IT Grinch ruins Chrisco Christmas

in brief A systems glitch has delayed the delivery of Chrisco Christmas hampers to customers this Christmas, but Chrisco remains tight-lipped as to the exact nature of the IT problem.

Chrisco delivers bundles of food and liquor to customers who pay by instalments of between AU$2 and AU$21 per week towards a basket of supplies which arrives in time for Christmas -- however, customers have been experiencing delays to their hampers' arrival and the company told Seven News some customers will not receive their orders in time for Christmas and will be refunded.

As customers wait for their packages, Chrisco has admitted an IT system has bah-humbugged its Christmas: "It was a system glitch to do with newly installed technology," a Chrisco spokesperson told ZDNet Australia. The company could not provide further details.

Customers have expressed dismay on blogs that their hampers have failed to show, with the company hotline currently out of action due to the volume of complaints. "We are currently at peak capacity and are unable to take your call at this time. We sincerely apologise and ask you to call a little later," is the message facing customers trying to reach an agent about their missing hamper.