Origin Telecommunications (Defunct)

Synopsis

Written by Ben Loiterton former director Origin. Origin contracted AAPT to provide wholesale fixed line services (local and long distance) in mid 1995. AAPT consistently failed to deliver adequate billing data and consistent invoices over a 12 month period resulting in Origin being massively over-billed. AAPT blamed Testra's wholesale division for the inaccurate billing data, but this was small consolation for the damage that was caused to Origin. AAPT claimed a substantial sum from Origin which was disputed and met with a counterclaim for damages. Consequently Origin migrated its customer base to wholesaler Associated Service Providers (ASP) under an understanding that accurate billing data would be provided. Again there was a dispute over billing data, and an apparent strategy by ASP to make direct approaches to poach our clients in violation of the wholesale agreement. This dispute resulted an alarming development - ASP improperly registered a Company Charge over Origin at ASIC and then purported to appoint a Receiver to the company. By the time Origin had taken injunctive relief to remove the Receiver the company had been discredited in its market and the customer base had been largely poached by ASP/Call Australia under threat of disconnection. As a result the directors had little choice but to appoint an Administrator to Origin. The shareholders and Administrator of Origin commenced, but did not pursue, a significant damages action against AAPT. The creditors and shareholders of Origin suffered losses directly as a result of the actions (and inactions) of AAPT combined with the unethical conduct of ASP/Call Australia.