Chess makes move on billing firm

VAR acquires billing specialist Shaftesbury Systems

Richard Btesh: The Shaftesbury customer experience has been highly commended

Acquisitive VAR Chess Telecom has moved to strengthen its Wholesale division by acquiring billing specialist Shaftesbury Systems.

Chess has acquired 45 customer bases in the last six years and said a number used Shaftesbury’s billing and customer care solution, ebillz.

Chess director, Richard Btesh, said: “Without exception, the Shaftesbury customer experience has been highly commended and as a consequence this acquisition had immediate appeal.”

Shaftesbury will become a wholly owned subsidiary of Chess with all its employees continuing to work from its existing office in Potters Bar. However, the firm will now be headed up by Chess business development director Stephen Dracup, with previous owners Howard Chaplin and Philip Broder retained in a consultancy role.

Chaplin said: “We’d been approached by a number of other communications providers to sell but they hadn’t been able to deliver as promised. Chess delivered both on time and money. Philip and I are excited by Chess’ growth plans and we will continue to support them in the future.”