Consumer Confederation (TÜKONFED) Deputy Chairman İbrahim Güllü, in his statement to AA correspondent, said that consumers should check their loyalty cards before the end of the year.
Reminding that consumers earn points from the purchases they make throughout the year, the credit cards they use and the expenditures they make, Güllü stated that the money points accumulated in credit cards, debit cards, markets, stores, shopping malls, fuel companies and loyalty cards of various brands can be deleted at the end of the year.
Güllü pointed out that as the end of the year approaches, some companies notify consumers through SMS and e-mails that unused points will be deleted by a certain date, and said:
"Consumers face the risk of losing the points they have accumulated if they do not use them. Moreover, many consumers do not know how many points they have on their cards, the expiration date of these points, or whether they will be transferred to the new year. The main question to be questioned and emphasized here is, 'Can the points that the consumer deserves by shopping be deleted by the unilateral decision of the businesses?', 'If such a period is not specified at the beginning of the campaign, can the consumer's acquired rights be eliminated with an SMS sent at the end of the year?'"
Pointing out that loyalty cards should be considered as applications that affect the consumer's shopping preference and spending behavior, within the framework of his approach to protect the consumer's economic rights and the right to be informed, Güllü said that consumers should know what conditions they are subject to while earning points.
"Check out the campaign conditions and validity period of points"
İbrahim Güllü listed the precautions that consumers should take to avoid victimization as the end of the year approaches:
"Check all the credit cards and debit cards you use. Don't forget the loyalty cards for grocery stores, clothing, fuel and other stores. Find out the amount of money points, miles and reward points accumulated on your cards. Ask your bank's mobile application or customer services about the expiration date of the points and whether they will be transferred to the new year. Examine the campaign conditions and the validity period of the points.
If you are clearly informed in advance that your points will be deleted and the conditions are legal, use them according to your needs without waiting for the end of the year to avoid loss of rights. Take a screenshot of your points balance. Save your SMS, e-mails, campaign announcements and shopping receipts. "Businesses must inform the consumer in advance and within a reasonable period of time, provide usage opportunities and protect the consumer's rights."
Güllü said that if the consumer loses his points before being able to use them, he should question the legal basis of the deletion and object. "If you think that your points have been deleted unlawfully, first make a written application to the bank or the relevant business. If the business does not meet your request, you can apply to the Consumer Arbitration Committee, depending on the nature of the dispute." he said.
Güllü pointed out that the purpose of these cards is to increase customer loyalty, encourage shopping and create a relationship of trust between the consumer and the business, and pointed out that this system should not turn into a loss of rights against the consumer.
Underlining that companies should offer systems where consumers can easily check their point balances, Güllü said, "Before the points earned by the consumer are deleted, the obligation to inform must be fulfilled and acquired rights must be protected." made his assessment.
