MyNetFone to pick up PennyTel customers

MyNetFone will pick up the customers from PennyTel and iVoisys after the two companies were placed into liquidation.

PennyTel was placed into liquidation last week amid claims that the company received AU$3.9 million in fraudulent payments from another liquidated company, Hi-Tech Telecom. Customers have reported being unable to top up their accounts since then.

There is hope yet for PennyTel customers, however, with rival voice-over-IP (VoIP) provider MyNetFone yesterday publishing a now-removed FAQ on its website announcing that MyNetFone had been working with the court-appointed provisional liquidator and PennyTel's suppliers to ensure continuity of services for all of PennyTel and IVoisys' customers across mobile, broadband, VoIP, and business. The company said it is looking to restore payment facilities as soon as possible and sign agreements with all of the companies' suppliers.

"We are pleased to announce that we have now secured the necessary agreements to achieve this aim."

The company originally spoken too soon, however, quickly pulling down the FAQ from its website mere hours after posting it.

MyNetFone told ZDNet earlier today that despite publishing a page specifically stating that the company had an agreement with PennyTel's liquidator and suppliers, no such agreement had been reached.

The company later republished the FAQ, announcing that it had secured a deal with the liquidator and suppliers for PennyTel's services.

PennyTel itself has still not responded to requests for comment about the impact of the liquidation on customers. PennyTel's wholesale supplier for mobile services via the Vodafone mobile network, AAPT, declined to comment on the impact that the liquidation would have on AAPT.