Most subpostmasters say Horizon IT system still causing shortfalls

A survey of Post Office operators found that almost seven in 10 have had an ‘unexperienced discrepancy’ on the system since January 2020.

Campaigners outside Aldwych House (Jordan Pettitt/PA) (PA Wire)

Thousands of Post Office subpostmasters said they have still witnessed unexplained problems on the Horizon IT system over the past four years.

A survey of Post Office operators found that almost seven in 10 have had an “unexperienced discrepancy” on the system since January 2020.

It comes amid the start of the final phase of the inquiry into the Post Office scandal surrounding the Horizon system, which saw hundreds of subpostmasters prosecuted after Fujitsu’s faulty Horizon system made it appear as though money was missing at their branches.

The Post Office continues to use the system despite heavy criticism over the scandal.

The fresh survey of 16,000 sub-postmasters, which was compiled by YouGov, showed continued concerns over the system.

It showed that almost all of those who have seen further discrepancies on the IT system said they were linked to financial shortfalls.

The survey found that of those facing issues, 35% encountered problems as frequently as a few times a month, with 18% citing problems once a month.

Almost half of subpostmasters, 48%, said they were dissatisfied with how the shortfall issues were resolved, far outstripping those pleased with the Post Office response.

YouGov also found that 49% of sub-postmasters were “dissatisfied” with how the Horizon system still operates.

The research also highlighted frustrations over the compensation scheme to support those affected by the system’s failings and subsequent prosecutions.

Schemes to compensate affected subpostmasters include the overturned convictions scheme for those who had convictions quashed, the group litigation order (GLO) Scheme, which will provide a £75,000 top-up for 555 former subpostmasters who won their lawsuit but received relatively small payouts, and the Horizon shortfall scheme for subpostmasters affected but not covered by these two schemes, who will also receive a £75,000 payment.

The survey found that nearly half of applicants for the Horizon Shortfall Scheme (HSS), around 49%, have said they have been dissatisfied by the scheme.

A Post Office spokesman said: “We are focused on supporting the inquiry to reach its independent conclusions.

“Hearing directly from former and current postmasters is an important part of this work.

“We are determined to learn lessons from the past and improve the organisation for our postmasters and the 10 million customers who rely on us each week.

“The ongoing public inquiry is an important way for us to achieve these aims and we will not be commenting outside of the inquiry at this time.”