Why are card machines down today? Nationwide issues caused by Microsoft outage
SHOPPERS have reported issues with paying by card, following the IT problem that’s affected computer systems around the world.
Here’s more about where people have faced issues, and what’s behind it.
![Supermarket outage pics
https://www.lbc.co.uk/news/tesco-technical-issue-sainsburys-outage-supermarkets-uk-deliveries/](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/lfm_hshwpng-JS918160223.jpg?strip=all&w=609)
![London, UK- August 10,2021: The retail shop of Waitrose in London.Waitrose Partners (formerly Waitrose) is a brand of British supermarkets.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/img_0427-JS896580622.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
![Morrisons is launching its biggest ever Basket Bonus' to give back to its customers on its 125th birthday. . .The birthday Basket Bonus will give loyalty customers the chance to win points, earn bigger rewards and free products and even have the chance to become a More Points Millionaire.. .During the Morrisons birthday month, all More customers can scan their Morrisons More Card or app in store or online to see if they are in with a chance of a Basket Bonus. This will include anything from free products to up to 5000 extra More Points being added to their More Card account.. .Each week, 10 lucky customers will also become a Morrisons More Points Millionaire, meaning they will claim a whopping £1,000 bonus to spend in store or online just by scanning their card.. .The 125th birthday Basket Bonus will run from Wednesday 19th June to Sunday 14th July and any customer can sign up to the app to be in with a chance of winning. . .Kathryn Heap, Head of Loyalty at Morrisons, said: Running our 125th Birthday Basket Bonus is a way for us to show our appreciation for our loyal customers and allow them to celebrate this special occasion with us. We hope these birthday bonuses add a little extra joy and we cant wait to make some customers More Card Millionaires this summer!. .Morrisons is celebrating its 125th birthday throughout the month of June with special events, offers and activities for customers across the UK. These include selling a limited-edition heritage butter as an ode to the supermarkets history as a butter and eggs stall, launching a £1m charitable fund to enhance community spaces across the UK and special offers on the most loved products and more.. .For more information about the Morrisons More Card, please visit: https://www.morrisons.com/more/ .](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/2306_MORRISONS_125YEARSLOYALTY_CARD_032JPG-JS911410492-1.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
![BEST QUALITY AVAILABLE A hand written note taped to the door of a shoe shop in Cambridge, amid reports of widespread IT outages affecting airlines, broadcasters and banks. Picture date: Friday July 19, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story TECHNOLOGY Outage. Photo credit should read: Richard Woodward/PA Wire](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/TECHNOLOGY-Outage-11002449jpg-JS918164167.jpg?strip=all&w=702)
Where are card machines down?
A number of retailers and customers have reported issues with card payment systems – with many going back to only accepting cash.
It’s as a major IT issue is affecting computer systems for businesses and organisations around the world.
Morrisons reported being affected by the crash, while some Waitrose and Co-op locations are only accepting cash.
One shopper said: “No contactless payment in Morrisons this morning — cash or chip and pin only.”
Another wrote: “Morrisons, contactless payment is down, chip and pin is working so please remember your card! Cheers ta!”
A spokesperson for the supermarket said: “We are experiencing some issues with payment in some stores this morning. We are working hard with our partners to resolve this issue.”
Customers shopping at Gails and Waterstones have also encountered problems in light of the outage.
Wetherspoons pubs have also said they’re cash only.
Shoppers have reported card payments being declined in a number of other stores throughout the morning.
Why are card machines down?
Severe issues at Microsoft have crashed computer systems across the world leaving major businesses, newsrooms and television networks all plunged into chaos.
This has affected equipment used by shops and businesses such as tills, servers and card machine.
Microsoft is used by a huge number of businesses to manage their systems, including those that process payments.
The outage has affected companies who use it alongside cybersecurity protection from a company called Crowdstrike.
They work to protect data from things like viruses and malicious attacks.
![Passengers queue outside London Stansted Airport in Essex, amid reports of widespread IT outages affecting airlines, broadcasters and banks. Picture date: Friday July 19, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story TECHNOLOGY Outage . Photo credit should read: Joe Giddens/PA Wire](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/TECHNOLOGY-Outage-11335992jpg-JS918169998.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
![Screengrab of the message on the Sky News channel. Sky News has been knocked off air online amid reports of widespread IT outages affecting airlines, broadcasters and banks. On Friday morning, a statement on their online page, YouTube and TV channel says: "We apologise for the interruption to this broadcast. "We hope to restore the transmission of Sky News shortly." Issue date: Friday July 19, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story TECHNOLOGY Outage. Photo credit should read: Sky News/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/TECHNOLOGY-Outage-08145591jpg-JS918120189.jpg?strip=all&w=957)
Why are there Microsoft outages today?
Cybersecurity software firm CrowdStrike say they have identified the issue behind the global outage as a flawed anti-viral update.
The firm are reportedly used by Microsoft to handle various updates to their systems.
Microsoft has since announced it is taking “mitigation actions” against the issues.
A spokesperson told Bloomberg that a “resolution is forthcoming”.
In a statement on social media, CrowdStrike said the global IT outage was “not a security incident or cyberattack”, adding: “The issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed”.
What are the Microsoft outages affecting?
Trains, planes, GP surgeries, and TV networks are amongst those who’ve been affected by the outage.
Sky News and Sky Sports have also been rocked by the outages with them going off air completely.
Airports in the UK, Australia, Spain, Amsterdam, Germany, India, and the United States have been affected.
NHS GP surgeries say they’ve been unable to access patient records or book appointments.