Pret A Manger has faced a flurry of criticism after changing the way its subscription service works.
The coffee chain debuted its subscription service back in 2020, which was rebranded to Club Pret in 2023, allowing customers to get five barista-made drinks a day and receive 20 per cent discount on food. It now costs £30 a month to join - meaning you'll save money if you order 10 cappuccinos (£3.30 each) in one month from a high-street store.
Coffee lovers could claim their free drinks with a QR code they could store in their Apple Wallet or on a smart watch - which opened the doors for people sharing their subscription with friends and colleagues, who could easily screenshot the QR code. But Pret has now clamped down on the issue, sparking outrage.
As of March 18, subscribers can only claim their free beverages and food discounts using the Pret A Manger app. This means customers can't share their free coffee with other people.
However, many subscribers have expressed their annoyance at the new rule - arguing the app is riddled with technical issues. Taking to X (formerly Twitter) many loyal customers threatened to leave the subscription for good - or claim they've already cancelled their membership.
"Goodbye Pret, it was nice knowing you. You have gotten greedy and arrogant now so I'm off," fumed one user, who says he's paid for a subscription 'since day one'. Another agreed, commenting: "I have been a Pret member since 2020, I am going to have to cancel now and go elsewhere, instead of making things easier you have made it worse!"
A third added: "Pret moving their subscription from a wallet pay to an app-based thing is a bad decision." While a fourth raged: "There is no way to add the subscription QR code to Apple Watch anymore? I am not allowed to carry my phone during the day. Pret is now dead to me!"
Want the latest money-saving news and top deals sent straight to your inbox? Sign up to our Money Newsletter
"We recently updated how Club Pret subscribers access their QR codes as we continue to invest in our digital offer for customers," a spokesperson for Pret said. "Live QR codes are now available to all subscribers exclusively via the Pret App.
"Our app is currently functioning as normal, but some customers may still need to complete the login process to access their new codes. Anyone with problems accessing their code can contact our customer support team who will be happy to help."
Have you cancelled your Pret Club subscription due to the new rules? Let us know in the comments section below