Back To 118 Matters

Thoughtfully

Just read my plusnet phone account and found a 118*** number listed for a call of one minute (or less). 05.32am on Sunday 13 July. Cost of £4.14. It would seem that the number is included in the url (?) for several sites. I never use BT 118 enquiries. Looks like a massive scam. I'm awaiting Plusnet response on this one. Any views out there?

JJ_Egan

How can you dial an URL on a PC .

iniltous

Thoughtfully wrote: »

Just read my plusnet phone account and found a 118*** number listed for a call of one minute (or less). 05.32am on Sunday 13 July. Cost of £4.14. It would seem that the number is included in the url (?) for several sites. I never use BT 118 enquiries. Looks like a massive scam. I'm awaiting Plusnet response on this one. Any views out there?

All 118 numbers are not 'BT', BT directory enquiry number is 118500, you don't state what number was called

Thoughtfully

Thanks for responding. My phone account lists 118660. I entered this number on Bing search and got a collection of sites with the same number included in the titles. I closed the search quickly.

JJ_Egan

Google search reads that number as a directory service .Calls charged at 187p pm +vat .
You dial that number on your phone for that company's expensive directory enquiry service .

iniltous

118660 is the number of 118660.co.uk, not much on the site apart from saying calls answered between 9 and 6 ,Monday to Friday and calls charged at £1.87 per minute and £1.87 connection charge, so they weren't even open at the time the call was made,but it does say calls made outside hours may be charged, it also states that's the charge from a BT line, other operators and mobiles may charge more...BT isn't your operator, Plusnet is, you would have to look up or ask them how much a call to 118660 costs.
No need to close down sites when searching for them on line, nothing is going to appear on your phone bill apart from chargeable phone calls,
You need to take this up with Plusnet, if you or anyone with access to your phone didn't make the call, it's nothing to do with BT though

Fruit_and_Nut_Case

Very strange affair.

Thoughtfully wrote: »

I closed the search quickly.

Why specifically? Google's not going to charge you.

JJ_Egan wrote: »

Google search reads that number as a directory service .Calls charged at 187p pm +vat .
You dial that number on your phone for that company's expensive directory enquiry service .

This service is available 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday (The OP's call is shown as being made on Sunday)

The site also warns against phoning outside these hours (in tiny print)

JJ_Egan

Fruit_and_Nut_Case wrote: »

Very strange affair.



Why specifically? Google's not going to charge you.



This service is available 9am to 6pm Monday to Friday (The OP's call is shown as being made on Sunday)

The site also warns against phoning outside these hours (in tiny print)

SEE DETAILS
>>>> OP call Sunday = charged as it says .


Please do not call outside of these hours as your call cannot be taken by an operator and may result in a charge. Calls are charged at 187 pence per minute, plus a one-off connection charge of 187 pence including VAT. Calls from mobile phones or non-BT lines may be charged at a higher rate. Please contact your telecommunications provider for further details. For any queries or complaints, please email [EMAIL="enquiries@118660.com"]enquiries@118660.com[/EMAIL].
Full general information on this service and other 118 Directory Enquiries Services please visit www.directoryenquiriesuk.com

poppasmurf_bewdley

JJ_Egan wrote: »

SEE DETAILS
>>>> OP call Sunday = charged as it says .


Please do not call outside of these hours as your call cannot be taken by an operator and may result in a charge. Calls are charged at 187 pence per minute, plus a one-off connection charge of 187 pence including VAT. Calls from mobile phones or non-BT lines may be charged at a higher rate. Please contact your telecommunications provider for further details. For any queries or complaints, please email [EMAIL="enquiries@118660.com"]enquiries@118660.com[/EMAIL].
Full general information on this service and other 118 Directory Enquiries Services please visit www.directoryenquiriesuk.com

It must be an company operating on a shoestring with one man and his dog if they cannot answer calls 24/7.

Who knows. Maybe they get lots and lots of calls outside these hours and are happy to just pocket the money. I find it strange that Ofcom allow a company to operate in this way - charging people when the phone is NOT answered.

Thoughtfully

Thanks to all. I'm getting a glimmer of the situation. I did do a Bing search on some subject around 05.30 on last Sunday which was about the time my phone charge was logged. NO PHONE USED! As I said earlier, I did a search of 118660 today and numerous sites included this number in their addresses. If I 'hit' one of these sites am I thus charged for a 118660 call? Whose to gain - Google?

jem16

Thoughtfully wrote: »

I did a search of 118660 today and numerous sites included this number in their addresses. If I 'hit' one of these sites am I thus charged for a 118660 call?

No you are not. You have to actually call the number using a telephone.