MSE News: Co-op, Halifax and Lloyds customers hit by banking chaos

societys_child

innovate wrote: »

TBH, I wouldn't have associated the Coop's systems with Lloyds and Halifax until today.

It's a bit odd, but according to the BBC:

A spokesman for the Co-op said a separate problem to Lloyds meant there had been a problem for some Co-op customers in accessing their accounts.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19846157

Seems a strange coincidence tho'

alastairq

This afternoon I made a debit card purchase at Morrison's......ten minutes later, having just bought a tank full of fuel [at Morrison's as well!]....my card was declined.

Luckily I had just sufficient cash on me for the fuel....but I wonder what would have happened had I not?


Since it was a systems failure on the part of the bank [Co-op], would they have compensated me for the trouble, embarrassment and inconvenience of being unable to pay for fuel by the very means with which I [and most of us] are encouraged to pay by?

I doubt it very much!


The very least banks should be compelled to do [given the wholehearted embracing of electronic method of accounting?]...is to immediately notify all major retailers..of the failure.

This would allow the retailer to put in place measures to ensure customers do not suffer further embarrassment.

[Some months ago, the very same Morrison's was announcing issues with debit card payments for HSBC customers.....over the tannoy....!]

Perhaps banks should be made to endure penalties when a customer's debit card is declined due to a fault in the bank's operating system..[as distinct from personal account mis-management]?

Especially when they don't seem to offer the retailer immediate direct contact with that bank to verify the circumstances.


No, I care not one jot about profit-&-loss.....especially when I [or rather, 99% of us all?] have absolutely no choice in the matter of how I receive my income......as once was the case.....cash , cheque or direct payment into bank account of choice?

bossymoo

I logged on to Halifax online mid-afternoon to check my accounts and all was fine. This was about 3pm. Had no idea there was a problem until tonight...

realaledrinker

societys_child wrote: »

It's a bit odd, but according to the BBC:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19846157

Seems a strange coincidence tho'

Genuine co-incidence. Still a year off the takeover per lloyds statement in the last day or so.

Pincher

I think there are cut backs due to the recession that we don't know about, and this is simply the result of taking short cuts and showing through the cracks.

For example, let us say they need three computers:

Two for LIVE running, in a LIVE-LIVE or LIVE-HOT STANDBY mode.

One for testbed to try out software, and exercise install/fallback procedures.

Let us say the testbed is broken, so they can't do proper testing, so they skip some, and approved the release anyway.

I expect mobile phone masts to breakdown, trains to jump rail, and planes to fall out of the sky. Did you hear they are relaxing the rules for pilots and long working hours.

jonmcclelland

My Halifax went offline around 3ish today, when I was just browsing my account balance but 30 minutes later it was showing my balances again. I bank with the Co-Op too but thankfully never needed to check that this afternoon. I was at work so this didn't affect me.

Sorry to all those that were affected though!

pinkdalek

alastairq wrote: »

This afternoon I made a debit card purchase at Morrison's......ten minutes later, having just bought a tank full of fuel [at Morrison's as well!]....my card was declined.

Luckily I had just sufficient cash on me for the fuel....but I wonder what would have happened had I not?

You would have completed a form and been required to come back with payment within 7 days

Since it was a systems failure on the part of the bank [Co-op], would they have compensated me for the trouble, embarrassment and inconvenience of being unable to pay for fuel by the very means with which I [and most of us] are encouraged to pay by?

I doubt it very much!

Banks have their own complaints procedures, had you suffered stress or financial loss as a result of this you would be compensated

The very least banks should be compelled to do [given the wholehearted embracing of electronic method of accounting?]...is to immediately notify all major retailers..of the failure.

They probably do, however realistically how long would it take the message to filter thro? Besides the bank has more important things to get on with such as fixing the fault as opposed to notifying every merchant holder up and down the UK

This would allow the retailer to put in place measures to ensure customers do not suffer further embarrassment.

[Some months ago, the very same Morrison's was announcing issues with debit card payments for HSBC customers.....over the tannoy....!]

Perhaps banks should be made to endure penalties when a customer's debit card is declined due to a fault in the bank's operating system..[as distinct from personal account mis-management]?

Perhaps customers/retailers should have back up plans eg use of cheque books would resolve this no end

These things happen unfortunately. You cannot sue a driver who causes an accident on a motorway and causes you inconvenience as a result?

alastairq

You cannot sue a driver who causes an accident on a motorway and causes you inconvenience as a result?

well...yes, you can.

Particularly if you are directly involved with that collision [accidents do not 'just happen' neither do systems failures!].....whether one is successful in being re-imbursed is another matter....particularly one of 'proof'.


As for banks having 'more important things to do?'

That implies the bank only employs three people, and they're all running around like headless chickens?

Since we are all pretty much compelled to use banking facilities to manage our finances......in other words, in general, a working person [or, someone receiving an income]...has absolutely no choice in the matter of how that income is received.......then...[given our so-called advanced state of technology].....the banks..[who still make a pretty profit from handling/holding our finances]....should ensure, via process, that customers endure zero inconvenience as a result of systems failures.

If that attitude is seen as intolerable, then we should come away from technologies, and return to a cash basis.


As for back-up plans?

That is an incredibly blinkered outlook on economic life. A huge proportion of the population living within the economy do not have that option, or choice.

Why should they be disadvantaged?

That attitude is a bit like me being quite adamant in the [professionally-inspired] view that all road accidents can and could be avoided.

jackyann

used my Co-op card this afternoon - no problem.
However, seeing this thread has given me an insight into why some guys appeared to be having an altercation with an ATM.

digging

opinions4u wrote: »

Contingency is everything.

A bit of cash. More than one card. Use of different banking groups.

My main fallback to my debit card is three credit cards with different banking groups. And a £10 note in my wallet.

I bank with Halifax but also have an account at Barclays with £600 overdraft. (Barclays balance £0). When I couldn't check my balance to mae sure my bills would be covered, I logged onto Barclays and transfered £300 to halifax. :TObviously 2 hours later I could see I had enough in so transfered it back:rotfl:. I too keep a tenner in my purse (for the odd shop that doesn't take card /emergencies etc). I also have 3 different credit cards for back up. I wouldn't want to leave my months shopping in the supermarket because the banking system was down!