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PayPoint: Energy payments fixed for customers | |
(35 minutes later) | |
Customers were left without gas and electricity after PayPoint terminals across the country went down. | |
Users of the network, which lets people pre-pay for energy at some shops and supermarkets, complained about freezers thawing and having no electricity. | Users of the network, which lets people pre-pay for energy at some shops and supermarkets, complained about freezers thawing and having no electricity. |
Complaints were made on social media on Saturday, before PayPoint later said the service was back to normal. | |
The company, which has terminals in more than 50,000 UK stores, had advised retailers to reset their devices. | |
PayPoint apologised for the inconvenience, saying it had been "working hard" to fix the problem. | |
It is not known how many people were unable to top up their energy supplies during the outage. | |
'Queuing out the door' | 'Queuing out the door' |
Lewis Hall, from Newcastle, told BBC News the situation had been a "nightmare". | Lewis Hall, from Newcastle, told BBC News the situation had been a "nightmare". |
"We've been running to the shops all day trying to get it to work," he said. | "We've been running to the shops all day trying to get it to work," he said. |
"There was almost 100 people queuing out the door who couldn't top up. Nearly everybody who tried it, it didn't work for. | "There was almost 100 people queuing out the door who couldn't top up. Nearly everybody who tried it, it didn't work for. |
"Then she tried mine and it worked, but for the person after me it didn't work." | "Then she tried mine and it worked, but for the person after me it didn't work." |
He said he had spent £60 on freezer food on Friday and had to throw it all away as it was "ruined". | He said he had spent £60 on freezer food on Friday and had to throw it all away as it was "ruined". |
Another customer, who uses crutches, said she had to make six journeys to her local shop as she tried to top up her supply. | Another customer, who uses crutches, said she had to make six journeys to her local shop as she tried to top up her supply. |
In an automated telephone message, PayPoint said it understood issues with the devices had been fixed. | In an automated telephone message, PayPoint said it understood issues with the devices had been fixed. |
It advised shopkeepers: "Please switch off your terminal, leave it for one minute and then reset it. This should resolve the issue. | It advised shopkeepers: "Please switch off your terminal, leave it for one minute and then reset it. This should resolve the issue. |
"We thank you for your patience at this time." | "We thank you for your patience at this time." |
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