Consumer associations have warned consumers to use the money points on loyalty cards.

The President of the Consumer Union Federation, Mehmet Bülent Deniz, reminded that the points and liras accumulated on loyalty cards should be used as the end of the year approaches.

"WARNING TO CONSUMERS TO USE MONEY POINTS"

Deniz warned consumers to use the points accumulated on loyalty cards obtained from companies in the last 2 months of the year, stating, "Similarly, we are warning that the points accumulated on credit cards should also be spent. Because this practice continues only until the beginning of the year. We believe that this practice is wrong. The obligation to use the points accumulated on loyalty cards by a certain date is a situation that puts pressure on consumers and is unfair." he said.

POINTS ARE DELETED IN THE NEW YEAR

Deniz stated that they have been calling attention to this issue for years, saying, "Most companies prefer to delete the points accumulated on cards if they are not used by December 31. In this sense, we recommend that consumers use the points on their credit cards or loyalty cards obtained from companies in their upcoming purchases." he expressed.

Emphasizing that the money points in question are the rights earned by consumers, Deniz continued his remarks as follows:

"The consumer has shown loyalty to you for a long time, made purchases, and accumulated points. Limiting this to December 31 is not an ethical and consumer-oriented approach. During this period, we invite consumers to use their accumulated money points as much as possible in their expenditures."

"BUSINESSES SHOULD ABANDON SUCH PRACTICES"

İbrahim Güllü, Vice President of the Consumer Confederation (TÜKONFED), stated that loyalty cards are a system that provides certain advantages to customers by businesses, saying, "When evaluated from the consumer's perspective, it is a positive practice." he said.

Pointing out that the money points on loyalty cards reset at the end of each year, Güllü stated, "We think that many businesses do this. This action of resetting should be evaluated as unethical and as taking back the rights earned from the consumer. Because this is an earned right." he said.

"EARNED RIGHTS CANNOT BE TAKEN BACK UNILATERALLY"

Güllü mentioned that if a warning is made at the time the card is issued that the money points will reset at the end of each year, there might be some justification, saying, "But even if this is done, earned rights cannot be taken back unilaterally. In this respect, businesses should abandon such practices. We consider this an unethical practice that goes against the understanding of tradesmanship." he explained.

Güllü, who warned consumers to use their money points, concluded his remarks as follows:

"Consumers should make their purchases without waiting for the end of the year with the points on their loyalty cards, flight miles, or other earned rights in the form of money points. If they appeal to arbitration boards, the retrieval of these miles or money points may be possible, and the arbitration board's evaluation may go in that direction. However, to avoid encountering these risks, we recommend that consumers make their purchases without waiting for the end of the year or as the end of the year approaches."