New loyalty scheme that PAYS you for going to the pub – and all you need is a Mastercard
Ice points can be used at restaurants and pubs including major chains O'Neils and Harvester but you'll have to buy more than 100 beers just to get one back for free
WHAT'S the one thing better than going to the pub? Getting paid to go instead!
Thanks to a new loyalty scheme you can be rewarded for spending in your local - but it'll cost you hundreds just to get one back for free.
The Ice scheme has more than 300 pubs and restaurants across the country - including major chains O'Neils, All Bar One, Toby Carvery, Harvester and Sizzling Pubs - signed-up.
Travel Agents Tui.co.uk and Firstchoice.co.uk are also involved, as are John Lewis and Marks and Spencer, but how does it work and is it worth the hassle?
Can I join the scheme?
Anyone with a Mastercard can join up - it doesn't matter who you bank with - and all you have to do is register your card details on its website for free.
Then you're good to go. Each time you spend on your card at the retailers or pubs you'll earn points automatically but if you're shopping online you must use a link on the website.
There's an ethical aspect to it too - the retailers signed-up have been judged by Ice to be "environmentally conscious", so you can earn rewards for you spending while supporting green businesses.
Currently you'll get 150 bonus points just for signing-up.
Founder, Jude Thorne, said: "We want to position Ice as a breath of fresh-air in a crowded and confusing market.
"We’ve made it simple for our users to sign-up their Mastercard credit card and earn and spend points wherever and whenever they like."
How much can I earn?
The amount of points you earn varies between each retailer but customers will typically earn one or two points for each pound spent - one point is worth either one or two pence.
When you spend your points, the scheme doubles them too.
For example, if you spend £24 or less at Harvester, you'll earn one point for each pound you spend.
So if you were to buy a pint - the average cost is £3.47 - you'll have to buy a whopping 115 pints before you get enough points to get one for free.
If you spend between £25 and £99, you'll earn three points for every £2 spent and if you're really splashing the cash and fork-out more than £100 or more you'll get two points for every £1.
After you make a purchase you'll be sent a text or email alert telling you that a discount is available.
Log-in to your account and choose how many points you want to use - it will show how much each point is worth in actual cash and your Mastercard balance will be credited with the discount.
If you don't want the discount, you can collect the points instead and use them another time.
Unlike a lot of schemes which will only let you spend when you've got a certain number, Ice will let you use just one point if you want to.
More on money
Is it worth it?
It's always good to get something for nothing, even if it can seem like a bit of a hassle for what will likely be quite small discounts - and it definitely isn't worth it if your just want a free beer.
As it stands there are no major supermarkets signed-up for the scheme, so you won't be getting a discount on your weekly shop - and obviously if you don't shop at the places that are taking part then it won't be worth it at all.
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