Tesco to allow Clubcard customers to download vouchers whenever they want

At the moment, Tesco sends Clubcard customers vouchers to the value of their points every three months with their Clubcard statement. But from Tuesday 28 August, the 'Faster Vouchers' scheme will allow you to request that the total value of your points be turned into vouchers within 24 hours – you can do this online or via the Clubcard app. You'll then be able to download and print the vouchers or use them on your phone.

Tesco plans to contact customers to unveil the changes to its long-running loyalty scheme from Monday 13 August, but details have emerged in a document obtained by MoneySavingExpert which was apparently intended to brief staff internally. A Tesco spokesperson refused to comment on the plans but MoneySavingExpert understands the details in the document are correct.

See full help on how to make the most of the Clubcard scheme in our guide.

How will 'Faster Vouchers' work?

Tesco is yet to formally announce the scheme, so we don't have the full details. But here's what we do know so far:

• You'll use the Clubcard app or your online account to get the vouchers. You'll simply log in to the app or your online account and tell Tesco you want to convert your points into 'Faster Vouchers'. The vouchers will be ready to use within 24 hours.

• To spend the vouchers, you can print them or scan them from your phone. To use them on your phone, you'll need the Clubcard app.

• You'll have to turn all your points into vouchers at once. You'll have to convert all the points you have, rounded down to the nearest 50p.

• You'll need to have at least 150Tesco store or Tesco Bank points to request 'Faster Vouchers'. This is equivalent to £1.50's worth of vouchers – any less than this and you'll have to wait to convert them. You can only convert once a day.

• You may have less time to use your vouchers than you do now. We understand they'll be valid for a minimum of 21 months from the date you turned your points into vouchers. This could be a small downside of the changes, as you can currently use Clubcard vouchers for two years.

There'll be no change to the 'Reward Partners' element of Clubcard – where companies which work alongside Tesco allow you to spend vouchers with them. And if you automatically convert points to a partner scheme such as Avios, it's unlikely anything will change – although this hasn't been confirmed.

'On the face of it, this is a welcome change'

Megan French, consumer expert at MoneySavingExpert.com, said: "There are still some questions over how the scheme will work – as it hasn't yet been officially announced, we don't have full details.

"But on the face of it, this is a welcome change for Clubcard holders, and finally brings the Clubcard scheme up to date for users who would prefer not to have to wait months for their vouchers to arrive through the post."