Tauranga firm Global Comms Ltd is stepping in to rescue former Intagr8 customers left stranded following the telco company's collapse last week.

Auckland based Intagr8 fell in to liquidation on Thursday, owing Vodafone at least $1.7 million according to reports in the National Business Review.

Intagra8's Murray Taylor pictured in September. Photo: Bevan Read/Fairfax.

Intagr8 used three wholesale providers – Vodafone, Voyager and Vibe – and it is understood almost all landlines are with Vodafone, while many data connections are either with Voyager or Vibe.

Vodafone terminated its wholesale contract with Intagr8 for non-payment, leaving around 2500 small-to-medium business customers based mainly in the North Island with issues surrounding their communication needs

Vodafone have indicated they will keep running services until January 15, but if an Intagr8 customer hasn't migrated to Vodafone Retail or another service provider by this date, they will be disconnected.

Intragr8 customers were sold office and/or telecommunications technology on the premise that it would be effectively 'free”, because Intagr8 would provide call credits equivalent to the monthly finance leases signed with a third-party finance company, reports Stuff.

Often leases would run for five years, which offers initial benefits but leads to customers paying more in terms of total cost of ownership due to dramatic dropping call rates.

Another common complaint regarding Intagr8 was the equipment, and it is understood that in a number of cases, equipment was not configured correctly or simply did not work.

And according to Global Comms director Haeg Pettersen, Intagra8 customers are now facing signing up to long-term contracts they have not had the opportunity to properly assess.

'Globalcomms are trying to see if we can help customers with the best solution, instead of being forced to re-sign services with suppliers giving 24-48 hours for reconnection terms,” says Haeg.

'We are letting business know that we can provide servicing and support for the PABX equipment that is on lease so they can have someone to help them.”

Bruce Rutherford of the Kaimai View Motel in Katikati told Stuff reporters he is worried about what the collapse will mean for him.

'I might not have any phones tomorrow?” explains Bruce. 'For a business like this it's essential.”

He is concerned he could be left with no phone lines and a debt to a finance company. He said Vodafone has approached him several times asking him to switch to them.

'But I can't, [Intagr8] tie you up. They make you all these promisesl, but they don't call you back. They don't do anything. They're the worst company you ever dealt with in your life."

Intagr8 was set up in 2009 by Murray Taylor, who previously worked for telcos offering 'bundled” deals in Australia. His wife Helen is also an executive.

The pair live in a $2.5 million dollar mansion in Takapuna's most exclusive street.

* Intagr8 has signed up more than 2500 small-to-medium sized business, mainly in the North Island, promising 'the power of your phone bill” will offset the cost of phone equipment and electronics.

* Former Intagr8 figures, Stephen Morrissey and Stephen Mascarenhas, launched a similar company, Nexus Business Solutions, in February. Taylor alleges Nexus has been spreading disinformation about Intagr8 and is taking legal action.

* Dozens of customers have complained to the Commerce Commission about misleading sales tactics and pricing, many saying they didn't know they'd be locked into a contract with a finance company for goods they were told were 'free”.

Vibe disconnected Intagr8 customers from its network on Thursday night, and offered a 48-hour reconnect grace period before former Intagra8 customers are required to sign a new contract with Vibe.

Voyager has indicated the disconnect of Intagr8 customers is imminent. They will be forced to sign a new contract before being reconnected, with no grace period.

Additional reporting: stuff.co.nz