'Leap Year Glitch' Resolved: Petrol Stations Back Online in New Zealand

Joseph Henry, Tech Times 29 February 2024, 10:02 am

Petrol stations across New Zealand faced a significant hurdle as card payment systems experienced a day-long outage due to a leap-year glitch.

Brands like Allied Petroleum, Gull, Z, and Waitomo encountered issues with card transactions, affecting fuel purchases for over 10 hours. The glitch stemmed from systems being unprepared to process the date, February 29.

Leap Year Glitch Halts Fuel Pump Operation

(Photo: Liam Shaw from Unsplash)
The leap year glitch was blamed for the sudden stoppage of petrol pumps in some households in New Zealand. However, it's been confirmed that they are back in operation now.

Numerous fuel providers, including BP truck stops, acknowledged the problem and issued apologies for the inconvenience caused to customers.

While BP assured that its fuel cards remained unaffected, Gull spokesperson Julien Leys highlighted that the glitch impacted all fuel brands' card payment terminals, including those of Invenco payment solutions.

Efforts to Resolve the Issue

According to Reuters, Invenco Group Ltd's CEO, John Scott, confirmed the leap-year glitch and assured that they were actively addressing the issue.

Scott emphasized their focus on swiftly rolling out the fix to the network, aiming for resolution as soon as possible. By early evening, he confirmed that the network was being restored, with machines expected to be operational within minutes.

Confirmation of System Restoration

As the evening progressed, Z Energy, Caltex, Allied Petroleum, and other fuel providers reported the restoration of their payment systems. While Waitomo awaited confirmation, their CEO, Simon Parham, expressed optimism about resolving the issue by early afternoon, pending a comprehensive incident report from the software provider.

Alternative Payment Methods

In the midst of the disruption, fuel providers assured customers of alternative payment options, such as in-house apps and indoor payment terminals.

Waitomo Group Manager Greta Shirley emphasized the availability of app payments and urged customers to utilize them for a seamless transaction experience.

"We are really reliant on the payment supplier, but we are hoping they can get it fixed as quickly as possible. It's across the board, but it seems to be mainly affecting outdoor payment terminals, but it's too early to say, we think it is affecting all payment terminals," Leys told NZ Herald, a local news outlet.

Informing Customers About the Glitch

Fuel brands like Gull and Allied promptly informed customers about the technical error via social media and assured them of efforts to resolve the issue. Gull, recognizing customer frustration, announced plans for a Discount Day as a gesture of goodwill to compensate for the inconvenience caused.

Despite the leap-year glitch causing nationwide payment disruption, the collaborative efforts of fuel providers and technology teams resulted in a quick resolution, ensuring uninterrupted service for motorists across New Zealand.