I’ve only had one sales call on my mobile, ignoring SMS messages from Orange and scammers, and it looks like Google gave this company my number when I understood it was only being used to verify my identity. Clearly either I didn’t read the small print carefully enough, or Google lied/leaked. Either way should I expect my number to appear here – probably.

Anon

Just to reassure you that we’ll never actually give out anyone’s personal details. When you search on 118800.co.uk, we’ll send an SMS message to the person you’re looking for, giving them your contacts details and it is then up to you if you wish to call them back or not.

In response to the popular belief that there is a deadline to opt out, this is incorrect. The viral email that has been circulating is incorrect in that there is no deadline, users can opt out at any time. Secondly, the belief that the numbers of children will be “given out” is also false. We have no children listed in our directory. All data is checked to ensure the individuals are adults.

Our service on 118 800 and 118800.co.uk was being tested in June. There are now developments we want to make to improve the service for our customers. But due to the high levels of enquiries we are getting, we are simply not able to complete the technical work required whilst the service is live. We are sorry for inconvenience and will be up and running again as soon as possible.

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us using the feedback form on our site.

Thanks,

Joe
118800.co.uk

My mobile phone number seems to have escaped and I’m pretty careful to untick the “you can sell my details” boxes. I think some companies just ignore the boxes and assume you can’t prove you didn’t tick it (can you?).

I’ve asked my (relatively small) mobile phone service provider if they’ll mass-opt-out their customers and will post on our website if we succeed.

Firstly, the directory is not of all mobiles, it’s only mobile numbers which people have put into online forms, and then clicked (or failed to unclick) the box that say “you can send this data to a third party”. So in legal terms, the numbers in this directory have already been given legitimate permission for use. And if you are careful about the boxes you tick, your number will not be on the list.

Secondly, they don’t give the numbers out. If you want to call someone, they will phone the person first, and ask if they want to be contacted by you. You can therefore refuse any call. And anyone who is refused more than (I think) 3 times will be automatically blacklisted.

Thirdly, opt-out is easy. You can opt out by text, or by email, and there is no deadline as I understand it.

This system is nowhere near as suspicious as some popular reaction would suggest, and it looks like they have all the necessary safeguards in place.

“The 118 800 service for mobile phone connections is currently unavailable – from this website and by phone – whilst we undertake major developments to our ‘Beta Service’ to improve the experience for our customers. We’ll be back as soon as possible with the new improved service.

All ex-directory requests made by people in our directory to date are being processed. There will be no need to resend these requests. And we will take further ex-directory requests when the service resumes. We will not be taking ex-directory requests by phone or text whilst the service is not operational.

Please do not call us on 118 800 for anything other than landline directory enquiry requests as you will be charged for the call.

Sorry for any inconvenience caused. ”

I’m guessing they’re over-subscribed.

Why do they assume availability of phone numbers is ‘opt-out’? It should only be opt-in with explicit permission to contact. Sick of spam in all it’s forms – Virgin are sending me junk mail about their environmental commitment, which I’ve asked them to stop three times (they claim it takes 6 months plus to implement.)