QRph, banks and mobile payments

Today, QRph didn’t function properly.

I went out to buy groceries, relying on QRph for payments. It had been working flawlessly for few months until this incident occurred.

At the cashier, I made a payment, but the cashier insisted they hadn’t received it. She even showed me a detailed report from their checkout terminal, which didn’t display my transaction despite my successful payment on my end.

With no other option, I returned the items, requested proof of the missing transaction on their end, and tried to gather my thoughts about what had just transpired.

Later, I reached out to my bank through their app and received a response about three hours later — not too bad. The customer service confirmed that the money had been sent to the recipient bank. They assured me they would conduct a thorough investigation since I provided evidence that the transaction hadn’t appeared at the recipient bank. According to them, it was in a floating status, and their investigation might take 3 to 4 weeks to complete.

Shorty after, I decided to head back home.

Upon returning, it struck me that the cashier had pressed the "Confirm payment" button on their terminal just seconds before I could finalize sending the amount. Could that be the reason?

If so, It's surprising that such a limitation could occur, especially considering the widespread adoption QRph aims to achieve. I mean it could happen everyday if cashiers are not thorough.

Was it the cashier's mistake, an opportunity for QRph to improve, or both?

Mitigation

Few strategies came into mind:

  • Enhance Transaction Synchronization — implement a system where the confirmation process aligns more precisely between the customer's action and the cashier's terminal, preventing premature confirmations.

  • Robust Error Management — error handling mechanisms that prompt for reconfirmation or alert both parties in case of any discrepancy or premature confirmation.

  • Educational Initiatives — educate cashiers and users about the potential for timing issues and provide guidance on how to prevent premature confirmations.

Awareness

In the meantime when using QRph, ensure that your cashier refrains from prematurely hitting the Confirm Payment button before you complete the transaction on your end.

Conclusion

The amount I paid was credited back to my account after 3 weeks.