Thrifty Tel Inc

Thrifty Tel Inc., a long-distance telephone company that tried to crack the market with an unusual flat-rate pricing scheme, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy Friday. The company said in a statement that the Chapter 11 proceeding, under which a company gains protection from creditors while it attempts to work out a reorganization plan, was required because of "cash flow problems due to severe difficulties with its billing system."

Thrifty Tel Inc. Apparently Defunct: The small long-distance telephone company, which had been operating under bankruptcy law protection, apparently shut down and directed its customers to find another long-distance carrier. The Garden Grove company filed a Chapter 11 petition late last month to reorganize its debts. Customers who tried to make long-distance calls Tuesday got a recorded message telling them to contact Pacific Bell or other carriers at a toll-free number.

Rebecca Bigley is on to Merlin's game. "Here, take a look at this," says the security chief of Thrifty Tel Inc., a small long-distance telephone company in Garden Grove. She presents a printout of a computer message, disseminated to the hacker community by a self-appointed magician who fancies himself as invulnerable. Should a telephone company catch you breaking into its system, "Merlin" advises his disciples, "deny it till your ass falls off."

Thrifty Tel Inc., a small long-distance telephone company that was operating under bankruptcy-law protection, apparently shut down Tuesday and directed customers to find another long-distance carrier. The company, which filed a Chapter 11 petition late last month to reorganize its debts, told customers by recorded message when they tried to make long-distance calls Tuesday that they should contact Pacific Bell or other carriers at a toll-free number.

Thrifty Tel Inc. Apparently Defunct: The small long-distance telephone company, which had been operating under bankruptcy law protection, apparently shut down and directed its customers to find another long-distance carrier. The Garden Grove company filed a Chapter 11 petition late last month to reorganize its debts. Customers who tried to make long-distance calls Tuesday got a recorded message telling them to contact Pacific Bell or other carriers at a toll-free number.

Thrifty Tel Inc., a small long-distance telephone company that was operating under bankruptcy-law protection, apparently shut down Tuesday and directed customers to find another long-distance carrier. The company, which filed a Chapter 11 petition late last month to reorganize its debts, told customers by recorded message when they tried to make long-distance calls Tuesday that they should contact Pacific Bell or other carriers at a toll-free number.

Thrifty Tel Inc., a long-distance phone company based here, said Friday it has agreed to buy National Telephone Network Inc., a Pasadena company that provides operators to assist with long-distance calls from 30 Southern California hotels. Thrifty will issue 100,000 shares of restricted common stock to National Telephone in a deal valued at $300,000. The deal still needs approval from federal bankruptcy court, where National Telephone has filed to reorganize its debt under Chapter 11 of the U.S.

Thrifty Tel Inc., a long-distance phone company based here, said Friday it has agreed to buy National Telephone Network Inc., a Pasadena company that provides operators to assist with long-distance calls from 30 Southern California hotels. Thrifty will issue 100,000 shares of restricted common stock to National Telephone in a deal valued at $300,000. The deal still needs approval from federal bankruptcy court, where National Telephone has filed to reorganize its debt under Chapter 11 of the U.S.

Costa Mesa Acquisition: A Texas operator of telephone services said it has agreed to acquire a Costa Mesa company for an undisclosed price and, at the same time, has ended negotiations to acquire another Orange County firm. SelecTel Corp. in Costa Mesa, which manages and maintains telephone services for the U.S. military and corporate customers, would become a subsidiary of Value-Added Communications Inc. in Dallas under a tentative agreement.

Rebecca Bigley is on to Merlin's game. "Here, take a look at this," says the security chief of Thrifty Tel Inc., a small long-distance telephone company in Garden Grove. She presents a printout of a computer message, disseminated to the hacker community by a self-appointed magician who fancies himself as invulnerable. Should a telephone company catch you breaking into its system, "Merlin" advises his disciples, "deny it till your ass falls off."

Rebecca Bigley is on to Merlin's game. "Here, take a look at this," says the security chief of Thrifty Tel Inc., a small long-distance telephone company. She presents a printout of a computer message, disseminated to the hacker community by a self-appointed magician who fancies himself as invulnerable. Should a telephone company catch you breaking into its system, "Merlin" advises his disciples, "deny it till your ass falls off."