Many people have long been using cards instead of cash when paying at the supermarket checkout – but For hours, there were now considerable problems throughout the countryDue to a technical problem at an international IT service provider, many credit, debit and giro cards across the country did not work until late afternoon.
At around 4 p.m., the German banking industry finally gave the all-clear. The problems have been resolved, it was said. “Payments at POS terminals in retail stores are possible again as usual with all cards.”
From early morning onwards it was too significant restrictions on card payments In individual cases, debit and credit cards have been also withdrawing cash at the ATM was difficult. The cards sometimes didn’t work abroad either. The problems were not limited to individual banks.
These large-scale disruptions rarely occur, but have enormous impact
David Riechmann, Specialist lawyer from the Consumer Advice Center NRW
The reason for the restrictions was Problems with an international IT service providerwhich also processes credit and debit card payments for many German banks and savings banks. This was First Data, a company owned by the US group Fiserv, a company spokesperson said when asked. There was a technical problem with some processing services. The banking industry ruled out a hacker attack early on.
Problems with card payments are not uncommon
The problems were widespread and significant, but not record-breakingRestrictions on cashless payments keep cropping up, most recently in May of this year, when software errors caused problems with card payment terminals. Around two years ago, technical problems even led to card payments being out of action for several days.
“These large-scale disruptions rarely happen, but they have enormous consequences, as many people now rely on their cards and carry little or no cash with them in their everyday lives,” said specialist lawyer David Riechmann from the NRW consumer advice center when asked. “At the moment, we can only advise to stock up with sufficient cashbe it at the ATM or emptying the piggy bank at home, so that you don’t have to restrict yourself in your everyday life.”
The dealers have a duty to to point out in good time the lack of possibility of card payment“so that there are no unnecessary nasty surprises at the checkout,” stressed Riechmann.
The disruption also comes as no surprise to banking professor Hans-Peter Burghof from the University of Hohenheim. “The payment processes take place via many different addresses, which makes the system vulnerable,” he says. “No system will always work flawlessly, so it is important to have alternatives.” This could be cash, for example, but the digital euro could also be a valid alternative if normal payment transactions no longer work.
Challenge also for retail
Such problems also pose challenges for retailers. “Disruptions to card payments are always problematic for retailers,” said Stefan Genth, Managing Director of the German Retail Association.Customers are often unsettledwhether they can pay by card at their retailers.”
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