118 numbers

Litcham
Litcham Posts: 1 Newbie
in Phones & TV
Beware of 118118. For the first time in years I had to get a phone number from them. It cost me £9.05. I couldn't believe it when my bill came through.

Comments

  • poppasmurf_bewdley
    poppasmurf_bewdley Posts: 5,909 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Post First Anniversary
    When BT introduced charges for Directory Enquiries in about 1990, I think the charge was about 20p.

    Someone's got to pay for all that advertising the 118 companies make. And BT won't include 118 numbers being barred when you bar premium rate number calling.

    Personally, I would go without making the phone call rather than pay a single penny to a 118 company. But the internet is my friend.
    "There are not enough superlatives in the English language to describe a 'Princess Coronation' locomotive in full cry. We shall never see their like again". O S Nock
  • mije1983
    mije1983 Posts: 3,665 Forumite
    First Post Combo Breaker Name Dropper First Anniversary
    I thought all 118 providers had to state the cost of the call at the beginning? Or did I just make that up in my head?!?
  • Owain_Moneysaver
    Owain_Moneysaver Posts: 11,357 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post
    According to the 118118 website their current charge is Calls to 118 118 cost £1.88 per call plus £2.57 per minute, (minimum 60 second charge) from most landlines. This is how BT charges for landlines, but there may be differences in how other networks charge.

    This person was charged over £80 for a call. She's with TalkTalk who charge more than BT for 118118.

    I think the cheapest 118-based DQ service at the moment is 118 226
    A kind word lasts a minute, a skelped erse is sair for a day.
  • johnniegif
    johnniegif Posts: 127 Forumite
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker First Post
    118 calls are a ripoff these days. I have them barred from our 'phone system and use 192.com or Google to find the number.
  • wongawonga
    wongawonga Posts: 387 Forumite
    Litcham wrote: »
    Beware of 118118. For the first time in years I had to get a phone number from them. It cost me £9.05. I couldn't believe it when my bill came through.

    Thats why MSE publish this advice.

    http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/directory-enquiries-free
  • macman
    macman Posts: 53,098 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Post First Anniversary
    Why did you 'have' to get the number from 118118?
    No free lunch, and no free laptop ;)
  • julian0852
    julian0852 Posts: 5 Forumite
    Combo Breaker First Post First Anniversary
    In 2015 the costs for using 118118 was: "According to the 118118 website their current charge is Calls to 118 118 cost £1.88 per call plus £2.57 per minute, (minimum 60 second charge) from most landlines"

    Now 12 months later: "Calls to 118 118 from most landlines are charged £3.49 per call plus £3.49 per minute, (minimum 60 second charge applies)."

    Seven quid to look up a number when Google is free - they should be boycotted!!
  • Ian011
    Ian011 Posts: 2,432 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post
    edited 28 June 2016 at 6:55PM
    julian0852 wrote: »
    "Calls to 118 118 from most landlines are charged £3.49 per call plus £3.49 per minute, (minimum 60 second charge applies)."
    The price you mentioned for 118118 is not on the official list of Service Charge price points. The Service Charge applies from all landline and mobile providers. There's also an Access Charge, which wasn't mentioned.

    The cost of calling 118118 consists of an Access Charge of up to 12p per minute from landlines or up to 45p per minute from mobiles paid to the benefit of the caller's provider plus a Service Charge of £6.98 per call plus £3.49 per minute after the first 60 seconds paid to the benefit of 118118.

    The list of Service Charge price points can be found at http://checkit.uboss.com/

    If you know the Access Charge and the Service Charge, a call cost calculator can be found at: http://giffgaff.screet.co.uk/call/
  • Owain_Moneysaver
    Owain_Moneysaver Posts: 11,357 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post
    Ian011 wrote: »
    a Service Charge of £6.98 per call plus £3.49 per minute

    It would be cheaper to phone a sex line and get them to google for you.
    A kind word lasts a minute, a skelped erse is sair for a day.
  • Ian011
    Ian011 Posts: 2,432 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post
    Now that's a novel business plan.
This discussion has been closed.
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