The latest TV advertisement for BT Directory Enquiries on 118500 now costs £1.16 per minute from BT landlines with a minimum charge of one minute.

This is over the top and seriously advise people to choose a cheaper alternative.

If using a BT landline, use one of the following:

Cable and Wireless: 118099 35p per call
TalkTalk: 118111 35p per call
Kingston: 118288 29p per call
Telewest/Virgin: 118770 (Multiple search) 50p per call
NTL/Virgin: 118878 (2 number search) 40p per call
Hutchison 3G: 118333 (Multiple search) 59p per min
Orange: 118000 59p per call

If using a mobile:

From Orange phones use Orange Directory Enquiries on 118000 calls cost 59p per call however, you will be charged 20p per minute for calls connected to the number you require, so just ask them to text the number to your phone to use your minutes instead.

From 3 phones, use 118333, calls cost 59p, if you ask them to connect your call to the number you require, calls from 3 cost 30p per minute, ask them to text the number to your phone.

From O2 phones, use 118402, calls cost 60p per minute with a minimum charge of 1 minute, this service is provided by Telefonica O2 UK. Calls to other directory services on O2 cost FROM £1 per minute

From T-Mobile phones, I would suggest using the phone book or else using the internet on your phone, all directory services cost from 70p per minute including 118099 which normally costs 35p per call from a landline. Some services are barred.

From Vodafone, use 118-888 which costs the advertised rates on TV.

From BT Payphones use 118141 calls cost 60p per minute. This service is provided by BT payphones

From Spectrum Interactive payphones use 118878, minimum fee for this call is 60p.

From Infocus/Infolines payphones use 118402, minimum payment for this call is between 80p and £1.

Other Alternatives:

www.scoot.co.uk
www.yell.com
www.118500.com
www.192.com

There is now an Iphone App called 'BT Exchanges' which is free to download and use, it provides everything that 118500 does but on your phones browser.

From a BT landline - 118226 - 23.5p per call (up to 2 enquiries). For a flat 23.5p, no matter how long the call lasts, you can make up to two enquiries per call. Run by a little known company G.M. Group, actually the Directory Enquiry service is provided for it by BT, with the same call centre staff doing it as its other operations. The service is really designed to appeal to businesses, yet there's nothing stopping consumers from using it.

Or 0800 118 3733 (0800 118 FREE) - nothing if you're prepared to listen to a 20 second advert.

http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/pho...enquiries-free

Or just look up the number on the 'net

e.g.Here

Or here - www.bt.com
scrole down to the phone book

This app doesn't support searching for residential numbers, which isn't a problem if all you ever want is business ones of course.

Yes thats true, but to be honest, most people are ex-directory and the best way to look for someone is 192.com through electoral register which I am going to opt out of, they have no business putting my details on there without my permission.

Anyone that is not ex-directory, expect a lot of nuicence phone calls from tele-sales people because whether you are registered with the useless TPS, you will still get them trust me! The TPS does not cover sales calls from abroad.

The electoral roll is a public document. Anyone can go into a local post office and ask to see it. It shows everyone who is registered to vote in that area, whether you 'opted out' on the form or not.
Opting out just means that you are not available for online searches (which is the important bit.)

After I registered with the TPS, sales calls almost stopped, I probably only now get 3 or 4 a year and then I just put the phone straight down.

What does the electoral role say what info is recorded about you ?

Isn't there two types and one has more info than the other ?

This from Birmingham Council Website:-


The Two Versions of the Register

The Electoral Registration Officer makes and keeps two versions of the electoral register – the full register and the edited register. Please say in your application if you wish your name and address to be excluded from the edited register.

The full register lists everyone who is entitled to vote. You can check it by calling at the Elections Office. Only certain people and organisations can have copies of the full register, and they can only use it for specified purposes. These include electoral purposes, the prevention and detection of crime and checking your identity when you have applied for credit. The law says who can have a copy of the full register and what they can use it for. The full list of such persons and purposes is given in the Representation of the People (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations 2002. It is a criminal offence for them to pass it on to anyone else or to use it for any other purpose.

The edited register leaves out the names and addresses of people who have asked for them to be excluded from that version of the register. The edited register can be bought by anyone who asks for a copy and they may use it for any purpose.



(I've opted out of the edited register, since this was made available).

Ok thanks for making it clear.