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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2012/jun/21/natwest-rbs-customer-technical-hitches
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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| NatWest and RBS customers frustrated by technical hitches | NatWest and RBS customers frustrated by technical hitches |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Millions of NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland customers have been hit by technical problems which have resulted in balances not being updated and online services being unavailable. | Millions of NatWest and Royal Bank of Scotland customers have been hit by technical problems which have resulted in balances not being updated and online services being unavailable. |
| A message on the banks' websites reads: "We are currently experiencing some technical issues which means that account balances have not been updated, and are still showing a balance from Wednesday. Some services are also unavailable online. We are working hard to fix this issue as soon as possible and will keep you updated on progress." | A message on the banks' websites reads: "We are currently experiencing some technical issues which means that account balances have not been updated, and are still showing a balance from Wednesday. Some services are also unavailable online. We are working hard to fix this issue as soon as possible and will keep you updated on progress." |
| It is thought the glitch only affects UK personal banking and business customers, of which there are more than 8 million combined, but NatWest was unable to confirm the details at the time of writing. A spokeswoman would only say: "It's an IT problem. Everyone's attention has been diverted to this area until it has been fixed." | It is thought the glitch only affects UK personal banking and business customers, of which there are more than 8 million combined, but NatWest was unable to confirm the details at the time of writing. A spokeswoman would only say: "It's an IT problem. Everyone's attention has been diverted to this area until it has been fixed." |
| The bank could not say how long it would take for them to solve the problem but it would be keeping more than 1,000 branches open until 7pm to deal with customer inquiries. | |
| Customers have reported being unable to access their bank accounts online and, due to balances not being updated, being unable to pay for goods and services. Small business customers have reported that they are unable to pay staff. | Customers have reported being unable to access their bank accounts online and, due to balances not being updated, being unable to pay for goods and services. Small business customers have reported that they are unable to pay staff. |
| Hundreds of customers were posting angry messages on Twitter about the banks's IT failure. One wrote: "Thanks to your servers being down, I can't check out of my hotel. So I'm missing my flight home from Venice. Thanks." | Hundreds of customers were posting angry messages on Twitter about the banks's IT failure. One wrote: "Thanks to your servers being down, I can't check out of my hotel. So I'm missing my flight home from Venice. Thanks." |
| Another stated: "Disabled people with shopping deliveries are not getting food & essentials thanks to no money going in bank." | Another stated: "Disabled people with shopping deliveries are not getting food & essentials thanks to no money going in bank." |
| There were repeated threats from customers to switch their account away from the banks. One user wrote: "I'll be moving my account as soon as I can." | There were repeated threats from customers to switch their account away from the banks. One user wrote: "I'll be moving my account as soon as I can." |
| Reports also circulated on Twitter about a crowd of angry customers gathering outside a NatWest branch in Reading after being unable to access their accounts. | Reports also circulated on Twitter about a crowd of angry customers gathering outside a NatWest branch in Reading after being unable to access their accounts. |
| Ulster Bank, also owned by NatWest's parent company RBS, has flagged up the same technical issue with its customers. | Ulster Bank, also owned by NatWest's parent company RBS, has flagged up the same technical issue with its customers. |