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Warning To 18866 Users !!!! (merged)

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sylwright
sylwright Posts: 341 Forumite
Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
in Phones & TV
I have been working at home recently making lots of phone calls safe in the knowledge that it is only costing me the connection fee.

Today the phone was answered by a man saying "Directory Enquiries". When I queried it and said I had just dialled a normal landline number, he asked if I had dialled 18866 first. When I replied "yes" he said "we are 118866, a directory enquiry service"

How sneaky is that, if you make a mistake with your dialling you end up paying for a call you didn't intend.

I have just checked on their website and they are a company called RingTrue Solutions, https://www.ringtrue.co.uk and I have just discovered to my horror that their charges are £1.50 per call plus 30p per minute so it was a very expensive mistake.

Perhaps Martin could highlight this con, I don't think its coincidence that their number is very similar to 18866 and I imagine they make a lot of money from people dialling in error.
Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you
«1

Comments

  • pricefighter
    pricefighter Posts: 2,829 Forumite
    Has been discussed on this site a number of times.

    I warned about it in June 2005 see: http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=65395

    Also discussed here:
    http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=74259&highlight=118866+misdial
    PF.
  • redux
    redux Posts: 22,976 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    very unfortunate, but not a con
  • sylwright
    sylwright Posts: 341 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    redux wrote:
    very unfortunate, but not a con
    Maybe not, but I have just emailed their customer service department on the email address listed on their website and it has been returned as undeliverable.

    :mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:
    Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you
  • iceburn
    iceburn Posts: 680 Forumite
    500 Posts
    It already been highlighted either here or on uk.telecom newsgroup but maybe putting it on the newsletter martin send out would be a good idea.
  • sylwright
    sylwright Posts: 341 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 100 Posts Combo Breaker
    Here is the message that came with the returned email

    Your message
    >
    > To: customer.services@ringtrue.co.uk
    > Subject: Complaint
    > Sent: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 18:54:13 -0000
    >
    >did not reach the following recipient(s):
    >
    >customer.services@ringtrue.co.uk on Mon, 16 Jan 2006 18:59:23 -0000
    > The recipient name is not recognized
    > The MTS-ID of the original message is: c=de;a= ;p=telegate
    >ag;l=TGUK-EXSRVR0601161859CLW9QJCZ
    > MSEXCH:IMS:telegate AG:UK.TELEGATE: TGUK-EXSRVR 0 (000C05A6) Unknown
    >Recipient


    When this failed I tried sending it to one of their other contact email addresses, sales@ringtrue.co.uk, but the same thing happened with that one.

    I would say this seems very fishy. If this is a reputable company then why do all of the email addresses listed as contact details on their website, get returned as not existing?
    Just because you're paranoid doesn't mean they're not out to get you
  • ginger_nuts
    ginger_nuts Posts: 1,972 Forumite
    this is just like any wrong number except a bit more expensive .
    118866 wont change there number and 18866 wont change there number .
    Best to use 1899 .Like it or not YOU dialled the wrong number its not there fault .
    Yes I have done the same thing myself and I learnt from my mistake .I now have an orchid dialler ,I wont get caught again .
  • Stompa
    Stompa Posts: 8,375 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper
    Perhaps Martin could highlight this con, I don't think its coincidence that their number is very similar to 18866 and I imagine they make a lot of money from people dialling in error.

    I don't see how this is a con, don't all directory enquiries numbers now begin with 118?

    Stompa
    Stompa
  • Heinz
    Heinz Posts: 11,191 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture Combo Breaker Car Insurance Carver!
    sylwright wrote:
    Here is the message that came with the returned email

    Your message
    >
    > To: [email="customer.services@ringtrue.co.uk"]customer.services@ringtrue.co.uk[/email]
    > Subject: Complaint
    > Sent: Mon, 16 Jan 2006 18:54:13 -0000
    >
    >did not reach the following recipient(s):
    >
    >customer.services@ringtrue.co.uk on Mon, 16 Jan 2006 18:59:23 -0000
    > The recipient name is not recognized
    > The MTS-ID of the original message is: c=de;a= ;p=telegate
    >ag;l=TGUK-EXSRVR0601161859CLW9QJCZ
    > MSEXCH:IMS:telegate AG:UK.TELEGATE: TGUK-EXSRVR 0 (000C05A6) Unknown
    >Recipient

    When this failed I tried sending it to one of their other contact email addresses, [email="sales@ringtrue.co.uk"]sales@ringtrue.co.uk[/email], but the same thing happened with that one.

    I would say this seems very fishy. If this is a reputable company then why do all of the email addresses listed as contact details on their website, get returned as not existing?
    What happened when you rang them? 0800 027 1888
    Time has moved on (much quicker than it used to - or so it seems at my age) and my previous advice on residential telephony has been or is now gradually being overtaken by changes in the retail market. Hence, I have now deleted links to my previous 'pearls of wisdom'. I sincerely hope they helped save some of you money.
  • charlie12
    charlie12 Posts: 1,668 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    Switch to 1899 and remove your telephone number(s) from 18866's online settings.
  • Steve_xx
    Steve_xx Posts: 6,979 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 1,000 Posts Name Dropper Combo Breaker
    It cannot be regarded as a con.

    All DQ numbers have to start 118, that's how they are designated in the National Numbering Scheme.

    It is rather unfortunate that 18866 have this particular number. The problem is, that's it is so very easy to double dial on a single digit using a keyphone. This problem would not be quite so apparent using the old rotary dialler.

    18866 have nothing to gain from this.
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