Tesco provide giftcard to grieving widower over saving stamps upset

Marvin Hyde's wife Veronica died just weeks before Christmas from cancer which spread throughout her body, after only being diagnosed on November 15, 2023.

She died not long after on November 19 2023.

After undertaking a clear out in his house to take items to charity, Marvin found the Tesco saving stamps 'book' two weeks ago, but they ran out on December 31 2023.

After taking them to the Tesco store in Farnworth, he says he was told that there was nothing that they could do to reimburse him.

But after The Bolton News stepped in, Tesco agreed to reimburse him the value on to a gift card.

Read more of our stories below:

• UPDATES: Two lanes closed on M61 after crash
• The Prince William Pub in Bolton huge hit with customers

• Bolton Library reopens after multi-million-pound refurbishment

Marvin, 79, who lives in Farnwoth, said: “I found that stamps in January, and I got in touch with the manager at Tesco's in Farnworth, and they said they were very sorry for my loss, but there was nothing they can do.

"I understand they are out of date, but we always go to Tesco every week and she gets the stamp savings.

Marvin Hyde (Image: Public)“It’s just the principle.

“It’s not about the money because I would give the money away to charity, or if I just knew four people, I would give them £20 each because there are people with nothing.

“She saved them up throughout the year for Christmas shopping for all the family so she didn’t have to think about how much was being spent and so she could be organised.

“It’s just wrong, and I can’t understand it because there must be some way to give me the money.”

The saving stamps scheme allows Tesco shoppers to buy stamps during the year, so they can be used at Christmas.

Veronica's stamp book (Image: Public)Although they ended the scheme on October 16, customers had until the end of last year to use any existing ones.

Marvin, 79, – who used to own Apollo Motors in Farnworth - says this has been particularly hard because of Vernoica’s passing – whom he was married to for 58 years.

He says he his housebound and has carers who come and help him get dressed and have a shower, and he says the situation has really upset him.

He added: “I was in a state.

“In circumstances like this where the person has lost someone I thought is there nothing they can do?

“Everybody told me how sympathetic they were, but there was nothing they could do.

“I didn’t have a proper Christmas, I just had my son and daughter come round, because there was nothing anyone could do because I wasn’t in the mood for anything.

“My wife never wanted for anything, and I put her under my umbrella, and we didn’t have much money to start with, but I worked seven days a week and we were comfortable and happy.

“She was a wonderful woman and nobody on this earth who loved anybody like my wife.”

Marvin says he is "grateful" for the giftcard, and glad this has been sorted.

A spokesperson for Tesco said: “We were really sorry to hear about this.

"We have contacted Mr Hyde to apologise and are sending him a giftcard to cover the value of the savings stamps.”

Tesco also said they would encourage customers with queries of this nature to contact their central customer service team.

If you have a story and something you would like to highlight in the community, please email me at jasmine.jackson@newsquest.co.uk or DM me on Twitter @JournoJasmine.