AWS outage: UK banks, finance services and tools hit as internet goes down - are HMRC payments affected?
Brits may face delays accessing apps, online services, and financial platforms today 📉
- A major internet outage is affecting websites, apps, and online services worldwide
- The disruption is linked to Amazon Web Services (AWS), which confirmed technical issues today
- UK banks and digital financial platforms like Lloyds, Halifax, Coinbase, and Xero are impacted
- HMRC and DWP payments may face delays due to the outage affecting cloud infrastructure
- AWS is working to resolve the problem, and users are advised to monitor official updates
A major internet outage has struck just as Brits prepare for the start of a new working week, disrupting websites, apps, and online services around the world.
The source of the problem appears to be Amazon Web Services (AWS), which has confirmed it is facing technical issues today (Monday, October 20).
In a statement released shortly before 9am BST time, AWS said: “We can confirm increased error rates and latencies for multiple AWS Services in the US-EAST-1 Region.
“This issue may also be affecting Case Creation through the AWS Support Centre or the Support API. “We are actively engaged and working to both mitigate the issue and understand the root cause.
“We will provide an update in 45 minutes, or sooner if we have additional information to share.”
AWS powers cloud computing and API infrastructure for countless major websites and apps worldwide, meaning the outage is causing widespread disruption just as the UK gets back to work.
But which financial services are being affected this Monday morning, and will the outage affect important payments like benefits paid out my HMRC? Find our full, regularly updated roundup below:
Which financial services are affected?
The ongoing Amazon Web Services (AWS) outage has disrupted several financial services in the UK, affecting both traditional banking platforms and digital financial tools.
Customers of major UK banks have reported issues accessing their accounts and services. Among the banks affected are:
- Bank of Scotland
- Lloyds Bank
- Halifax
A Lloyds Bank spokesperson said: “Issues with Amazon Web Services are affecting some of our services right now. We’re sorry about this and ask customers to bear with us while we work to bring all our services back online as soon as possible.”
An error message posted on Halifax’s website read: “Sorry, we’re unable to process your request at the moment. We’re currently having some technical problems.”
In addition to traditional banks, several digital financial platforms are experiencing outages, such as:
- Coinbase
- Xero
- Square
These platforms rely on cloud services and are currently facing technical difficulties. As AWS works to resolve the issues, users are advised to monitor official updates from their financial institutions and service providers.
Will the outages affect HMRC and DWP payments?
Downdetector, a site that monitors online service problems, recorded a surge in reports Monday morning, with over 2,681 complaints about AWS, and around 500 reports of issues on the HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) website by 9am.
Both the DWP and HMRC utilise cloud-based infrastructure, including services provided by AWS, to manage and process benefits payments.
Given the current AWS outage, there is a possibility that some payments, such as Universal Credit, Child Benefit, or Access to Work support worker payments, may experience delays.
If you were expecting a payment today and it hasn't arrived, consider the following steps:
- Check your bank account: Verify that the payment hasn't been processed but is pending in your account.
- Monitor official channels: Keep an eye on updates from the DWP or HMRC regarding the status of payments and any known issues.
- Contact the relevant department: If the payment is significantly delayed, reach out to the DWP or HMRC for assistance. Be prepared for potential wait times due to increased call volumes.
- Document your communication: Keep records of any correspondence or interactions with the relevant departments for future reference.
An HMRC spokesperson said: “We’re aware that customers are having problems accessing our online services, as part of global issues affecting Amazon Web Services. We’re working urgently with them on this matter.
“Our phonelines are currently busy as a result, so for anything that isn’t urgent we recommend calling at a later time.”
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