ROUTEN OFFLINE DURING SHOPPING HOURS

Last night at Canal Walk at 8 tried to get a credit on my debit card for purchases made and was advised everything was offline. No sign so that standing in a queue could be avoided. Also advised from 6 pm this evening the system will be offline again. Why can this be done when the shops are closed at 9? Special trip made for this, third world service for first world prices. Woukd understand if it was a small store or smaller group but fail to understand how a group of this size cannot plan properly.