Bad User Interface design is not unique to the Web, and Web UIs are particularly difficult. However, sometimes there's no excuse. A friend reports that his regular DSL payments always result in this message: "If your service has been disrupted for non-payment, it will typically be restored within 20 minutes of payment submittal." It's ambiguous and confusing for the regular DSL service consumer to always see this message if the typical case is non-disrupted service. Why can't the payment center know whether service was disrupted before posting disturbing messages? Or at least provide more information: a Web user interface is an ideal place to put a "click here" message for more information about service disruption.

"All user interfaces must be learned. The only intuitive UI is the nipple" -- quote reported second-hand from Slashdot