Woman warned supermarket self-checkout ‘trick’ is actually breaking the law

With the rise of self-service checkouts over previous years, some shoppers have been getting creative.

However, one woman found her checkout ‘trick’ was in fact illegal. While self-service checkouts help cut queue sizes and speed things along, supermarkets occasionally have issued with the way customers use them, reports the Mirror.

One woman who said she puts more expensive fruits and vegetables through as a brown onion instead found out the act was in fact fraud. She defended it by saying she’s “still paying for something”.

READ MORE – Edinburgh set to be battered by rain as yellow weather warning issued

The woman wrote into News.com.au ‘s Sisters In Law, which allows people to put their legal conundrums to sisters and lawyers Alison and Jillian Barrett, about a disagreement she had with a friend.

The lawyers replied to advise: “It doesn’t matter how your friend tries to justify her behaviour, her deceitful conduct in intentionally not paying full price is against the law. “Your friend’s technique of using the self-service checkout to pass off more expensive items as cheaper ones cheats the system by underpaying.

Her fraudulent behaviour is just one of many tricks employed by self-service thieves to avoid payment.” Alison and Jillian, based in Australia, said the ‘tricks’ are costing supermarkets a fortune every year and are actually pushing up the prices of groceries as a result.

Self-checkouts can weigh items to check you’re being truthful, and supermarkets often employ staff and security guards to ensure they are being used correctly – but they also rely on the honesty of their customers.

They warned that “an excuse like getting avocados confused with brown onions is likely not going to cut it” if her friend is eventually caught, and she could being left facing a range of punishments.

In Australia, the legal experts advised that the act can carry either a fine, having to pay for the items and apologise to the store, or even criminal charges if she fails to comply or is a repeat offender. They conclude: “You have to ask, is saving a few dollars on avocados worth the risk?”