Customers rush for the exit as 2e2 nears collapse

Meanwhile, a spokesperson from Bridgend County Borough Council, which in 2010 awarded a five-year contract to 2e2 to deliver a software-as-a-service finance system, told Computing that the council was still liaising with the company and considering its options.

"The council has been liaising closely with the company's representatives. We understand that talks are taking place regarding the potential purchase of 2e2's managed service business by another provider, but we are currently looking at all available options," it said.

In 2009, big data analytics firm Kognitio awarded 2e2 a contract for the hosting of its data warehousing as a service environment, and it also told Computing that it was "investigating [its] options".

Alan Owens, partner at law firm Morrison & Foerster, said that in most cases, the contract will give the customer the option to terminate, and that it is now up to the customer to question whether it wants out of the contract or whether it is better off sticking with it.

"I've heard that O2 said they can cope with this, whereas NHS trusts may lean much more heavily on 2e2 and not have a practical option on terminating the contract," he told Computing.

Indeed, a spokesperson from the Sussex Partnership NHS Trust revealed that the NHS contracts would be dealt with as a priority by FTI.

"FTI Consulting has given us their assurances that the NHS will be viewed as a priority. We continue to work with 2e2 to ensure service continuity," the spokesperson said.

The trust awarded a £37m seven-year IT contract to 2e2 only last year and the spokesperson claimed that "2e2 is only one part of a programme to revolutionise our information and communications technology".