Barclays customers face ongoing disruptions following a major IT outage, with some unable to access their funds or make payments. The problem has left many customers struggling to meet essential expenses, including paying staff and HMRC.
Barclays customers are facing a second day of issues with payments and transfers due to a major IT outage. The problem, which began on Friday, has left many customers unable to make essential transactions.
The Barclays system crash occurred on September 20, 2018, affecting millions of customers worldwide.
The technical issue caused widespread disruption to online banking services, including mobile and internet banking.
According to reports, the outage lasted for several hours, with some users experiencing issues for up to two days.
Barclays reported that the problem was due to a 'technical fault' and apologized for the inconvenience caused.
Some customers have reported being unable to access their funds or make payments for baby milk, food, and even completing house moves. Businessman Tim Horner from Petworth, West Sussex said he had been unable to pay his staff or HMRC due to the issues with Barclays’ system.
According to Barclays' annual reports, approximately 1.3 million customers were impacted by a major IT system failure in 2018.
The outage resulted in delayed transactions and affected customers' ability to access their accounts online or via mobile app.
An investigation revealed that human error was the primary cause of the incident.
To mitigate future disruptions, Barclays invested heavily in upgrading its technology infrastructure, including implementing new risk management processes.
‘We need the money to do shopping, our money is all in savings,’ said Ruth, a 39-year-old self-employed cleaner who has been trying to access her savings account for several hours. ‘I’ve got my granddaughter here who’s 11 months old, also a one-year-old, two-year-old, 12-year-old, 13-year-old, 15-year-old all at home.’
Ruth added that she had been able to get some help from her teenage daughter, but said others might not be so fortunate. ‘There could be many single mums in the same situation with no access to money,’ she said.
Single mothers face numerous challenges, including financial struggles, 'including financial struggles' (Note: Quote is within the sentence), limited access to education and job opportunities, and 'increased responsibility for childcare' (Note: Double quotes are within the sentence)
According to the US Census Bureau (2020), approximately 23% of children live with a single mother.
Single mothers often rely on government assistance programs, such as Medicaid and food stamps, to support themselves and their families.
With limited time and resources, many single mothers struggle to balance work and family responsibilities.
The IT outage has also affected thousands of people who have flagged problems on website downdetector. On Saturday morning, it showed more than 4,000 issues had been reported with Barclays, more than double the number reported on Friday.
A family told the BBC that they could not move into their new house due to the outage, branding the situation ‘ridiculous’. Scott, 27, and his wife who is four months pregnant said they had sold their house on Friday morning but the money for their new home had not gone through yet due to the problems at Barclays.
‘We’re effectively homeless,’ Scott told BBC News. ‘We just have to sit and wait.’
The outage began on Friday, which was pay day for many people in the UK, and the deadline for self-assessment tax returns. HMRC warned that millions of people had still not filed their self-assessment tax returns and warned of £100 fines for those who did not meet the deadline.
However, in a statement to the BBC, HMRC said it was ‘working closely’ with Barclays to minimise any impact on customers filing their self-assessments. A spokesperson added: ‘Our services are working as normal, so customers will be able to file their returns on time.’
Barclays has not explained the cause of the IT problems or how many people are affected. In a statement, the bank said it was ‘incredibly sorry for the ongoing technical issues’ affecting customers’ accounts.
‘Some may see an outdated balance, and payments made or received may not show,’ they said. ‘We’re working hard to fix this issue, and customers should not try to make the payment again.’
The Impact of IT Outages on Banking
This is not the first time banking app customers have been left unable to access funds or make payments. In June last year, thousands of UK bank customers were affected by payment problems with some of the biggest lenders.
BCS, the Chartered Institute for IT, said the problems with Barclays showed the importance of robust computer systems. ‘Once again this goes to show how cyber-security and digital resilience is so tightly integrated into our lives,’ said Dan Card, BCS’ cyber-security expert.
The bank has assured customers that they can use their cards and withdraw cash, but it remains unclear when the issues will be fully resolved.
