What to do when digital payments fail

You’re at the checkout, ready to pay with your smartwatch, aaaand... the payment won’t go through. Maybe there’s no signal, maybe your banking app is acting up, or maybe your smartwatch just died. The result is the same; no payment, no sale.

More and more of us are relying on digital payments and leaving our cash at home. But banking outages happen. Tech can fail at the worst possible times. And then you’re left stranded.

Digital payment failures are more common than you think

Power cuts, cyberattacks, or even a simple software glitch can bring payment systems to a halt.

Did you know that between January 2023 and February 2025, major UK banks suffered 158 IT failures adding up to 803 hours of downtime? That’s more than a month of digital outages in just two years.

Yet, according to research by ATM network Link around 48% of UK adults carry an actual physical wallet every day. That’s less than half. Also, around 7% carry no cash whatsoever.

This is even though most people (61%) have experienced a digital payment failure with around a fifth abandoning their purchase altogether.

Bear in mind, major banking outages may be relatively rare, but they’re not the only way you can experience digital payment failures. A dead phone battery is often all it takes, particularly if you’ve left your wallet – with your cards and cash – at home.

How to avoid getting caught out

There are several things you can do to avoid the embarrassment of a failed payment when tech inevitably fails. Here are some suggestions:

• carry cash – whether it’s a banking outage or a dead phone battery, cash can help you out in a pinch
• bring a physical debit or credit card – if your phone dies, you can still pay your bill
• watch your battery – a dead phone means no digital wallet, but carrying an extra charger or power bank can avoid this
• consider splitting your funds – don’t rely on one bank or one app; for example, opt for a credit card with a different provider to your main bank account
• stay informed – keep up to date with banking outages by following your bank’s social media accounts so you know what to expect

Digital wallets are convenient, but they’re not foolproof. A little preparation, like carrying cash and a spare card, can save you a lot of stress (and embarrassment) when tech lets you down.