LEADING UK mobile phone distributor, the Carphone Warehouse, has suffered a blow to its Xmas sales ambitions. Just as it was predicting a bumper festive season, a power failure has hit its Acton HQ.

The problem struck Carphone's strategic offices at around 10 AM this morning (Thursday 13^th). A surge shut down electrical equipment and then triggered the fire alarm so around 2,000 staff had to evacuate the building.

Freezing employees spent around two and a half hours hanging around outside the premises.

It's the second such disaster to hit Carphone in recent months. At the Iphone launch, the company's chip and pin system crashed in many stores.

Consequently for around an hour, Iphone enthusiasts couldn't use their credit or debit cards. In many cases anxious assistants directed potential customers to the nearest ATM/cash machines and accepted payment in cash – something which normally is totally against company policy.

It's unclear just how long the Carphone IT systems will be down this time. µ

L'INQ
Carphone