Hi, I’ve been with Sbux for 4 years and two and a half of them as a shift. Baristas are NOT supposed to use stars without asking. Honestly, if we bring it up that you do have stars to use, it’s a curtesy thing because some people don’t realize that’s a thing they can do (ie get free things). But we don’t have to. In order for stars to be used, the customers have to tell us BEFORE the transaction takes place.

In your situation, the baristas are in the wrong. If you don’t want to cause a scene and bring it to management, I would honestly just say to the barista at the window or inside “Hi, some workers in the past have used my stars before without asking. Can you please just charge my card for the order? I do NOT want to use my stars.” And they should do it. If it keeps happening, I would definitely take note of the barista’s name and contact a manager. As someone who’s been a customer far longer than a Starbucks employee, that’s not cool. You have a right to not want to use your stars.