GeniUSLoyaltyApp

1. GeniUS accounts are registered and managed by the account holder via the GeniUS Reward APP. Physical cards are no longer issued or accepted.

2. If your GeniUS account remains inactive for a continuous period of 12 months, it will be automatically deactivated, and any remaining cash balance or loyalty points will expire and be forfeited.

3. You will earn 5 GeniUS points for every £1 spent at participating outlets when your account is scanned at the time of purchase. GeniUS points have no cash or monetary value and cannot be exchanged or redeemed for cash. Points cannot be added retrospectively.

4. Discounts and promotions will only be available to customers who scan their active GeniUS Account.

5. There are no refunds for unspent balances linked to catered accommodation or returner deals. These balances form part of the inclusive rent payment governed by the Residences Contract.

6. Cash top-ups made online (i.e. not linked to accommodation) may be refunded in exceptional circumstances, subject to an administration fee of £10. Requests must be made within 12 months of the account’s last activity.

7. Cash balances and loyalty points may only be redeemed for food and soft drinks at participating GeniUS outlets. Exclusions may apply.

8. If your phone is lost or stolen, please reach out to us to block your account geniUS@sheffield.ac.uk. You are responsible for all activity until the account is blocked.

9. The University is not responsible for any losses arising from lost, stolen, or misused accounts.

10. GeniUS Accounts are not transferable and must only be used by the registered account holder. Misuse of the account may result in disciplinary action.

11. The University reserves the right to suspend or terminate any account not being used by the registered account holder.

12. The University accepts no liability if unable to accept card payments, or reward loyalty points due to technical problems.

13. The University shall not be held responsible for being unable to provide services due to events beyond its control (e.g. force majeure).

14. Your spend history will be used to offer promotions and discounts. To opt out, email: geniUS@sheffield.ac.uk.

15. Your date of birth is collected to send you birthday promotions and relevant discounts.

16. All data is securely stored within a UK data centre and managed in compliance with UK GDPR.

17. Staff who have been issued a Hospitality account are not eligible to accrue loyalty points on any Hospitality-related purchases.

18. You cannot earn (accrue) loyalty points on any transaction paid for using loyalty points.

19. All promotions, vouchers, and rewards will expire if not used within 12 months of issue, unless a different expiry date is clearly stated on the promotion.

20. Expired promotions and vouchers cannot be reinstated or reissued.

21. Any promotions or vouchers accrued prior to 25 December 2025 will now expire 31 January 2027, even if they previously displayed a longer expiry date.

22. By maintaining an active account, you agree to receive essential communications about your GeniUS account. You can opt out of marketing messages at any time by emailing geniUS@sheffield.ac.uk.

23. All accounts, balances, and promotions accrued prior to the 25 December 2025 are now governed by these updated Terms and Conditions as of the 01 January 2026.

24. These Terms and Conditions take effect from 01 January 2026 and replace all previous versions.

25. These Terms and Conditions are subject to change. The most up-to-date version will always be available on the University’s website and within the GeniUS app.

26. If you account was created between 29th November 2025 and 5th January 2026, we will share your details with Lolly Ltd, in order to transfer your account to our new till and app provider.

Privacy Policy

What is this Privacy Policy for?

This Privacy Policy explains how UNICUS (part of Accommodation & Commercial Services, University of Sheffield) collects, uses, stores, and protects your personal data when you use our retail outlets, payment systems, or the Genius Loyalty App. We are committed to protecting your privacy and complying with the UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Lawful Basis

Your data will be processed under the lawful basis of consent.

The Mobile App

The Genius Loyalty App is operated by Lolly on behalf of UNICUS. When you choose to download and use the app, we collect limited personal information so we can:

● Create and manage your loyalty account Award points, stamps, and rewards

● Send you offers (only if you opt in)

● Improve your in-store experience

All data is stored securely within the UK in ISO-certified data centres.

Information Collected

We collect the minimum amount of information needed to provide our services:

If you use the Genius Loyalty App:

● Name

● Email address

● Date of birth (to confirm eligibility and send optional birthday rewards)

● Purchase history (for targeted promotions)

If you use our retail outlets:

● Transaction information (items purchased, date and time for reporting analysis)

We do not collect any special category data (e.g. health, ethnicity, biometrics).

How Collected Information Is Used

We use your data to:

● Operate your loyalty account and rewards

● Provide tailored promotions (only with your consent)

● Improve our services and understand buying trends

● Support business operations such as auditing and financial reconciliation

We will never sell your personal data or use it for unrelated purposes.

How Collected Information Is Stored

Your data is stored securely in the UK using:

● Lolly’s cloud platform (Microsoft Azure – London & Bristol data centres)

● Strong encryption for data in transit and at rest

● Role-based access so only authorised staff can view data

● PCI DSS-compliant payment processing through Optomany & Worldpay

Payment card details are not stored by UNICUS or Lolly.

Contact & Communication

If you choose to receive marketing messages from us, we may contact you by email about:

● Rewards and loyalty updates

● Promotions or offers

● App or service changes

You can update your preferences or opt out at any time through the app or by contacting us.

You also have the right to:

● Request access to your data

● Ask us to correct or delete your data

● Close your loyalty account

To exercise these rights, contact: genius@sheffield.ac.uk

External Links

Our website or app may contain links to external sites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of those sites and encourage you to read their privacy notices.

Marketing & Contact Preferences

We will only send you promotional emails if you choose to opt in. You can manage how and when we contact you through the ‘Notification Settings’ on the Genius App. You can withdraw your consent at any time by closing your account.

Resources & Further Information

● UK GDPR

● Data Protection Act 2018

● University of Sheffield Data Protection Policies

● PCI DSS Payment Processing Standards

If you have questions about this policy or how your data is handled, please contact: genius@sheffield.ac.uk

Any changes we may make to our Privacy Policy in the future will be posted on this page and, where appropriate, notified to you by email.

This policy was last updated 19 November 2025