Categories: Mobile Phones News   Tags: , ,

118800 mobile phone directory sparks privacy fearsA new mobile phone directory service from 118800 which allows people to call up the mobile numbers of strangers launches next week, but it’s already aroused the ire of privacy campaigners.

Connectivity, which owns 118800, launches the mobile phone directory service, with 16m numbers in its database, on 16 June. For £1, you’ll be able to request contact with listed folks from their name and location via the 118800 website, or for 69p over the phone. 118800 then calls the number up and asks the person if they’ll receive the call.

The mobile phone directory has been cleared by the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) already, but privacy campaigners are concerned at how accessible the numbers of complete strangers will be. “The company needs to be far more specific about where it acquired the numbers on its directory,” said Simon Davies of Privacy International.

118800 gets the numbers from market research companies, online businesses and brokers who sell lists of numbers, so everything is above board, but if you’re still worried about that strange person at the bar you fobbed off with a fake number, you can opt out by texting the letter E to 1118800. If this causes even half the scandal Google Street View did on launch, expect much more of a backlash in the coming weeks.

Out 16 June | £1 a call | 118800 (Via Daily Mail)

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  • http://www.twitter.com/ripoffbritain DesG

    It took over 40 phone calls (0800 138 6263) and 2 hours to get through to talk to someone to have my mobile numbers removed and then they tell me that they are just sub-contracted to run the service, and they had been briefed that they would be receiving a lot of flak over this.

    4 weeks to remove, and they will not prevent your number being used during that 4 weeks, also they refuse to send you confirmation that your details have been removed from their database.

    If Connectivity Ltd. are that confident that the service is useful and commercially viable, why do they not use an opt-in policy, instead of buying dodgy lists.

    http://www.twitter.com/ripoffbritain for updates on the 118800 privacy disaster.

  • Daviid

    As I understand it 118800 bought most of their database. Shouldn’t we be more concerned with who they got it from rather than what happens now (given that 118800 say they won’t actually hand it out).
    The 118800 website has some standard blurb about “If you wish to obtain a copy of the information we hold on you” and the data protection act says they have to tell you where they obtained YOUR details. Personally I’m going to write and get the info and talk to the company who told them my number. The £10 is very spendy IMHO but its worth it to confront the people who actually sold my number!

    118800 say to write to:
    118800
    PO Box 2747
    Reading
    RG30 4ZQ

    They say to send a copy of proof of ID and a cheque for a tenner. Strikes me it should be free or at most a quid but I’ll pay the ten pounds if it leads me to the people who made money off of selling my number.

  • tadg

    From my own view, the service is not compliant with a number of key laws and regulations in the UK and I am sure there will be action on this matter.

    It is a fact that a persons details can only be included in a public directory service where that person has been informed of this intention in a clear and transparent manner, and been given the opportunity to agree to an entry in the directory/directory enquiry service. Basically – a person must have opted-in to an entry and this has been confirmed by the telecoms regulator OFCOM and the EU!

    As for paying £10 to find out what the company has on you …. well, yes, they are entitled to charge a maximum £10 admin fee but are not required to charge. Of more importance though is the fact that the LAW states: “Where the data of an individual subscriber have been included in a directory, that subscriber shall, without charge, be able to verify, correct or withdraw those data at any time.” So WHY is the company charging for this?
    I would suggest people complain to the Information Commissioner who responsible for enforcing data privacy law. see http://www.ico.gov.uk

  • D.G. BURGESS

    How can I make my mobile phone ex-directory?

  • George

    I want my number off there system not just ex-directory. They have no permission from me to have my mobile number. They bought my mobile number from a third party to whom I gave my details in good faith. I do not want anyone to profit from my details whether it is the third party or the stupid 118800 who bought it from them.

    Please you people out there do not be fooled by 118800…do your best to teach their likes a lesson.

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