Iristel working with CRTC to ensure netTalk customers get phone numbers back

Phone service provider Iristel Inc. is working with the Canadian Radio-Television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) for a solution to ensure netTalk customers in Canada do not lose their telephone numbers.

After two years of collecting fees from Canadians but not paying Iristel up to $2 million owed, service was denied to Florida-based reseller netTalk on January 15. About 75,000 Canadian consumers have been affected.

“We apologize for this and we do not feel comfortable putting Canadian consumers in the middle, but we ran out of options and had no other choice,” says Maged Bishara, Senior Vice-President, Iristel Inc. “We’re working with the CRTC to ensure customers can get their phone numbers back and also to ensure netTalk cannot do this again in Canada.”

Under CRTC rules, a telecommunications carrier like Iristel is not allowed to communicate directly with resellers’ customers without special dispensation from the regulator. That is why the CRTC must be part of a solution.

“The netTalk customers’ numbers are reserved pending resolution of this matter. We would like to remind the Canadian consumer that Iristel is a victim of netTalk’s unpaid bills for services rendered and that we will do everything in our power to ensure that the Canadian consumer is not penalized. We apologize for the delay and recommend consumers get a new number from a reputable Canadian provider and once this is resolved they’ll be able to get their original phone number back,” Mr. Bishara says.

Agencies/Canadajournal