Most people know to plan for their home, savings, and possessions when writing a will. But what about your supermarket loyalty points, Facebook photos, Instagram account, or even personal email?
In today’s world, our lives are increasingly digital. From store loyalty schemes to social media and email, we all leave behind digital assets and accounts that may hold both financial and sentimental value.
While any transfer is still at the discretion of the provider unless you record your wishes, whether through a will or a planning tool like The Farewell Guide, those accounts could be lost, locked, or deleted forever. Schemes have a time limit for the claim of around 6-12 months after death, and usually require a copy of the death certificate and/or proof of executor status.
Below are some examples of how some UK loyalty schemes treat points after death and how you can safeguard your wider digital legacy whether for your loved ones or a favourite charity. It is also worth bearing in mind that as well as having a hidden cash value, executors have a duty to maximise the estate value, plus dormant accounts can be open to fraud.
What Happens to Store Loyalty Points in the UK?
Tesco Clubcard
Tesco allows points and vouchers to be inherited. Families can write to Tesco’s Customer Service with details such as the deceased’s Clubcard number and have the balance moved to a beneficiary’s account.
Sainsbury’s Nectar Card
Nectar points are usually non-transferable, but Sainsbury’s makes exceptions in cases of death if the executor provides legal evidence such as a death certificate.
Boots Advantage Card
Boots permits points to be transferred to a nominated beneficiary. Families should contact Customer Care with account details and proof of authority.
Avios (British Airways/IAG)
Sadly, the terms and conditions for Avios points state they are cancelled when a member dies: the account is closed and balances wiped. Though there are reported cases where a polite letter to BA soon after the death led to a different outcome.
Costa Coffee Club
Costa is more flexible: families can contact customer service and may be able to transfer Beans to another account if proper information is provided.
Superdrug Health & Beautycard
Points aren’t automatically transferrable, but Superdrug will consider transfers on a case-by-case basis if the family emails their support team with relevant details.
The Bigger Picture: Your Digital Legacy
While loyalty points may only be worth a relatively small amount on their owen, together they can represent hundreds of pounds of value, and it’s a shame to let them vanish. But beyond loyalty points, your digital life extends much further.
Think about:
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Social media accounts – Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter/X
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Email – Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo
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Online subscriptions – Netflix, Amazon Prime, Spotify
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Cloud storage – Google Drive, iCloud, Dropbox
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Professional accounts – LinkedIn, business websites
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Photo archives – often the most emotionally valuable asset for families
Unless you record your preferences, your family may struggle to access or close these accounts, or indeed they may be granted access against your wishes.
How Social Media Platforms Handle Death
Facebook lets you either:
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Appoint a Legacy Contact – someone you choose in your account settings who can manage your profile after death (eg. pin a message, accept friend requests, change your profile picture). Using social media like this can also be an easy way of informing wider acquaintances of the death where you don’t have contact details, and also allow those closer to be able to easily view messages which were sent between themselves and the deceased while they were still alive.
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Request Account Deletion – Facebook will permanently remove your profile once notified or it can memorialise the account by adding Remembering before their name.
Instagram (owned by Meta) allows accounts to be memorialised (showing “Remembering” above the name) or deleted. Families must provide proof of death, but you cannot nominate a legacy contact in advance.
Twitter/X
Twitter does not offer memorialisation. A verified family member or executor can request the account’s removal after providing documentation.
LinkedIn allows family or colleagues to request account closure following a death by submitting a verification form and obituary details.
Email and Cloud Accounts
Email accounts are often the gateway to everything else, so they can be crucial.
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Gmail: Google has an 'Inactive Account Manager' feature where you can pre-designate who gets access if your account isn’t used for a chosen period. If nothing is set up, executors can apply to Google but may be refused.
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Outlook/Hotmail: Microsoft may provide a data package of emails and contacts to executors, but does not release the password.
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iCloud/Apple: Since 2021, Apple allows you to appoint a Legacy Contact. Without this, accounts and data are often inaccessible after death.
Other Digital Assets
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Banking & PayPal: Executors must contact providers directly with probate paperwork.
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Shopping accounts (Amazon, eBay): Digital content (Kindle books, iTunes music) is usually non-transferable.
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Streaming services: Accounts are personal and should be cancelled by executors, though family members often just continue using them.
How to Protect Your Digital Legacy
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Record Your Accounts
Make a secure list of loyalty cards, social media accounts, email providers, and subscription services. Include account numbers and login details if safe to do so. -
Set Up Legacy Tools
Use built-in features like Facebook’s Legacy Contact, Google’s Inactive Account Manager, and Apple’s Digital Legacy. -
Include Instructions in Your Will
State clearly how you want loyalty points, social media accounts, and digital subscriptions to be handled. -
Use The Farewell Guide
With The Farewell Guide, you can securely record your wishes about loyalty schemes, digital accounts, and more, alongside wishes for your funeral and any memorial. This ensures your executor has a clear guide without searching through paperwork or guessing what you wanted.
Why Recording Wishes Matters
Without written instructions, families face:
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Lost value – hundreds of pounds of points or vouchers gone.
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Stress and delays – dealing with unresponsive companies and paperwork.
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Emotional strain – not knowing whether to delete or keep social media profiles.
By making your preferences clear in advance, whether through your will or The Farewell Guide, you save loved ones the uncertainty and give them clarity at a difficult time.
Final Thoughts
Loyalty points and digital accounts may seem minor compared to property and savings, but they’re part of the legacy you leave behind. Planning for them now ensures your loved ones can benefit, whether financially (through loyalty schemes) or emotionally (through photos, memories, and messages).
The simplest step you can take today is to record your wishes, either in your will, or more flexibly through The Farewell Guide. That way, nothing important is lost, and your family can focus on what matters most: remembering you.