Card machine woe hits Thai restaurant

The Mews Thai restaurant in Poulton has been left without a functioning card machine for almost two weeks, affecting business and with no explanation from the card machine company.
Mews owner Lindon Sedman with the machine. PIC BY ROB LOCK
28-10-2015 — The Mews Thai restaurant in Poulton has been left without a functioning card machine for almost two weeks, affecting business and with no explanation from the card machine company. Mews owner Lindon Sedman with the machine. PIC BY ROB LOCK 28-10-2015

Lindon Sedman, from the Mews Thai restaurant in Chapel Street, said diners have been forced to pay with cash for over a week after his card machine stopped working.

Businesses across the UK have been hit by problems with payment machines provided by Spire Payments, which has issued advice on its website.

Mr Sedman said his machine stopped working following a software update.

He said: “I have been hoping from day-to-day this is going to be sorted out. It is very inconvenient for my customers. I can do 50 transactions on a busy night. It’s not been that bad but we do get some who do not want to pay in cash.”

The venue has been without a working terminal since last Tuesday, Mr Sedman said, although he has now switched provider and is waiting for a new machine to be delivered either today or tomorrow.

He said: “The payment company I use are changing people over to Ingenico.”

Nobody at Squire Payments could be reached for a comment, but the company said on its website it had ‘identified a potential issue’ with some of its models.

It said: “We apologise for any inconvenience caused during this time and are taking every action possible to resolve these issues.

“Thank you for your continued patience and co-operation with this process.”