Post Office card accounts hit by computer problem

BBC News
27 July 2011 Last updated at 12:01 ET
Post Office card accounts hit by computer problem

Customers with Post Office card accounts have been affected

Normal service has been resumed after a computer problem blocked access for 3.3 million customers with Post Office card accounts, the organisation has said.

Transactions involving card accounts, as well as debit and credit cards, using the pin pads at branch counters were affected.

A spokesman said all 11,820 branches in the UK remained open.

But he apologised for the problems and said that special arrangements had been made for emergency cases.

Benefit payments
Claimants have their pensions and benefits paid directly into a bank account.

But some pensioners can have these funds paid into a Post Office card account instead. They can then use this card at the Post Office to draw out the money in cash.

It is the keypads in branches across the country that were affected by the computer glitch, the organisation confirmed. The Post Office's network of 2,000 cash machines is unaffected by the problem, which started on Wednesday morning.

There are 3.3 million people with Post Office card accounts. Most use these accounts on a monthly or weekly basis to withdraw money.
Those who found they were locked out of their accounts on Wednesday were able to receive a £20 emergency cash payment. Fewer than 1,000 pensioners and benefits claimants have so far taken this option.

Anyone affected can ask counter staff for the £20 payment once a day, which is paid after the clerk verifies there are enough funds in the account.

'Worrying'
"It would be extremely worrying if the Post Office's computer problems leave vulnerable consumers, especially the many older people who rely on these accounts, unable to access their benefits or pensions," said Andy Burrows, of watchdog Consumer Focus.

"Special arrangements are being made for emergency cases. It is important that all customers are made aware of this and that people are not left unable to withdraw cash when they need it."

People trying to buy items or services, such as travel insurance or foreign currency, using a debit card in branches would have also been affected. They would need to use a cash machine to withdraw money to pay instead.

"We apologise to customers for any inconvenience caused by a problem with the pin pad system in our branches," said Post Office commercial director Martin Moran.

The company said the problem was resolved at about 15.30 (14.30 GMT) this afternoon.
Wednesday is generally the quietest day of the week for Post Office transactions, a spokesman said.

not me....haven't checked since I have no funds to withdraw....lol

07/27/2011 | 11:05 am
BK SNORAS : To the attention of “Internet Bank+” users

2011-07-27

To the attention of “Internet Bank+” usersDear Customers,

Seeking to provide you with the top-quality financial services, we are improving the information systems and technologies used in the bank.

We hereby inform you that temporary malfunctions of the e-banking system "Internet Bank+" are possible on 27 July 2011 from 11:00 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. of the next day due to the works performed on changing the software.

We apologize for possible inconveniences.

AB Bank SNORAS
7 A.Vivulskio Str. LT-03221 Vilnius
Phone: + 370 5  239 2239
Fax: + 370 5  232 7300
E-mail: info@snoras.com

© 2011 AB bank SNORAS

BUSINESS / SERVICES
Australia

 
Westpac System Failure Effects Many Banks And More Customers
By Tony Ibrahim | Tuesday | 2011-07-26

Westpac are experiencing a processing breakdown with its banking system which has effected its own and other customers belonging to three of the four big banks.

The break down has resulted in a delay for customer's making and receiving payments, the extent of which Westpac admit they do not know, claim the SMH. 

As a result customers belonging to other banks who are expecting other payments from a Westpac account will be affected by the failure, Westpac told BusinessDay. 

"Westpac has experienced a delay overnight in the processing of some payments to and from other banks. Customers can still make payments throughout the day, however there will be some delays."

Commonwealth and ANZ confirmed the delays affected them, and promised to deal with them urgently once they receive Westpac's transaction list. NAB was also affected by the banking system breakdown.  

Australia's major banks process overnight payment and transactions in ‘batches', leaving them vulnerable if one bank encounters a glitch. Unaware of what cause the problem, Westpac could not provide a timeframe for when the problem will be fixed. 

"Westpac has mobilised additional resources to restore payment services as soon as possible," the bank said.

They also said that no customers will be a charged late payment fees as a result of the payment delays. 

 

Westpac glitch hits customers across bank network
July 26, 2011

Westpac says customer accounts will be up to date by this evening following a payments processing glitch which hit the bank last night.

Westpac this afternoon said it had completed processing the majority of delayed payments from last night and was now focusing its efforts on clearing the backlog of payments.

‘‘Westpac expects all outstanding payments from today to be credited to customer accounts by this evening,’’ the bank said in a statement.

The breakdown, caused by a "corrupt file" in the bank's payments processing routine, had stopped money from leaving or reaching Westpac accounts and had affected customers of other banks, leaving many short of cash.

Australia's major banks rely on overnight "batch" processing of customer accounts transactions, leaving them open to problems if one institution's routine processing is delayed.

Westpac could not say what had caused the problem, or how long it would take technicians to resolve it.
Australia's major banks are undergoing upgrades of their ageing payment processing systems, many of which were first implemented decades ago.