Leap year software glitch pumps brakes at self-service petrol stations
A leap year software glitch is being blamed for a nationwide outage at self-service petrol pumps.
Gull Fuel, Waitomo Group, Allied Petroleum and Z have all reported issues with card payments at self-service petrol stations, believed to be a result of the software system not being programmed to account for the date 'February 29'.
All fuel brands in New Zealand use the same payment provider - Invenco Group Ltd - for outdoor self-service payment terminals. Hawke's Bay App has contacted Invenco Ltd for comment.
One customer Hawke's Bay App spoke to said they had tried several terminals at Gull on Karamu Rd in Hastings but kept getting an "invalid transaction" error on the screen.
Waitomo Group Manager Customer Experience Greta Shirley said the impact for their customers is "quite big", and will be the same at any fuel retailer around the country.
"We share customer's frustrations about how hard this is, and we're just working as quickly as we can," Shirley said.
"The only thing we really can do is put pressure on our suppliers to get this sorted as quickly as possible because we really get what the impact is for Kiwis, and we want to get them sorted and on their way."
She said their customer service team had been handling a "very high call volume today" from customers.
Apart from paying via the payment terminals at their unmanned sites, customers can also pay via their mobile app.
This afternoon, they were at sites giving away jelly beans and directing customers to the alternative payment option.
Shirley confirmed they had been told it was related to the leap year.
"It's really frustrating. Leap years happen every four years, so you wouldn't think it would be a problem, but it is."
Shirley said they had been told it was they had not experienced this issue in previous leap years.
In a statement on social media, Gull New Zealand said they are "working closely with the technology provider to resolve this issue as quickly as possible for our customers".
"We understand the frustration our customers are feeling and we will have a Discount Day next week to make up for the inconvenience."
MORE TO COME.
