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[MSE Archna]

What's this about?

A new directory enquiries service, 118 800, has launched charging a shocking £1 per search for mobile numbers. This means if people want to contact you via it they can (they pay £1) it won't give out your number but will send a text to you with that persons details.

How to opt out of the service

If, like many people, you don't like the idea of anyone being put through to your mobile in this way, you can opt out.

• Online for free. Alternatively remove your number from the list by entering your mobile number online. You will be texted a code which you'll need to enter online to confirm you're the owner of the phone.
• Text at c.10p. You can text the letter 'E' to 118 800 from the mobile you don't want to be listed (standard network charges will apply).

What about kids' mobiles?

While the service's policy is not to hold data on anyone under the age of 18 if you've given your child a mobile registered in your name, outrageously the number can be accessed in the same way.

How did it get my number?

If you've ever ticked a form and given permission for companies to share your details, it's likely your number will be on the list. When you do this, these companies usually sell the lists on, which is how 118 800 got your number.

Related Articles: Free Directory Enquiries

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[id2d]

But to opt out you have to tell them what your number is - If they didn't know your number before then you've just made them aware of it!

Even with their assurances, do you trust them with it???

Surely better to wait and see if you get any unwanted calls from them and only then opt-out rather than help them harvest even more numbers

[simontay1984]

If I try entering my name and town to check whether i'm listed on the site already, I just get an error page. I'm assuming from that - that they don't have me listed in their directory.

After reading the FAQs about privacy (especially: I am ex-directory, so how can I be put back in the directory?), I understand that to be ex-directory just means I am listed as ex-directory, not actually removed from the site.

I don't want to opt-out if I was never on the site at all by default in the first place so therefore by opting-out i'm kind of opting-in and giving them my details anyway that they may or may not already have.

I hope you understand what i'm trying to say...

[DanGreatrex]

Just To Let You Guys Know Ornage Are Not Charging To Remove Yourself From This Website Via Text.

[Hooda Thunkit]

Simontay1984 - I don't understand what you are ex-directory from?

If there has never been a publicly available directory of mobile numbers up till now, how can you be listed on it as ex-directory?

Unless I am really getting this wrong, if someone is daft enough to pay a pound for the service, 118 800 will text you to let you know that someone is seeking your number. Surely at that point all you have to do is ignore or deny that request and the "problem" is solved?

Personally I don't know enough people (who don't already have my number) who would be searching for it, so I don't expect to be pestered by this service.

If I am grasping the wrong end of the stick, I would be grateful for enlightenment...

[raisen]

Originally Posted by Hooda Thunkit

118 800 will text you to let you know that someone is seeking your number. Surely at that point all you have to do is ignore or deny that request and the "problem" is solved?
:

The message from Martin said that 118800 would send the person a text with your details in it, not a text to you telling you that someone wants to contact you.

You don't put any details in apart from your mobile number, so I don't see how you are giving them any extra info.
Surely you are just saying this is the number, please don't include it.

[PlutoinCapricorn]

I too was alarmed when I first heard about this, but have decided that the best thing is to do nothing as they probably have not got my number anyway.

I will wait and see if I get any texts before opting out.

In the meantime, I will be extra careful about ticking the box where you request that your details are not passed on.

[mineallmine]

Just read this on their front page:

"Search here to find out if we have the mobile phone number of your contact. If we do, we text them with your details so they can call you back. We never give out the mobile numbers of people in our directory to protect privacy."

Hope this helps clarify things. Looks like it's not available yet either.

[gizabroon]

This is what it says in their FAQ:-

When you search on 118800.co.uk, we’ll send an SMS message to the person you’re seeking givng them your contact details so they can call you back.

[sunil1234]

says enter the code from the text within a few mins. Its taken 25 minutes for the text to come through lol!

[Sunnyday]

Well it found myself and a colleague straight away

Just waiting for the opt out number from the text now

Thanks

SD

[natmarshinbarnet]

Just to advise I have now tried 3 times to register to ask them to make my mobile number "Ex Directory" and I have not had one text back, let alone 3 to advise that my mobile number will be removed. Beware of this site

[ferriswheeljunkie]

Originally Posted by natmarshinbarnet

Just to advise I have now tried 3 times to register to ask them to make my mobile number "Ex Directory" and I have not had one text back, let alone 3 to advise that my mobile number will be removed. Beware of this site

I've tried twice and no texts back

[lauzjp]

I have tried to do this online, and texted from two numbers I have - to no avail.

[debtfree_wannabe]

I've also tried twice, and have not received the code needed to "opt out" either. Something very dodgy about it

[samh255]

I just wanted to point out that the original thread is misleading, and in my opinion seriously so.
When I first got this by email from my Dad warning me about this service, I was very concerned about receiving spam texts and phone calls thanks to this service.
When I looked at 118 800's website however to remove my number, it became clear that the service they offer is fundamentally different to what you describe.

They do not text my phone number to anyone who is looking for me, which you state above, what they actually do is text ME to tell me someone is looking for me and to give me that person's details. Thus leaving me to decide whether to contact that person back. That seems pretty responsible to me.
The £1 charge should deter dodgy organisations searching for your name hundreds of times and thus generating hundreds of text messages to you. Again this seems to be responsible. I am therefore quite happy to wait to see what happens.

Unless you think 118 800's website is being dishonest in what it states about their service, it seems to me that the person who wrote this original article misread or misunderstood the service that is being offered, and has created some panic and concern by misrepresenting the service offered by 118 800, albeit unintentionally I am sure.

I must admit to feeling a bit sorry for this company that is just starting up a new service, that what appears to be incorrect information has been heavily circulated in a weekly tips email by a reputable site that many people trust, particularly since the way that the article was written with strong words such as outrageous and shocking seemed designed to provoke outrage, which I feel is unjust based on how the company actually operates, rather than the way it was portrayed above.

It would be great (and I think in all honestly, fair) if you were able to correct the misinformation you sent out about this service, in the next weekly tips email for example.

[nellieliz]

I understand that if opt out, you don't receive an acknowledgement. You have to assume they have received your request and await their action.

I use my mobile for business. If I opt out, how do I know whether my business is affected? If I don't opt out, how do I know what calls may be genuine enquiries and what calls may be time wasting sales calls?

Also, on a slightly different note - does anyone else get regular sales calls from someone wishing to speak to Mr Smith? When I tell them they have the wrong number, they insist they can discuss the matter with me instead! I find the best way to frustrate the life out of them is to keep repeating that as they wished to speak to Mr Smith, they can't possibly be able to talk to me about it. Sends them loopy.

Having a really hard time resisting handbags at the moment - any advice?!!

[carolt]

They claimed to have 2 mobile numbers of mine, when I tried searching for myself.

But when I tried to contact them by their freephone number to remove my details - didn't want to do it by text, in case I got charged £1 just to remove my details - I was put on hold for about 5 minutes, and then just abruptly cut off.

It seems very clear that this scummy organisation has no intention of enabling anyone to 'opt out', whatever they may claim.

[ferriswheeljunkie]

I've just received my 5 digit code in a text message! I entered it into the site and it said i've successfully been added to the ex-directory

[PattiPan]

I am still waiting for a text and don't want to retry. Hope I haven't inadvertently added myself to the list!