IF you’ve celebrated a birthday in the past six months you might be able to claim belated freebies and discounts from loyalty schemes.
High street retailers and restaurant chains, including Build-A-Bear, Greggs, and Pizza Express, all run loyalty schemes that give customers perks on their birthdays.
But with lockdown meaning the vast majority of retailers and restaurants were closed between mid-March and mid-July, some chains have extended discounts so shoppers can make the most of them now.
We spoke to eight major schemes to find out what’s happening.
Brewer’s Fayre – free meal
Members of restaurant chain Brewer’s Fayre’s free “Bonus Club” get a free meal on their birthday.
This can be redeemed in-branch using a printed voucher that’s emailed to you or by displaying a copy on your phone.
Those who had a birthday during lockdown were given extra time until August 31 to redeem belated vouchers, but if you’ve missed this new deadline you’ll have to wait till next year.
It’s unclear if any terms and conditions are attached to the offer, such as a minimum spend – HOAR has asked the chain and we’ll update this story if we hear back.
Build-A-Bear – discounted toys
Build-A-Bear’s “Count Your Candles” scheme lets Bonus Club members buy a bear for the same age as their child on their birthday.
So if your child turns two, for example, you’d pay £2 for a bear as opposed to the usual price of around £14.
For members whose children had a birthday during lockdown, you’ve now got until September 30 to redeem the offer, although the scheme may later be extended.
You can get your discounted bear in any store that’s reopened – just let the member of staff know you’re redeeming the offer. The scheme is free to join.
Frankie and Benny’s – 2for1 meals
Diners who register with Frankie and Benny’s free Rewards scheme usually get two mains for the price of one on their birthday, or a bottle of Prosecco for the reduced price of £10 down from £16.49.
To get the offer, you need to show a code that you’ll have been emailed ten days before your birthday, and you normally have 50 days to use the discount.
You usually get the cheapest meal free when you eat in and the scheme is valid on any mains, although the discount only apply to two meals.
The scheme is currently paused due to the coronavirus crisis but Frankie and Benny’s says it will allow customers to redeem vouchers that expired during lockdown when it’s back, although there’s no date for this yet.
Greggs – free sweet treat
Sign up to Greggs’ Rewards via its free app and on your birthday you’ll be sent a voucher to get a free sweet treat.
This could include a doughnut, cookie, or yum yum costing up to £1 and you don’t have to buy anything else to get the freebie.
But as Greggs closed its branches for most of lockdown, it’s automatically extended birthday treat vouchers until the end of 2020.
You just need to show the show the voucher on your phone when you next pop into your nearest store.
H&M – 25% off
Download the free H&M app and become a member and you’ll get 25% off one item on your birthday.
As this voucher can be used both online and in store the Swedish fashion chain hasn’t extended the offer as it says shoppers could still use the discount online during lockdown.
Just bear in mind you can’t use the discount on designer collaborations, special collections or on gift cards, and you must select standard delivery if ordering online.
Krispy Kreme – free doughnut
Join Krispy Kreme Rewards for free online and one of the perks is a voucher for a free doughnut on your birthday.
You’ll get the original glazed version, which normally cost £1.65.
Usually, vouchers are emailed to members who then have seven days to use them but the scheme’s had a shake-up due to the pandemic.
If it was your birthday during lockdown until August 31 you’ll have been given 150 loyalty points known as Smiles. This is enough to redeem a free doughnut of your choice – normally you need 100 for the standard original glazed version.
For those with birthdays from September 1 onwards, you’ll be sent a voucher on the first day of the month you were born, which lasts until the end of the following month.
Paperchase – £5 off
Paperchase shoppers who pick up a free Treat Me loyalty card in store and activate it online can get perks including a free £5 voucher to use on their birthday.
The £5 off is applied to cards automatically on your birthday and can be used both in store and online for 28 days.
But if you turned a year old during lockdown you now have until September 30 to use the discount, although some stores may extend this further at their own discretion.
You don’t have to spend a minimum amount to benefit, although you won’t get the difference refunded if you purchase something for less than a fiver.
Pizza Express – ‘free’ Prosecco
Create a free online account with Pizza Express and you’ll get a free bottle of Prosecco on your birthday as long as you buy two meals.
The cost of a bottle varies by branch and is subject to availability – and you can’t stack the offer with any other discounts.
But Pizza Express has confirmed that anyone with a birthday between March and August can still redeem the freebie.
Members will be sent an email this month detailing how to do so, and the deadline.
For more discounts, these are the chains that have extended Eat Out to Help Out offers into September.
And here are six retailers, including Boohoo and PrettyLittleThing, that will give you money off if you recycle old clothes and shoes.
Plus, here’s how to make hundreds each week using odd-job sites.
