MSE News: 'Just been charged £183 for one call via 118 118' – that's more than a sex

amiehall

awolo1 wrote: »

This is rubbish. Anybody who calls 118 118 from a mobile should have no reason to underestimate the costs that are about to hit them once they are connected to the call handler.

It is a RIP OFF service and always has been, although I understand some people use it for convenience.

However I wish Martin Lewis would write a story about using WI-FI which airlines sell in flight because it is also a RIP OFF, but there is a reason why, it is a NICHE market.



And why did the call last for over 30 minutes?! Stupid.

To be honest I think I could easily have ended up stung for a fortune...

I've never rung a directory service in my life as I would just find the details online and I do know they cost a bomb.

However, in my mind, I would think they were a rip off because the call may cost me £5-10. I would NEVER think it could stack up to £100s even if I did let them connect me. If people used them all the time, they'd know how expensive it was, it's people using them for one-off then realising that it's far far more expensive than they thought that I feel for.

vigman

It saddens me how quick people are to criticize others here especially without knowing the circumstances which led to the excessive cost.

If you apply a 'reasonable' test to this, would anyone reasonably expect to pay £183 for a 30 minute UK phone call via 118118 which is not counted as premium rate by BT?

Obviously "No" is the correct answer, so there is an element of deliberate misguidance here....a rip-off.

118118 should clearly state that calls lasting 15, 30, 45 minutes etc could cost as much as £90, £180, £270 in certain circumstances, in which case the call would not be made.

Vigman

anotheruser

118 is a fairly new idea.
There used to be directory enquiries but still... if you want a number, look in the Yellow Pages or telephone book. People who still use those books are likely to find the older businesses who aren't on the net so it makes sense.

kimbles81

I fell into this trap a few weeks ago, my mobile data had ran out, I had no wifi access and had to call my sons school, I needed the number so called 118 500
Only to later find out it costs £5 -£6 a minute!

Companies shouldn't be allowed to charge people so much

Kim x

anotheruser

Next time, go to a phone box and call 100 for the operator and ask them.
Free from phone box last time I checked (although that was 20 years ago!).

superbigal36

At least the APR on their loans is not 118.118%
It is only 99.9%

I wonder if anyone has phoned 118118 to get the phone number for 118118 loans ?

I also think it is awesome to note 118118 are a subsidiary of the KGB !

I believe the "KGB" were previously a rather interesting security agency.
Mr Putin even had a spell working for them.

claphambaby

Candyapple wrote: »

I really don't understand why in this day and age people are still using 118.

A quick Google search for the company and phone number you are looking for, and if it is an 0870/0845 number, just download one of the numerous free apps on your smartphone that dial the number for you but you are never charged for as it comes out of your minutes allowance.

Or failing that, use the 'say no 0870' website.

Or if you absolutely must use 118, why not just get the number, hang up and then redial it yourself?

A fool and his money are soon parted springs to mind.

You might consider those with early onset Alzheimers and non internet users fools especially if they can still communicate lucidly and need a phone line, but I hope you never have to pay an extortionate phone bill if you are in a similar state and cannot remember that the charges, though legal, are a rip off of the worst order. Maybe you are too young to look beyond your own world but think a little further, acquire some wisdom and learn about others situations so you consider the wider world before pronouncing judgements born of limited understanding
.

Hawkhill

Use 118 811, it's a 50p flat charge and no 'connect through' service. Strangely it's run by the same people as 118 118.

50Twuncle

Am I right in thinking that back in the 70's - When the good old Post Office were running the phone system - directory enquiries were FREE ?

poppasmurf_bewdley

50Twuncle wrote: »

Am I right in thinking that back in the 70's - When the good old Post Office were running the phone system - directory enquiries were FREE ?

I can remember back to the 1960's when you dialled DIR for directory enquiries, which then became 192, and yes, they were all free up until about 1990 when BT initiated a fee of, I think, 25p.

In the 1960's, you could even call DIR, give them a number and they would tell you the name and address of the owner of the phone. As a journalist in those days, that came in very useful.