Barclays customers hit by third day of payment issues

Barclays customers are entering a third day of issues with payments and transactions as the bank struggles to fix ongoing technical issues.

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

It is not believed to be a cyber attack and the bank has not yet explained what caused the problem, nor how many people are affected.

Barclays is one of the UK’s largest banks, with over 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.

“Your balance may be incorrect and some payments you made or are expecting to receive may not show,” read the message on the bank’s website.

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”.

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

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

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

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

Barclays has apologised and said it will “ensure that no impacted customer is left out of pocket”.

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 is 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.”

In a statement issued on Saturday, a spokesperson for Barclays said the bank was “extremely sorry” and that it was “working hard to fix the issue”.

“Some may continue to see an outdated balance, and payments made or received may not show. Customers should not try to make the payment again”, they said.

“Customers can use their cards and withdraw cash, use our app and online banking, and as soon as these remaining issues are resolved, we’ll let our customers know”.

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