Loyalty programs are often seen as a simple way to earn a few extra dollars off your weekly shop—but the rules behind these schemes can be more complex than they seem.

A recent encounter at a supermarket checkout has exposed a surprising policy that could easily trip up even the most well-intentioned shoppers.

What started as a routine scan of a rewards card quickly spiralled into something far more serious.


A heated moment at a Perth Woolworths checkout shed light on a rule that many shoppers may be unknowingly breaking.

Caterina Tan, who was visiting her boyfriend in Australia, recalled being left ‘still upset’ by the confrontation that unfolded at the Murray Street store.

The incident took place in June, but she only recently felt ready to speak about what happened.


She shared that she had been struggling to scan her partner’s Everyday Rewards card and asked a staff member for help.

Instead of assistance, she was met with a sharp accusation.

‘When I said it was my boyfriend's card she went on a big rant about how I'm not allowed to use his card... She said that I was committing fraud by using another person's card and I’m supposed to use my own Rewards card,’ Caterina said.

‘She wanted to report me to the police.’

According to Caterina, the card had been shared with her by her boyfriend via screenshot, and she had his full permission to use it.

‘I was confused and called my boyfriend but he said it's ok,’ she explained, adding that he had previously used family members’ cards without issue.


Eventually, after an uncomfortable exchange, the staff member helped her apply the Rewards card and Caterina completed her purchase before leaving the store.

‘I felt she was picking on me,’ she said.

Woolworths later confirmed that customers are not permitted to use another person’s Everyday Rewards card—even with consent.

‘Everyday Reward cards should only be scanned by the individual member making the transaction,’ a spokesperson said.


While many Australians may assume sharing a card with a loved one is harmless, the supermarket’s terms and conditions state that each card should be registered to a single person.

Shoppers who wish to transfer points to others must do so using the scheme’s official gifting system.

The rule plays a significant role in Woolworths’ broader data strategy.

Everyday Rewards is a major data-gathering tool, used to track spending habits and tailor advertising to individuals.

The data collected at the checkout is connected to each shopper’s profile and contributes to targeted marketing campaigns.

So while scanning someone else’s card may seem like a minor shortcut, Woolworths makes it clear—it’s not allowed.


In a previous story, we dug deeper into how Woolworths' Rewards program is shaping the way the supermarket tracks its customers' spending habits.

If you’re curious about the data collection behind these policies, we explore it in more detail.

Be sure to check it out for more insights on how your shopping habits might be monitored.


With such a strict policy in place, do you think Woolworths should allow people to share their Rewards cards with family and friends? Drop your thoughts in the comments below!