A recent glitch in the Starbucks app has left some US customers with negative points, or ‘Star Debt,’ in the coffee giant’s popular rewards program. According to Business Insider, some Starbucks app users saw their rewards points dip into the negative last month.
The issue reportedly occurred as a result of Starbucks revoking rewards points from users who had used leaked promotion codes online. The coffee chain confirmed that the codes were intended for customers who had attended a promotional event and were eligible for 200 bonus stars, or rewards points, in the rewards program.
In response to the glitch, a spokesperson for Starbucks stated, “We recently identified an issue where some customers had a negative star balance following the removal of improperly added stars.” The spokesperson also apologized for any inconvenience the issue may have caused.
The Starbucks rewards program, which is only available to customers in the US, awards 1-2 stars per dollar spent and allows customers to exchange those points for free drinks or other products. However, the program has faced criticism from some customers who believe it takes too long to accumulate enough stars to receive free products.
Last February, Starbucks revamped its rewards program to require 100 stars to earn a free drink, up from the previous requirement of 50 stars. The change sparked outrage from some customers who felt it made the program less rewarding.
Despite these issues, the Starbucks rewards program remains incredibly popular, boasting over 30 million members in the US alone.
