Belgium’s new government bond, offering more interest than savings accounts, is popular with the public – if the website isn’t
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Belgians invest €345 million so far in government bond (though website is a source of ridicule)
Lisa Bradshaw
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The Belgian state opened up investments in its new government bond on Wednesday, and so far some €345 million has been invested. Any individual can invest in the bond, which offers 1.93% net interest for a year-long commitment. A 10-year investment yields net 2.59% interest.
The one-year option is by far the most popular, netting €310 million. Investors have until 3 September to sign up for the bond, via a bank or the dedicated website.
Debtagency.be
About that website … Anyone who has invested via the official website before will remember that the site is far from user friendly, and this year the criticism is particularly loud. “It already starts with the URL,” user experience expert Christophe Leuckx told VRT. “The website of Belgium’s Debt Management Office is debtagency.be. That is just not done. You get the feeling you’re visiting a fake website.”
The website is also not in the style of any other of the federal government sites. “This looks like it was built in about 1995, with old images and an odd structure,” says Leuckx. “The information about the new government bond, for instance, requires a lot of scrolling.”
It’s a textbook example of how not to make a website
Crucial information is delivered rather flippantly, he continues. “The interest rate information is included on a photo, and it’s difficult to read on a mobile device. Also, for people with a visual impairment, this information is simply unavailable because they are using screen readers. Every government website, including the VRT, is required to meet strict accessibility standards, and this one does not.”
Leuckx goes on to point out spelling errors, aged visuals and a PowerPoint presentation that comes from another era. “It’s a textbook example of how not to make a website.”
To be clear, the website is safe to use. It’s not security that’s the problem, it’s the sense of a lack of security. Like most people, journalists at VRT noticed these problems years ago and reported them to the Debt Management Office. They were told improvements to the site would be planned. This year they were told that there is no budget for a redeveloped website.