#local help
How can we help?
Answers for #local members and shoppers: your account, your region, and using your gift cards. Tap a question to see the answer.
Own or work at a local business?
Taking gift cards at the till, your QR codes and getting paid are all on Partner help. Not a Partner yet? See how it works.
Your account
How do I create an account?
Go to hashtaglocal.com/signup, or scan the sign-up QR code at a local business. Then:
- Choose Free Account or Insider Membership.
- Enter your name, email, phone number and a password.
- For a free account, press "Create Free Account" and you are in. For Insider Membership, press "Continue to Payment", pay, and pick your Lucky Six.
Your account starts in the region you signed up from. You can change it any time (see Your region below), and upgrade a free account to Insider Membership from the same sign-up page.
What is the difference between a free account and Insider Membership?
A free account gets you The Weekender, our Thursday email about what is on that weekend, and an entry in the current sweepstakes.
- A $50 gift card to a participating local business
- 50 Insider credits for unlocking Exclusive Offers
- Automatic entry in every sweepstakes
- The Daily Update and The Weekender emails
- Their Lucky Six for the Million Dollar Vault
Insider Membership is $100 a year plus HST. Each Insider gets:
How do I sign in?
Go to hashtaglocal.com/login and sign in with your email and password. If you joined through a business or a sweepstakes and never set a password, use "Forgot password" on that page to set one.
I forgot my password.
On the sign-in page, press "Forgot password" and enter your email. We email you a link to choose a new one. If it does not arrive in a few minutes, check your spam folder.
How do I change my name, phone number or password?
Sign in and open Account from the menu. Your profile, password, avatar and Lucky Six are all there.
I have two accounts, or the wrong email on my account.
Email support@hashtaglocal.com from the address you want to keep and we will sort it out.
Your region
What is a region?
A region is the community you follow on #local. It decides which local news and events you see, which businesses are in your directory and Shop, and which sweepstakes and emails you get.
Today #local runs in: Sarnia-Lambton, Erie, Collingwood.
How do I change my region?
Sign in, open Account, change Default Region and press "Update Profile". Your gift cards stay with you whatever region you follow.
My town isn't listed.
Pick the region closest to you for now, and email support@hashtaglocal.com to ask for your community. We use those requests to decide where #local goes next.
Gift cards
How do I get a #local gift card?
Every Insider gets a $50 gift card to a participating local business when they join. If you join through a business's link or QR code, your card is for that business.
Where do I find my gift cards?
Sign in and open Gift Cards from the menu. Each card shows the business, the amount and its code. The code is also in the email you got with the card.
Do #local gift cards expire?
No. Gift cards issued through #local do not expire, even when a membership ends.
Do I have to spend it all in one visit?
No. Under Canadian law a gift card is good for its remaining balance until it reaches zero. After it has been scanned, the business keeps track of what's left and honours the rest on your next visit.
Can I use it at a different business?
No. A gift card is for the business named on it, and it only shows up when you scan that business's code.
Using and checking a gift card
It takes a few seconds at the till, and it all happens on your phone.
How do I use my gift card at a business?
Four steps:
- At the business, tell staff you have a #local gift card. They have a #local QR code at the till.
- Scan that code with your phone camera, and sign in if asked.
- Tap "Use this card now" while staff can see.
- Hold up the green check. Once you have tapped, the card is used. It cannot be used again, and nobody else can use it either.
Exclusive Offers work the same way: scan the same code, tap "See this offer" to read what it covers, then "Use this offer now" when staff are ready.
How does the business know my card is real?
The green screen shows the amount, the business name, your name, the card code, and a clock ticking every second. Staff check it is green, for their business, and the clock is moving. A screenshot has a frozen clock, so it will not be accepted.
I scanned and it says I have no gift card there.
Check you're signed in with the email your gift card is on. The screen tells you which email you're signed in as. Sign in with the other one and scan again.
I closed the green check by accident.
Scan the code again within 30 minutes and the green check comes back with the current time. It will not use the card a second time.
The screen is red and says "Already used".
That card has been used before, and the screen shows the date and time. If you haven't spent it, email support@hashtaglocal.com and we will look into it.
My phone died, or there is no signal.
Give staff your name and the code for your card. It is in your #local account under Gift Cards, and in the email you got with the card. They can mark it used from their side.
Want to see a scan step by step? How #local gift cards work
Sweepstakes and the Million Dollar Vault
What is the Lucky Six?
Every Insider picks six numbers that are theirs for the year. Those numbers are their entry for the Million Dollar Vault and every other #local sweepstakes that needs a guess. You can see and change yours under Account.
What is the Million Dollar Vault?
A vault is sealed with a secret six number combination. If a member's Lucky Six matches it, they win a million dollar local shopping spree. The combination is chosen and secured independently as part of an insured promotion, and nobody at #local knows it.
Do I need a membership to enter the Million Dollar Vault?
No. There's a free way to enter the Million Dollar Vault. The Official Rules explain eligibility and how to enter.
Can I buy a membership for someone else?
Each membership is for one person. You can buy one as a gift in someone else's name, and other people in your household can have their own.
Question not here?
Email support@hashtaglocal.com and we'll answer it, and add it to this page. Or send us a message.
