Last updated at 12:27, Thursday, 17 May 2012

I’m not a big fan of all these club card loyalty swipe things that all the supermarkets and major stores run.

It’s yet another plastic card to carry round and remember to use.

And I don’t like the idea of some computer somewhere logging every time I buy a packet of Jammy Dodgers or kitchen roll.

I know I’m not the only person to forget, or who simply can’t be bothered and I know that thousands, possibly hundreds of thousands of pounds are not swiped through each year.

But how’s this for an idea.

How about all till staff at Boots, Sainsbury’s, Debenhams, Tesco, House of Fraser, the Co-op, Top Shop and Tom Cobley being supplied with a company swipe card that would register any unwanted or unclaimed loyalty points or cashback for charity?

I know all these groups already contribute to good causes, but this could just be another way of helping out in times of need.

Instead of all these points and pennies going to waste forever, the till operators could have a generic store card that they could swipe and all these missed bonuses could be stored away and used by a charity or charities.

As the country is becoming more and more dependent on food banks, the extra points or cash offered by supermarkets could be converted into food from the stores to supply them.

And the points donated by department stores could be magically transformed into clothes for homeless organisations.

At a time when our charities are struggling more than ever to make ends meet and raise funds, when food banks are struggling to keep up with demand they need all the help they can get.

This idea might not result in a massive boost to them, but every little helps as they say.

I sent out an email to several stores last week. I’ve been massively underwhelmed by the response so far.

First published at 11:24, Thursday, 17 May 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk