EPoS System - "lost sales data"

When this small chain of Newsagents realised that their computer system was not capturing all of their sales data they turned to their Systems Supplier for help.

Despite numerous phones calls and visits the System Supplier was unable to resolve the problems blaming power supply fluctuations, telecommunication problems and operator error. Eventually the Newsagents decided to take legal action.

Having eliminated all of the "causes" put forward by the System Supplier I eventually discovered that they had made an untested change to the system and introduced a problem into the data communication process between the remote shops and the head office. This caused the system to shut down the communications link before all of the sales data was retrieved.

The case was settled out of court when the Systems House offered undisclosed damages to the Newsagent.