Long lineups for cash as card payment system crashes

The stress of last minute shopping got even worse Monday when all card payments in Belgium went dormant. The electronic payment system shut down or operated at a snail’s pace during the afternoon’s Christmas shopping rush.

Frustrated shoppers were turned away from cashiers, forced onto the streets in search of a traditional method of payment: cash.

Instead of crowded shops, lineups could be seen snaking along sidewalks outside cash machines while others poured out of banks like it was last call at the bar.

The system crash not only affected shops, but drivers were unable to exit parking garages and holiday travelers were left scrambling when automated ticket machines stopped working at SNCB stations.

The Belgian system operator, Atos Worldline, continues to try to get to the bottom of the problem, but has yet to determine what caused the crash.