Do you think this fair, blue light discount?

[MrsWaltonGoggins]

I tried to use my blue light card in a restaurant today, and they say they only accept it now if you have an nhs or military id. They said this is because they have teachers using the blue light and they believe it should be for healthcare workers only. I said that I am a nurse, I just don’t work for the nhs and don’t really think that’s fair.

Has anyone else come across this? Surely if you offer blue light discount it should be for anyone with a blue light card.

@MovingBird123 Same! I'm a civil servant working for the MOD (RAF) and I'm eligible to join but don't feel like I should be! X

If they want to do that, they should exit the scheme and put up a notice that says present your NHS or military ID for an x% discount.

I agree that the blue light card is becoming a bit of a joke. I have blue lights in my car so am thinking of applying.

Nurse here and blue light holder. I totally agree that places are asking for extra ID. Blue light used to be just a card and people were handing them to their pals to get discounts in various places. In some places you have to show the app as well as your physical card. I’m not sure what everyone’s problem is with showing ID to prove it’s your card.

My friend has a blue light card and near enough every time she’s tried to use it, there’s been a reason why she can’t! I’ve told her to complain cos she’s had nothing but grief from it! As others have said, these companies either accept it or they don’t, they can’t make the rules up and pick and choose themselves, if they want to do that, then they should implement their own discount system!

Good evening, firstly I'll apologise for the fact I'm male, if you want me to leave then I will.
R.E. Blue Light Card, as some of you have already said, there are strict rules you need before you can be entitled to the Blue Light card, the DSDC (Defence Discount card). I have the latter, after serving in the RAF. Companies who advertise that they accept either card, but don't, should be reported so they can be taken off the list. Only once has someone questioned why I have one, I'm lucky enough to have my Veterans card. However, you shouldn't need extra proof of your entitlement, maybe proof it is you but that's it.
To the lady who said she works for the MOD, you ARE entitled to the DSDC. Ok, you aren't full time military but you still work for the military, thankyou, get yourself a card and don't feel like you shouldn't. Also to the lady who's DH is in the Police, he's entitled too, he's a Blue Light Worker.
I hope this helps, I hope I haven't waffled on too much and I hope you don't mind a male posting on here.
Thankyou. 😁

What has you being a bloke got to do with your opinions on the Blue Light card?

Men are welcome to post on mumsnet, just what is the relevance of your sex in this context? 😂

Being called Mumsnet, I felt like I might be imposing on a site for females only and didn't want to offend anyone.

Few would care. Or notice probably. 😂

Your sex is only relevant when it comes to specific topics/gender roles. No need to announce your sex otherwise.

As already said, if this place has agreed to honour Blue Light Card, then they have to give the discount to all BLC holders. I'd report this to BLC - maybe they need a reminder of what they signed up for?

The NHS cards have a photo on and can't be abused.

I have one without a photo and occasionally they ask for additional ID but not always. I accept whatever discount is offered; some offer discounts for the whole group dining and others just the person with the card.

It's a perk at the end of the day.

My local pub offers specific discounts for NHS and Armed Forces- you have to show your ID each time, and they police this themselves.

I'm entitled to, and have, a BLC. I don't work as a blue light professional.

In my experience it tends to be big chains that are signed up but I disagree that it's a nicety as pp has said. Businesses sign-up because they get free advertising and to drive custom. People buy the card to receive a discount. The BLC company make money from administering the scheme.

If a company is getting the free advertising, they should follow the rules of the scheme. So I'd report to BLC.

There is, Defence Discounts. It’s for all MOD.

I think fair enough to ask for ID to show you are the person the card is for but not relating to where you work( that has already been done) we all had to prove we worked at an eligible organisation when we applied for our cards.

It's one of those things thar started out being helpful and lots of businesses signed up. Then social workers etc were added. Last August school workers and homeless workers were added, almost 1m or 25% extra members. I guess companies will leave the official scheme when the expansion gets too much for each preference, and will then just each do their own thing. So if they forgot police then tough, etc. Shame really that they couldn't have kept the scheme how it was, or add extra layers for non-emergency/ military.

Just been on the app to get the Miller and Carter discount and it's disappeared, another one that's left the scheme. Probably because so many people have the card now.

They can. I know someone who left the NHS years ago but still uses their ID to get discounts.

Oh ok, thanks 🤣🤣 I appreciate that 😁

Asda now the latest retailer to fully withdraw from the scheme - I wonder why!

The police often get discounts by showing their warrant cards - I'm a little surprised NHS workers can keep their IDs after they've left, it must be open to abuse.

I worked for a restaurant like this. And we got so many complaints about it. Originally it said we accept Bluelight ID but you had to show the bluelight ID card as well as your occupation ID or play slip. The reason they did this was so many people would use a friends’s bluelight ID so both IDs were needed. They then changed it to NHS, forces or military. But people would kick off over £1.50 discount 😂

If a shop or restaurant wants to give a discount to a certain group, that's their business decision and nothing to do with anyone else.

They can
However with ‘blue light’ it depends on whether they have chosen to offer a discount to particular groups of people or have chose to participate in a specific national scheme such as the ‘blue light discount card’ which is an type of promotion / advertising

They are also perfectly welcome to stop participating as and when they wish

The original post relates to a business that participate/participated in the “Blue light discount scheme”, but then adopted a policy of requiring additional ID because they no longer liked the membership terms of the Blue Light discount scheme. That is a breach of the terms and conditions of the scheme - they
are however entitled to cease to participate in the scheme at any time

www.bluelightcard.co.uk/terms-and-conditions-for-local-businesses.php

The same post was on an NHS post on Facebook. Just show them your NHS card if u are a nurse. No biggy! Superdrug have only accepted NhS card since just after Covid

If you read my posts you’ll see that I don’t work for the nhs.

Blue light cards own employees are eligible for the card. They are working for a private company with no public benefit. This is one of the reasons why businesses that want to give something back to emergency service workers are now having to ask for extra ID. The platform has become an absolute joke.