Chaos breaks out in Toronto as Rogers internet outage takes down debit machines

Interac services are down all across Toronto this morning thanks to a massive, nationwide Rogers internet outage, which means that nobody can use the debit machines at coffee shops, convenience stores, restaurants, gas stations, supermarkets or pretty much anywhere else one might tap a card to pay.

So don't go counting yourself lucky if this Rogers outage hasn't taken down your home internet or mobile phone. You may still be quite screwed once you step out into the world — unless you happen to have a bunch of cash in your wallet.

Issues with debit & credit sytem also due to Rogers. pic.twitter.com/5blVmIKorK

The outage tracking site Downdetector shows that problems with the Rogers network began around 5 a.m. on Friday, with large swaths of southern Ontario, Manitoba, Quebec, and New Brunswick impacted.

Rogers has yet to release an official statement addressing the issue, which at this point seems to be effecting tens, if not hundreds of thousands of people.

Rogers wireless+Internet down Fido Wireless+Internet Down Interac Network Down Cant Call, Cant Text, Cant Use ATM or pay interac anywhere. Cant do Email money transfers Holay. Canada just time tripped back to 1994.

Complaints started pouring forth online in the wee hours this morning as customers woke up to find that their wireless, cable and internet services (all three in some cases) had been knocked out.

As the work day commenced, people started to realize just how messy this ongoing outage might get.

It's more than that: debit and ATM machines are down across all of downtown toronto

"There is currently a nationwide communications outage with a network provider which is impacting the availability of INTERAC services," announced Interac — which is responsible for debit transactions and e-transfers, among other things — just before 9 a.m. on Friday.

"We will provide further information as it becomes available."

Well I should have checked Twitter before I went to 7 different ATM's trying to get money out of the bank

You see, it doesn't matter if you're a Rogers customer when you're trying to buy coffee at a store that runs on Rogers internet. You can't use the machines there.

TFW you get to the bakery and they can only accept cash because the Interac network is down pic.twitter.com/WhC4en5aYt

It doesn't matter if a store uses another provider either, if Interac runs on the Rogers network. You can't use the machines anywhere.

Debit machines are down all across Union station! So much for having breakfast I guess 🤬

Customers at places like Tim Hortons are forming larger and larger crowds at the register as operations turn cash-only, and customers are not pleased.

Interac is down in Canada and people are upset they can't get @TimHortons pic.twitter.com/cRppAPcAcj

Even if you've got enough scratch for a McMuffin, chances are most people aren't carrying around enough physical cash to buy groceries for an entire family.

Cash machines are down too because of Interac…as I sit in the mall on free wifi pondering how to buy food…

The seemingly simple solution of hitting up an ATM for cash is also off the table, with banks reporting network outages and Interac pretty much dormant.

Some people are finding humour in the situation, joking that cash really is king and that they forget how to use paper money.

With Interac payment systems down, I’m forced to use cash for transactions. How does that work again? How many purple bills is the red bill worth?!? 🤔

The vast majority are simply infuriated, not just to be inconvenienced today, but that one network outage could cripple an entire country's digital payment network.

Maps shows how massive the Rogers internet outage is in Ontario and the rest of Canadahttps://t.co/UBGs3XSFte #Canada #Rogers

"The Rogers outage is affecting not just cell phones but internet, ATMs, debit machines and more," wrote one Twitter user. "These are the dangers of one company having such a monopoly in one country."

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Chaos breaks out in Toronto as Rogers internet outage takes down debit machines