MedExpress - new tighter rules about sharing codes publicly

[ClaudiaDark]

I've just received this email from MedExpress:

We’re writing to inform you of an urgent change to the MedExpress referral scheme Terms and Conditions.

Effective immediately, we are tightening the rules around how referral codes may be used in direct response to the evolution of regulatory guidance, particularly due to the growing visibility of weight loss treatments online. These changes are designed to protect both our business and our customers from potential enforcement action.

Please read the following carefully:

🚫 Referral codes must not be shared publicly.

This includes posting on social media, online forums, or any other public channels including review sites such as Trustpilot.

✅ Referral codes are for private use only.

They are intended for use by close friends and family, not the general public.

🔎 We are actively monitoring public platforms.

We have introduced AI-powered tools to detect where and how codes are being shared online.

❌ Any code found posted in public spaces will be suspended.

We will also remove any credit earned while the code was publicly shared.

⏳ Already posted your code? You have 48 hours to remove the post.

You have 48 hours to remove a social post where you have previously shared your codes. After this grace period, we will begin revoking credits linked to non-compliant posts.

This is not a decision we’ve taken lightly, but the regulatory environment is shifting and we are committed to acting swiftly to remain compliant.

We appreciate your cooperation in taking this seriously.

The MedExpress Team

Same. I wonder what their legal position allows for. Their T&Cs stated that sharing on social media is permitted. Whilst they could ask for money back now, I’m not sure they could legally enforce it.

MedExpress are the #1 provider of MJ in the UK and their referral codes are littered across the internet. They seem to be facing reprimands from the government, hence the swift change in position?

I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s like a million posts they now need to take action on. I assume they knew they wouldn’t have the resources to investigate every referral code post on the internet, so this 2 day deadline is an effort to reduce the amount of work on their plate.

They charge £10 delivery for WLI. I found that they were still the cheapest option without codes, which I choose not to use. I’ve ordered from them twice and received five needles with each pen for no additional charge. I already had a sharps bin so can’t comment on this.

I have been very pleased with Medicine Marketplace and am due to re-order but I won’t if they are affiliated to MedExpress. I can’t find any evidence to support @QueenOfHiraeth’s claim and I’ve checked the registered details of both with Companies House. MM have a registered address in Preston, Lancs, and ME are registered in Huntingdon, Cambs. There’s also no overlap in the registered personnel. Hopefully she will come back and clarify.

We all know it’s straightforward what would happen to people who have a referral credit balance - that would be removed. However it is unclear what would happen to people who have already used the credit and obtained free of charge orders?

It seems too good to be true that nothing would happen. I imagine they’re going to be inundated with orders from people now trying to use up their credit in the coming days.

MedExpress have said they will be using AI to trawl social media for posts, so I think it's something that can just run continuously and pick up posted codes. It's easy enough to link those to specific customers to produce a list of people who they know have posted them and not been able to remove them. But all they can do is cancel existing credit and block people's codes from future use. They can't attempt to demand money back for credit already given under the terms that existed at the time.

@Bellyblueboy and @Changeyourlifes , you have nothing to worry about. I’m in the same boat as well. I used Medexpress when I was on MJ, I only got 4 pens and my last order was at the end of December though the pens lasted till Feb when I stopped as I was using the bonus dose. I only posted my code on the threads that was on this board back then and people used it and I got money off all the 4 pens I ever bought which was a nice discount.
I’m off MJ now, I still have a credit of £40 left with them because someone randomly used my code in Feb but I’d already stopped MJ so I’m not using the credit and not using the code anymore either.
Medex said they will take the credit off and suspend the code which I don’t need anyway. I’m maintaining well without the jab and never going back on it.
This is what the email said below:

Any code found posted in public spaces will be suspended.

We will also remove any credit earned while the code was publicly shared.

I feel bad for people who may now lose their credits but the rate at which people were peddling the codes and saving up credits, it was bound to happen at some point. I’ve seen some people on tiktok just stockpiling the jabs, many saying they’ll never stop using the Jab because they can ‘afford’ it when it’s really the referral credits they’re banking on using as they never planned on stopping the code sharing, etc, I read or someone who was ‘helping’ out people with jab, like it’s a prescription drug.

I’d like urgent clarification on this too please as I was planning to reorder from Medicine Marketplace today. I also can’t find any link between the companies. @QueenOfHiraeth’s post is potentially libellous if it’s incorrect.

@VelociraptorsVelociRapping Thank you. That's interesting and I admit I didn't go that far and check so it seems I have assumed too much, influenced by my loathing of this particular company and their lack of professionalism.

