Barclays says payment issues resolved after tech outage

Barclays has said the “technical issue” impacting payments and transactions for customers has been resolved following three days of disruption.

The bank said delayed payments had been processed and it was working on “bringing balances up to date for some of our customers and addressing any outstanding issues”.

On Friday when the outage began, customers told the BBC they were having trouble with online banking and making essential payments.

The technical issues were not caused a cyber attack, it is understood, but the bank has not explained what was behind the problem or how many customers were affected.

“We are very sorry for any disruption and will ensure that no impacted customer is left out of pocket,” a Barclays spokesperson said on Sunday.

“We are keeping our call centres open for longer this weekend and we will be proactively contacting customers who may be vulnerable.”

Barclays is one of the UK’s largest banks, with more than 20 million UK retail customers.

On Saturday, the website downdetector, which monitors outages, showed nearly 5,000 issues had been reported with Barclays, more than double the number reported on Friday.

On Saturday afternoon, Barclays’ website said problems with its app and online banking were ongoing, and warned customers that they may face issues making and receiving payments.

The website also told customers that their high street branches may not be able to assist with all queries “due to issues we’re facing”.

The Bank confirmed on Sunday that customers could now use its services as normal.

Friday, which was pay day for many people in the UK, was the deadline for self-assessment tax returns.

Some Barclays’ customers said they were unable to make their payments to HMRC.

A statement from HMRC said it was working closely with the bank to minimise the impact on those submitting self-assessments.

It confirmed that issues related to the Barclays outage would not result in late payment penalties as these do not apply until March 1.

On X, the bank advised customers facing difficulties accessing their money to seek support from friends and family or to get in touch with food banks.

In response to one user who said they were unable to access their account, the bank posted a link to the Trussell Trust, a charity which runs food banks nationally.

Emily from Exeter told the BBC that she was spending the weekend on a friend’s sofa after being unable to move into her new house.

“I’m effectively homeless with my two children and two cats,” she said, adding that her children were staying with family.

“My removal van is abandoned with everything I have in it,” the 44-year-old said.

“I’m a single mother who has worked incredibly hard for this and to be left homeless is indescribable.”