MCDONALD'S fans are only just realising their loyalty points have an expiry date and they're rushing to use them before they run out.
The MyMcDonald's Rewards scheme is still fairly new, only being introduced last year.
It first came in last January to just 75 restaurants and was later rolled out nationwide from July 2022.
For that reason, users can be forgiven for not quite knowing the full terms and conditions of how the points system works.
Customers collect points by buying food from the fast food chain, and exchanging these points for their favourite meals.
There are several items you can get for free once you've earned enough points, including popular breakfast items and McFlurrys.
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Fans of the scheme have shared their shock recently after finding that their hard-earned points can actually run out of date.
One wrote: "Never really took note of the McDonald’s reward points until I had a notification to say they were expiring. Well worth it.
"Can only add five items per order so went round twice.
"Had to pay for the milkshake, smoothie and one meal (didn’t think a third time through drive-thru was appropriate) but all this for less than £13."
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The Facebook user shared a picture of her four burgers, three lots of chicken nuggets, six portions of fries and three drinks – the majority of which was bought using her points.
The post was flooded with baffled comments from Maccis fans who had no idea their points had an expiration date.
One wrote: "Oh how soon do the points expire? What time frame do you need to use them?"
Another said: "I didn't know they expire! I have 42,350 when did it say yours would expire?"
A third commented: "Where does it say they expire i have 28,000."
And a fourth wrote: "I didn't know they expire either until I got a notification and email yesterday to say some of mine would expire on September 1! I'll be making sure I use them up."
While another said: "When do reward points expire!? I didn’t know this!"
But it is true, all good things must come to an end and your MyMcDonald's Rewards points will expire on the last day of the 12th month after you earned them.
For example, if you earn points on August 1, 2023, you can redeem these points until August 30, 2024.
You can check how many points you have an when they expire on the app.
Simply head over to the history section and it will tell you how long you have left on them.
The app will remind you with around a month to go, but if you've saved up a load of them it could be a good idea to check sooner so they don't go to waste.
How does the MyMcDonald's Rewards scheme work?
To sign up to the loyalty scheme, you'll need to download the MyMcDonald's app which you can do for free via Google Play or the App Store.
If you order and pay through the MyMcDonald's app, your points will automatically be banked.
If you're not paying through the app, you can get a one-time code – available in the "code" section of your app – at the start of ordering your food at the restaurant counter or using the drive-thru.
Once you've racked up enough points, you can use your app to cash them in to get your food the next time you make a trip or order from the chain.
You can generate a code in the app, which you'll then need to enter at a kiosk or tell your server at the till or at the drive-thru counter when you are paying.
If you're ordering through the McDonald's app, select your treat from the rewards menu tab and add to your order, where a discount will be applied to your order automatically.
You can check your points balance at the "rewards and offers" tab in the app.
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Meanwhile, last month Maccies introduced four new items to the scheme which customers can get when they earn enough points.
Plus, we tried the McDonald’s new summer menu –including a new burger "with a twist".
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