Money Moral Dilemma: Is it fair to keep the loyalty points from doing my neighbour’s shopping?

Ergates · 8 May at 12:23PM

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81988126#Comment_81988126

By absolutely no stretch of the imagination is this "theft". What an utterly absurd thing to say.

Ergates · 8 May at 12:36PM

The OP is the customer of the supermarket, not the gentleman in question, as they're the one who is going to the shop, picking the items and paying for them. The contract exists between the OP and the Supermarket, and the gentleman is not involved at this point. Therefore, any benefits associated with being a customer belong to the OP.

The gentleman then takes the items and reimburses them for the costs - this is a separate transaction.

The cost of petrol has been brought up, but not the unpaid labour that the OP is providing - even at minimum wage, that's over £12 an hour. The gentleman is benefiting from this free labour as well as the reduced prices the OP is providing by using their loyalty app. Any suggestion the OP is morally obliged to also pass on the loyalty points is ridiculous.

highlander58 · 8 May at 12:55PM

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81991237#Comment_81991237

Totally agree. You can’t steal something he doesn’t have. He has no loyalty app & no prospect of getting one. By the sound of it - if the OP didn’t get his groceries for him, plus all the other stuff he does for him - the elderly neighbour would be in a far worse position. But I do still think the OP should make sure he’s known to adult social services etc, in case things get worse or the OP moves away.

gawthorpe4 · 9 May at 4:33PM

I don't see a problem with keeping the points.

I'd opt to tell them, but if you think they won't understand then I wouldn't worry.

As others have said, he probably gets some benefits from you using the scheme, and you're doing them a favour, so I wouldn't worry.

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Nebulous2 · 9 May at 7:15PM

This is a heated discussion, which is how MSE designs some of these moral dilemmas, and as a friend and neighbour I think an argument can be made either way.

However - it is completely unacceptable in a professional setting, and I've known carers be disciplined for just this. Regardless of whether people are doing it as an extra, in their own time, if the person is paid as a carer to support someone then this would be a disciplinary offence.

gawthorpe4 · 9 May at 10:28PM

fair comment.
I was viewing it as a friend or neighbour doing the shopping. Not a professional.

Rob5342 · 9 May at 10:33PM

It's a pointless argument really, just tell the person you are buying shopping for and see if they are happy.

Mrsmoneyspinner · 10 May at 5:50AM

I think this is wrong, the rewards belong to your neighbour, you are helping them as goodwill not for income and you could quite easily do your shopping at the same time as theirs to justify your petrol costs, in fact I can't see why you don't if you are interested in money saving. Someone who is too vulnerable to understand a reward system is being taken advantage of if that reward is taken without their agreement.