Barclaycard to leave the UK's Nectar coalition
Following the recent announcement that the UK mobile phone operator Vodafone is to leave Nectar, the Barclays-owned credit card giant and co-founding coalition partner Barclaycard has announced its own withdrawal, also from the end of August 2005. But Nectar already has a new friend in the sector.
An announcement now appearing on Barclaycard's web site (on the page where cardholders would normally register their Nectar card number) closely mirrors the one that appeared on Vodafone's web site last month (see Jun 10, 2005), which read "Vodafone's agreement with Nectar is coming to an end and from 31st August 2005 you will no longer be able to collect Nectar points when you use your Vodafone mobile."
Already ceased The Barclaycard web site's announcement also explains that new Nectar registrations with Barclaycard have already stopped (since July 1st, 2005). The statement reads:
"From 31st August 2005, Barclaycard will stop awarding points under the Nectar scheme. After this date, purchases made on Barclaycard will no longer earn Nectar points. Customers' existing Nectar points are unaffected and you can continue collecting and redeeming points at other Nectar sponsors in the normal way."
According to reports carried by other online news services, Barclaycard is to focus more attention on its travel insurance/backup services instead. The Wise Marketer will bring you more detailed information and analysis as and when it becomes available.
A new friend As we saw last week (see Jul 1, 2005) Nectar has teamed up with a new friend in the credit card arena - American Express - with its new co-branded credit card offering. This launch coincides remarkably well with the withdrawal of Barclaycard from the coalition.
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