Staff in shock as Phones 4U falls into administration

Phones 4U has 720 outlets, 550 of which are standalone stores, with a total staff headcount of 5,596. They are all to close with immediate effect.

The retailer posted a similar update to more than 650,000 fans of its Facebook page, as customers begged to know what would happen to phones currently being repaired, and to their insurance coverage.

Scott Williams, who’s Facebook profile indicated that he is an assistant managers at a Phones 4U branch, told fellow employees to “keep your head up and stay strong, it’s a shock to all of us”.

The Facebook post attracted more than 200 comments in the hour after it was posted.

Phones 4U posted a link to the notice on its site from the company's Twitter account.

Matthew Dunstall, who listed himself as working for the company, addressed his colleagues on Facebook: "good luck to everybody in Phones4u, wishing everybody the best for the future".

Staff will be briefed by management in stores and at head office on Monday morning.

No update was posted to the company’s Google+ page, which was last updated on Friday.

Former customers and staff of the retailer took to Twitter to express their shock, and to offer their sympathies to those affected.

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