A major outage at Amazon Web Services (AWS) has thrown the internet into chaos, knocking out websites, mobile apps, and essential services worldwide.
The disruption hit just as the UK was gearing up for the start of a new workweek, with users across industries - from banking to gaming - reporting errors and delays.
Among the affected platforms are high-profile sites like HMRC, Vodafone, Snapchat, Roblox, and Ring. Even more critically, several UK banks have seen their online and mobile services grind to a halt, leaving many people unable to make payments or access their accounts.
UK Banks Go Dark: Lloyds, Halifax, and Bank of Scotland Users Report Issues
For UK customers of Bank of Scotland, Lloyds Bank, and Halifax, the outage has meant being locked out of essential banking tasks, per the Independent.
Downdetector has logged a spike in complaints from users unable to log in, transfer money, or meet payment deadlines.
"Customers trying to log into accounts or carry out transactions have faced errors or delays," one report confirmed, with many wondering if they'll be compensated for any financial fallout.
Am I Entitled to Compensation if I Missed a Payment?
UK banks aren't legally required to offer automatic compensation for short-term outages, unlike telecom companies that must refund customers for internet disruptions.
However, that doesn't mean you're out of options.
Anyone who experienced financial problems due to the AWS outage - such as missed bill payments - can request compensation from their bank.
If you're worried about your credit score due to a missed payment, especially under a credit agreement, you should also notify the company involved to explain the situation.
That way, they may remove any black marks from your file.
"If you can't get the strike removed from your credit score, keep a record of it for any future credit agreements you might have to take out, such as a mortgage."
And if your issue isn’t resolved, there’s always the Financial Ombudsman Service: "If you do have any lasting negative repercussions, you can complain to the free Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS)."
AWS Confirms “Increased Error Rates” as Services Stall Globally
The disruption stems from problems within AWS’s US-EAST-1 region—one of the company’s major data hubs.
Around 8:00AM UK time, users began experiencing delays, timeouts, and failures across various platforms.
According to Amazon’s service status page, the company was dealing with “increased error rates” and significant latency affecting “multiple AWS services.”
Shortly before 9:00AM BST, AWS issued a statement warning of broader system issues: "Support systems (including case submission via its Support Centre and API) may also be affected."
The cloud giant said it is working urgently to fix the issue: "AWS says it is working to contain and resolve the issue and promised to issue further updates within 45 minutes or sooner if new information emerges."
Will Government Payments Like Benefits Be Affected?
With HMRC among the sites reportedly impacted, some users are worried that government-related payments—such as tax credits or Universal Credit—could be delayed.
While no official confirmation has been issued, the outage does highlight the risk of relying heavily on cloud infrastructure for public services.
"As we await further developments, users and businesses alike are reminded of how deeply intertwined modern digital services are with cloud infrastructure, and how vulnerable our workflows can become when that infrastructure falters."
What You Can Do Right Now
- If you're affected, here are some steps to navigate the disruption:
- Use ATMs or call your bank directly to perform essential transactions
- Postpone non-urgent online tasks until systems are restored
- Avoid constant app refreshes or login attempts, which can add to server strain
- Stay updated via official channels from your bank or provider
This isn't the start to a Monday morning we were all hoping for!