FEATURE l GCash Horror Stories: When E-Wallets Go Under Maintenance

There’s nothing wrong with improving the online payment system, but when updates happen frequently without noticeable improvements, it becomes more of a hassle than a help. The inconvenience of constant updates often outweighs the benefits they bring.

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A kind of panic that does not make us scream but embarrassed, and at the same time, frustrated. Imagine that you are in line to pay while holding what you just bought with confidence. Then all of a sudden, it failed to scan. That moment is not unusual for many of us. For the amount of times it occurred, it always leaves us staring at our phones, frozen, wondering if our money just vanished in the system. What's even scarier about it is that the panic comes in many forms and at unexpected circumstances.

"Ano ba 'to, maintenance na naman.”

That is us every time we are about to have a transaction through GCash and suddenly, the system is down again. Gcash promises convenience, and to be fair, most of the time it delivers. No more cash on hand, no more going to ATMs. You no longer have to check for coins in your bag. However, when maintenance strikes, the convenience is nowhere to be found. Yes, you have your money with you. But then, it is all digital! Sometimes, the system maintenance leaves no warning. And that is one of the hardest parts, when the maintenance strikes when it is most needed.

Sender:  “Nagpadala na ako."

Receiver: "Hindi ko pa po narereceive”

Sending money requires patience but with Gcash advocating for convenience, it seems like that convenience becomes a trap. The delay when it comes to sending money makes us paranoid even though we put the correct details. It definitely leave us in limbo. The urge to resend the money is also tempting but at the same time, not worth risking for especially if it is not a personal transaction. You just have to be there, waiting for the receiver to confirm if they receive it. It puts us in the position of getting anxious and uneasy.

"Wait lang, nag-uupdate pa si Gcash.”

What people also talk about are the consistent updates of Gcash in return for a system that is constantly degrading. There were a couple of times where I also had to pay for immediate spendings but it would not open because it needs to be updated. There is nothing wrong with them improving the online payment method but the way it happens most of the time without significant improvements? It is not convenient enough to compensate for the inconveniences of those updates. When you have to pay but you still need to update it in Play Store or Apple Store is time-consuming.

And lastly, and the scariest of them all.

"Bakit zero na iyong balance ko???."

A lot of complaints have been circulating in the internet already showing that Gcash fails to secure the money in their system. Some are worth thousands of pesos while also seeing previous unauthorized transactions. Many are shifting to other online payment platforms because of the anxiety it gives to people who have large amounts of money in such e-wallets. Which is why there seems to be an existing mistrust from the users because Gcash is lacking security when it comes to their funds.

Despite the panic, the delays, and the maintenance, Gcash still holds convenience and accessibility that is why we still keep on using the app. It is just that the system is not perfect and out of our control. Maybe the lesson here is to always carry backup cash on hand—even just a hundred pesos. And be practical enough to not put all the money in digital wallets. After all, technology, no matter how advanced, can still fail us at the worst possible moments so it is better to be always prepared.