:
“If You are not happy with any such change to these Terms and Conditions, You may, without notice, within sixty (60) days of the date of notice of such change, cancel Your 3V Visa Number and terminate this Agreement. In such cases, You will not be subject to any Redemption Fee in accordance with Clause 6.”
Basically, you must act TODAY (4th March, which is 60 days from the date of that email) if you want 3V to reimburse you for your entire balance of 3V cards, with no redemption fees.
3V is already doing this for people. They have no choice, it is in the rules. Importantly, it does NOT just apply to cards you had bought before January 3rd. Even cards bought after that date can be refunded.
You need to email 3V Customer Services. They are giving people two different routes:
They may ask for the 4-digit security code of each of your 3V cards and the IBAN number of your bank account. (IBAN is the global ID number for your bank account. It should be printed on your bank statement or will be visible via online banking. It is required for wiring money from outside the UK.) Once done, you will receive your money within 7 days.
Alternatively, they may ask you to register all your cards online. They will then, once you confirm it is done, trigger a redemption for you without adding the fee.
I apologise for the very short notice here, but I have only just found out about this option myself.
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Want to earn more points from credit cards? – March 2025 update
If you are looking to apply for a new credit card, here are our top recommendations based on the current sign-up bonuses.
In February 2022, Barclaycard launched two exciting new Barclaycard Avios Mastercard cards with a bonus of up to 25,000 Avios. You can apply here.
You qualify for the bonus on these cards even if you have a British Airways American Express card:
Barclaycard Avios Plus Mastercard
Get 25,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £10,000 Read our full review
Barclaycard Avios Mastercard
Get 5,000 Avios for signing up and an upgrade voucher at £20,000 Read our full review
You can see our full directory of all UK cards which earn airline or hotel points here. Here are the best of the other deals currently available.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.
American Express Preferred Rewards Gold
Your best beginner’s card – 30,000 points, FREE for a year & four airport lounge passes Read our full review
British Airways American Express Premium Plus
30,000 Avios and the famous annual 2-4-1 voucher Read our full review
The Platinum Card from American Express
80,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review
Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Mastercard
18,000 bonus points and 1.5 points for every £1 you spend Read our full review
Earning miles and points from small business cards
If you are a sole trader or run a small company, you may also want to check out these offers:
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 8th April 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Business Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to 120,000 points. You receive 80,000 points when you spend £12,000 within three months and a further 40,000 points if you spend on the card between Month 14 and Month 17. Points convert 1:1 into Avios and many other programmes. Click here to apply.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 8th April 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Business Gold is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 60,000 points. You receive 40,000 points when you spend £6,000 within three months and a further 20,000 points if you spend on the card between Month 14 and Month 17. Points convert 1:1 into Avios and many other programmes. Click here to apply.
American Express Business Platinum
Up to 120,000 points when you sign-up and an annual £200 Amex Travel credit Read our full review
American Express Business Gold
Up to 60,000 points sign-up bonus and FREE for a year Read our full review
Capital on Tap Pro Visa
10,500 points (=10,500 Avios) plus good benefits Read our full review
Capital on Tap Visa
NO annual fee, NO FX fees and points worth 1 Avios per £1 Read our full review
British Airways American Express Accelerating Business
30,000 Avios sign-up bonus – plus annual bonuses of up to 30,000 Avios Read our full review
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