The Card Card Payment System is one of the most used in Portugal, both in physical and daily services. With millions of transactions processed every day, network reliability is essential to ensure the confidence of consumers and traders.
A simple purchase can end on days of uncertainty and temporary loss. What seemed to be just a technical failure quickly turned into a stalemate between store, bank and customer, without an immediate sight solution. It took place on August 1, in a commercial establishment in Portugal, during an attempted card payment. The terminal indicated network error and, according to Leak news portal, despite several attempts, the operation was eventually considered as refused. However, the amount was effectively debited from the client’s account.
In situations of communications network instability, payment terminals may not receive confirmation of the operation, although it is processed at the source. The result is a ‘invisible’ error that leaves the consumer without the product and without the corresponding value, without either party immediately assuming the responsibility.
System failures leave consumers without immediate protection
The situation is technically designated as a “pending transaction” and can place consumers in a vulnerable position. According to the same source, in these cases the merchant has no registration of payment, while the bank only confirms the debt in the account. The practical result is an impasse: no product and without money, the consumer is unanswered.
Although the return of the amount automatically occurs in many cases, after a few days, there are other situations where only the insistence with customer support services allows to unlock the reimbursement. According to the source mentioned above, sending proof and codes of the operation can accelerate the process.
Preventive measures can avoid similar disorders
To avoid this type of situation, the same source suggests some precautions. Among them, avoid multibanco payments by approach to terminals that are slow or “network error messages”, always check if the network is stable before completing the operation and, in case of failure, wait a few seconds before repeating the attempt.
In case of error, it is essential to capture a photograph of the terminal, keep the proof of the transaction in the application of the bank or MB Way and immediately contact the customer support of the banking institution with all available data.
Similar problems have already been reported in other establishments
The case reported earlier this month is not isolated. There are other similar records of technical failures that have caused temporary damage to users, especially in small shops and cafes, where terminals are not always up to date. According to the number of complaints related to network failures has been increasing, although most end up resolved without the need for legal intervention.
In the same situation, many consumers admit not to know who they should address the complaint. The bank refers to the merchant, the merchant refers to the terminal management entity, and the customer is in the middle, without immediate solution.
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