Been trying to purchase a ticket on IB today. Entered my Amex details. Get to secure payment redirect page 'Please wait..." Nothing happens. Try again. Same result.

Call Amex, they have no record of a transaction or an attempt to obtain authorisation. Naturally, there is no problem with my account.

Call IB, they locate the two attempts to purchase the ticket, but the agent tells me the tickets have not been issued because the process was not completed. To avoid the possibility of being charged twice, the agent advises me to wait 3 hours and call back to check with them if a transaction has gone through. She gives me the two PNRs.

I call back after three hours and another agent advises me that no ticket has been issued. 'Could we then complete one of the bookings on the telephone?' I ask. No these bookings have now been cancelled. I could make a phone booking if I want, but there will be a EUR30 fee. Can this fee be waived, given there is a problem on their website? No. "You can try again online." I do. Guess what? The secure payment page hungs again.

Called another time. The agent tells me that this is a frequent problem with their website and for that reason they recommend making booking by phone. Nonetheless he refuses to waive the charge.

Its bad enough having a terrible website, but to compound it with stupid policies and incompetently trained and managed call centre agents is shocking.

I would have bought a ticket on EZY already if it was not for their ungodly departure time out of STN!

Just had to vent