CARD DRAMA
DESPERATE retail staff resorted to using 1980s credit card machines as Visa's network crashed this afternoon.
Manchester Morrison's staff posed with the old credit card imprinters, which they hailed as "king", as millions of people across Europe were unable to make card payments.
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Brits were advised to withdraw cash from ATMs as customers were unable to complete transactions at restaurants, pubs and even in London cabs.
Darren Monks posted a photo holding the imprinter, expressing his joy that he kept the old machines spare for emergencies.
He wrote on Twitter: "So glad I was one of the 'old' 'new' school who kept the carbons spare and checked the emergency fall back kits!"
Twitter users praised their efforts to help customers, with some saying they had to explain to youngsters what they were.
Frustrated customer describes how she was unable to pay for food after Visa network crashes in UK and Europe
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One Tweeter wrote: "That is brilliant, I remember the first and only time I had to run a card payment that way.
"Just had to explain to my young colleague what those were, man I feel old lol."
Another wrote: "I used to hate the click clack machine. Thoughts are with you."
Customers shopping with other retailers resorted to using the imprinters.
Claire from Totton, near Southampton, claimed Asda staff were using the "old fashioned paper swiping machines" to process her payments amid the chaos.
HOW DO CREDIT CARD IMPRINTER'S WORK?
The manual credit card machines were introduced in the 1980s.
A retail assistant places the credit card face up, adjusting the card so all information is visible.
A slip of paper, which should hold the payment information, is put over the credit card.
The assistant is required to hold the imprinter firmly with one hand, while sliding its handle quickly from side to side - creating an imprint.
The sales slip is removed, which should show all information.
Once the imprint of the credit card is successful, the customer is required to sign it, so the retail assistant can rip the perforated edge, keeping the original copy in the till, and giving the customer the photocopy.
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But it appears some customers were able to leave with free goods.
A driver in Derby claimed the customer before him was able to walk freely with items from the petrol garage as long as they would "return and pay tomorrow".
Paul Stubbs wrote: "Bloke b4 me had no cash so they asked him to return+pay tomorrow. Said he would. Asked him 4 his phone 4 insurance.
"He said no. Asked for his name. He said “dave”. Didn’t take his plate, surname or address. Pretty sure he’s not going back."
A Visa spokesman said: "Earlier today, Visa had a system failure that impacted customers across Europe.
"Our goal is to ensure all Visa cards work reliably 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
"We fell short of this goal today and we apologise to all of our partners, and most especially, to Visa cardholders. Visa cardholders can now use their Visa cards as we are currently operating at close to normal levels.
"The issue was the result of a hardware failure. We have no reason to believe this was associated with any unauthorised access or malicious event."
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