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by bArray 6 days ago
> Adyen will take over GOV.UK Pay card payments for local authorities, police forces and armed forces units from Stripe, as well as pay by bank services, under a three-year contract worth up to £25.3 million.

I would prefer they take this money and either build a payment processor or use an existing UK company. The UK government is addicted to offshoring all contracts it can, and then is surprised when the cheapest possible quote actually ends up ballooning over the agreed amount.
3 comments
mft_ 6 days ago
> and either build a payment processor

Risk, time, complexity, mismatched skill-sets... "getting a new thing built" didn't work so well with (for example) Fujitsu and the Post Office, or the billions spent to little or no avail on NHS digitalisation. Seems to be a case of "damned if you do, damned if you don't".

> use an existing UK company

Are there established UK-based payment processors with equivalent abilities?

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bArray 5 days ago
> Risk, time, complexity, mismatched skill-sets... "getting a new thing built" didn't work so well with (for example) Fujitsu and the Post Office, or the billions spent to little or no avail on NHS digitalisation. Seems to be a case of "damned if you do, damned if you don't".

These projects are possible, it's just clear the current project management structure of the UK government is not up to the task. I would lean heavily towards a UK-based private sector solution.

> Are there established UK-based payment processors with equivalent abilities?

This is the point, there should be one, and the UK government could heavily put their thumb on the scale to ensure that payments are processed within the UK.

It seems mad to have foreign companies make money on UK government fund raising activities.

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sublimefire 6 days ago
If you ever worked with any of the UK gov or agencies you’d understand why it happens. Despite having its own IT in every agency those same agencies buy externally because “it is too difficult”. IT is entangled beyond belief and some of the knowledge is institutionalised. Existing contracts do not make it easier either. Any high ranking clerk is afraid of any risk associated as well. Not to mention the procurement process is hard and lengthy.
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bArray 5 days ago
I understand, but it's why things are desperate to change. I refuse to believe that the UK is fundamentally unable to rise to these challenges, in which can I can only chalk it up to poor government structure and management. These people have a lot to answer for.
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dbbk 6 days ago
I'm sorry? Did you just say you want the UK government to "build a payment processor"?
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bArray 5 days ago
Why is that so insane? Would you be saying the same when the NHS was originally proposed?

It's entirely possible, the fact that the UK government lacks imagination is at great cost to the tax payer. There is no serious long term investment into UK tech, past building AI datacentres for a bubble economy with some of the worst energy rates in the world.

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