CUSTOMERS of Kent Reliance Building Society have been told it is business as usual after the collapse of a financial services partner.

First Call Mortgage Services, based in Maidstone with offices in Gravesend, Walderslade, Herne Bay and Strood, went into voluntary liquidation on September 16.

Apart from its own mortgage work, First Call acted as an agency for Kent Reliance after the Chatham-based society closed a number of branches and employed agencies to handle over-the-counter business.

Rob Procter, deputy chief executive, said the society had terminated its agency agreement with First Call.

He explained that it would make no difference to the running of its operations.

The offices previously run by First Call would continue to be open and serve Kent Reliance customers, he said.

"The company does not employ any of the staff on Kent Reliance work," he said. "There are no links whatsoever. We have throughout retained all the computer equipment and all the ADSL lines and links."

The society would be seeking a new "sustainable" partner to take over the agency agreement.

First Call has been sold to East Lodge Management Company.

First Call’s Neil Harrison said no further jobs would be lost. Five staff had been made redundant earlier this year and the four remaining staff would transfer to East Lodge.

Mr Harrison, who has been in financial services for 20 years, confirmed that the First Call name would be retained.

He declined to say how much the firm owed but added: "I’m truly sorry for people who have lost money and I wish the new owners all the best. For customers, it’s business as usual."

Some parts of the financial services industry, especially smaller operators, have been hit by new regulations and the slump in house sales.