Barclays customers are facing a second consecutive day of disruption as technical issues continue to impact payments and transfers, leaving many unable to access their funds.
The outage, which began on Friday, payday for many in the UK and the self-assessment tax return deadline, has caused widespread frustration. Affected customers report difficulties making essential purchases, paying wages, and completing major financial transactions.
Despite Barclays assuring customers that cards and cash machines remain operational, some have said this is not the case. The bank has apologised and pledged to ensure no affected customer is left out of pocket.
Social Media Backlash
Barclays’ response has also come under fire. On social media, customers have criticised the bank for advising them to seek help from friends, family, and food banks if struggling to access their money.
A spokesperson acknowledged the “ongoing technical issues” and urged customers not to attempt repeat payments, as transactions may not immediately appear in their accounts.
Tax Return Anxiety and Business Disruptions
Friday’s self-assessment tax deadline added further pressure, with customers concerned about penalties for missing payments. However, HMRC confirmed late fees will not apply until March 1, and is working with Barclays to minimise disruption.
Widespread Outage Reports
Over 4,000 customers reported problems on downdetector.co.uk, more than double the number on Friday. This incident follows previous outages affecting major UK banks in June 2024 and payment platforms like PayPal in November.
Barclays: ‘We’re Working to Fix It’
A Barclays spokesperson said the bank was “incredibly sorry for the ongoing issues” and confirmed extended call centre hours to assist customers.
“We are working hard to resolve this as quickly as possible and will ensure no customer is left out of pocket due to the disruption,” the bank stated.
No timeframe has been given for a full resolution, leaving many customers in financial limbo.