COB Credit Union customers upset over inability to use debit cards

Members of the City of Bridgetown Co-operative Credit Union Limited (COB) have expressed frustration at not being able to use their debit cards at Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) and for point-of-sale transactions over the past week.

The inconvenience follows COB’s systems going down last week.

The credit union has been vague in explaining what rendered its services out of use, leaving customers to speculate.

Last Monday, COB sent out a notice stating that all four of its branches would be closed and it was carrying out investigations, although it did not say what had prompted that action. The following day, it informed customers that the branches would remain closed and that the investigation was “at an advanced stage”.

“At this time, no transactions can be performed, including ATM, point of sale and online transactions,” the notice said, adding that in-branch transactions were scheduled to resume the following day.

Customers were able to carry out transactions at the tellers as promised last Wednesday, but COB said work was still continuing on restoring its ATM and point of sale networks and apologised for the inconvenience.

However, with ATM and point-of-sale access still unavailable a week later, some members have become irate.

“It [has been] a week now since I have been trying to get my money and them telling me the ATM not working. I don’t have time to go to the teller,” one of them told Barbados TODAY as she questioned whether a cyber attack was responsible for the situation.

“This thing happening since February 13. They send out a notice that the ATM and point of sale are not working but they are not telling us the truth why they are not working.”

One Christ Church man said he has been trying since Friday to get access to his funds, but has been unable to do so.

He explained that on his way home from work on that day, he visited the Black Rock, St Michael branch but the ATM there was not working and the line of people waiting to go to the tellers was too long for him to wait.

“The current went off and I thought that was a part of the issue so I went to Six Roads and I realised the same thing. I did also try the one in Bridgetown on Sunday,” he said, adding that he was “a little upset” he was unable to access his money as desired.

Repeated efforts by Barbados TODAY to reach COB officials have been unsuccessful

However, one source said some operations were expected to be restored between Tuesday and Wednesday.

Around the middle of last month, the credit union informed members that debit card usage at point-of-sale terminals, as well as mobile, Internet and telephone banking services were impacted by “connectivity challenges”. (MM)