I based this on seeing unboxing videos on TT of MJ arriving from Medicines Marketplace and quite a number of people expressing surprise that it arrived in MedExpress logo'd packaging. Unfortunately, I can't see the one I remembered as TT is consumed with posts being deleted but think it may have been Ails MJ who runs one of the comparison sites (although that may be another unfounded assertion as it's based solely on my memory!).

I've just checked the GPhC site and, you are right, I can't see any link on there either but, interestingly although a bit off-topic, ME were reinspected in Dec 2024 following "information of concern" received by the GPhC (I can't remember which thread I ranted on when I reported them but I got the impression from the GPhC reply that I was not the only one as they gave advice on how to escalate it to the MHRA). They failed this reinspection and have been given an action plan which might explain their decision to suddenly follow regulatory advice that they have previously ignored.

I'll see if I can edit my last post to reflect the fact my assertion appears unfounded! Thank you

Thanks for clarifying @QueenOfHiraeth. I certainly share your loathing of MedExpress which is why I was horrified at the prospect that I had unwittingly given them my custom.

At the time when people accrued this balance, their terms and conditions allowed for people to share the code. Now that they’ve changed the T&C’s yesterday, why do you think they will go after people to pay for the meds they already had when at the time what they were doing was legal?
There’s a lot of these companies, not only Medexpress that had a referral scheme, many of them still have it and their codes, etc are being posted. They all can change their T&C’s now as they’re allowed to but they obviously can’t go after you to pay for what you used legally.
It’s like M&S having a sale and you bought a trouser for half price. When the sale is over, they’re not going to come and ask you to pay the other half of what you ordered back then. That’s obvious really.

Interesting. I placed my first order with medex in December, and last in Feb when I switched providers.
When I was with them, I definitely read in the T's&C's that the code was only to be shared among family and friends, not on social media.

@sposabagnata Please see my reply to @VelociraptorsVelociRapping
I have reported my earlier post to MN and asked them to correct or delete.

As someone who has ordered from MM can I ask you what was your packaging like please and how did they deliver? The TT poster I saw expressed surprise and quite a few people commented saying the same. Was yours different?

I'm also relieved as I may switch at some point because my provider has not given any open agreement about maintenance, although they did email me and say they approach every patient as an individual. I had not considered MM because I had jumped to that incorrect conclusion

It's interesting isn't it, I post on several forums and ME's name is mud to all regular users. Their business model relies on the constant stream of new customers. I wonder how this change in referral codes will play out for them.

Thank you @QueenOfHiraeth, that is a relief!

Definitely no MedExpress branding on my MM deliveries. I’ve just photographed the branding on the drug labels - it looks like MM is affiliated with a chain of bricks-and-mortar pharmacies in and around Preston called HBS Pharmacy.

As pp has said, they supply swabs, alcohol wipes, and five needles in the price with each pen. Delivery is £10.

My Medicine Marketplace packaging looks like @sposabagnata's. I would definitely have noticed MedExpress branding.

Nothing. They are just going to stop people using their code. It doesn’t effect you.

My mistake about the needles, but with delivery and a sharps bin the 5ml dose would come to £140

Yes, you are correct, it's always said that.

Many pharmacies don't provide sharps bins free of charge though. Ouskh don't for example. You also don't need a sharps bin each time. But yes if you want a bin you'd have to pay for it. They aren't the cheapest for 5mg but they aren't the most expensive either. Are they claiming to be the cheapest?

I have just ordered my second pen with Medexpress (I have no credits), but I’ll change after this, given all of this information. It’s just the hassle of photos/videos etc with a new company that is a PITA isn’t it?

There are so many companies though aren’t they? How to choose 🤷‍♀️ I want efficient service and a company that supports maintenance when the time comes.

No, I suppose not. There are so many providers. I don’t know who to move to 🤦‍♀️

@StrikeForever I hear you. There is no one perfect provider, I guess that's why people move around. I don't have the energy and just stick to one I'm comfortable with.

I am thinking about Oushk - they have a maintenance plan which I am delighted and terrified to say I now need.

My BMI is now 23 so some providers won’t take me - even though I want to maintain not lose more weight

I’ll look at them. On reflection, I may need to stay with med express for a little while due to the code/credit thing. My husband is planning to start and two friends want to change suppliers.

Brilliant result you have there 👏👏👏👏

Did you guys get a reminder email from MedExpress today? Wondering if it’s generic or sent to select people.

I got it