Marks & Spencer’s card payment system down across the UK causing chaos for shoppers
The retailer said that the issue was "technical" and had "nothing to do with security"
SHOPPERS have slammed M&S after a card machine glitch meant they were unable to pay by bank or credit card at hundreds of its stores.
Tens of thousands of hungry Brits were left frustrate at lunchtime as the retailer confirmed that one in four of its card machines were down.
One shopper in the M&S branch in Sheffield city centre described scenes of "complete chaos" - with no signs or warning about the problem before customers reached the tills.
Signs were hastily posted on the window outside the M&S Simply Food outlet in Streatham, South London, stating that only cash payments were being taken.
The retail giant said it had no idea when the issue - described as "technical" and "nothing to do with security" - will be resolved.
An M&S spokesman said: "Some of our stores are currently experiencing technical difficulties with their tills and are unable to take card payments at this time.
"We are working hard to resolve this issue as quickly as possible and thank customers for their patience. About a quarter of our stores are affected."
Customers took to Twitter to vent their frustration.
Chris Ince said: "All but one of the tills in the entire of M&S have lost their ability to process card payments.
"There s a huge queue of slightly grumbly older people and fidgety toddlers winding around the food hall."
David Iwanow wrote sarcastically: "Fun day at @marksandspencer with card payments systems down on 95 per cent of the stupid automated tills at West One shopping centre in London."
Jo said: "Just visited your Whitney branch, di a full basket of grocery shopping only to be greeeted at the check outs by a young man who informed me that it was not possible to pay with a card anywhere in the store.
"What the hell is going on M&S?"
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Earlier this year the troubled retailer identified the latest 14 stores facing the axe, following on from the 21 that it has already closed.
In June, hundreds of thousands of shoppers were left stranded at tills across the UK after Visa crashed.
Problems began as Brits were gearing up to start the weekend with the company citing a hardware failure while insisting there was no hack on the system.
Hundreds of Lloyds and Halifax customers were left unable to transfer money due to an online glitch last month.
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