Find a name from a number...

DanielWhit · 19-07-2005, 17:48

Does anyone know of how I can find the name of a person from a phone number?

Misanthrope · 19-07-2005, 18:02

Yes, Its possible..I'm not being funny but can I ask the reason why ? I'd hate to help some nutter out

EDIT...Never mind we no longer have the software at work anyway sorry

Widdy · 19-07-2005, 19:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by DanielWhit

Does anyone know of how I can find the name of a person from a phone number?

Its illegal to reverse look up a number unless you are connected to the authorities in some way.

Misanthrope · 19-07-2005, 19:46

Interesting, I'm sure that will be the reason we no longer have the software at work, several years ago we had a cd-rom with the phone books for the UK one of its features was the ability to reverse lookup numbers in there..I never used it myself so am not 100% sure of the details (and even if what I suggest about reverse lookup being one of its functions was true) but it was definately a commercial product..

Do you know if this was something that has recently become law or has it always been the case..

Just interested really?

Widdy · 19-07-2005, 20:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misanthrope

Interesting, I'm sure that will be the reason we no longer have the software at work, several years ago we had a cd-rom with the phone books for the UK one of its features was the ability to reverse lookup numbers in there..I never used it myself so am not 100% sure of the details (and even if what I suggest about reverse lookup being one of its functions was true) but it was definately a commercial product..

Do you know if this was something that has recently become law or has it always been the case..

Just interested really?

Actually got the legalities from BT when I was having some funny phone calls about 12 months back when I tried to trace a number.

I do not know how long the laws have been in effect.

Misanthrope · 19-07-2005, 20:26

I just had a bit of a google and apparently a German company used to sell these disks in the UK, however BT took legal actions to suspend their sale..Its not immediately apparent the result of this action, the only sites I can find are quite dated (around 2000) and just say a legal decision is pending..

Widdy · 19-07-2005, 20:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misanthrope

I just had a bit of a google and apparently a German company used to sell these disks in the UK, however BT took legal actions to suspend their sale..Its not immediately apparent the result of this action, the only sites I can find are quite dated (around 2000) and just say a legal decision is pending..

The law obviously goes back at least a few years.

Misanthrope · 19-07-2005, 20:52

Apparently its to do with the ECs ...The Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications..Implimented in 2003

Quote:

introduces new information and consent requirements on entries in publicly available directories, including a requirement that subscribers are informed of all the usage possibilities of publicly available directories - e.g. reverse searching from a telephone number in order to obtain a name and address;

It would seem BTs action in 2000 was to do with who owned the rights to phone numbers !!!

Widdy · 19-07-2005, 21:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Misanthrope

Apparently its to do with the ECs ...The Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications..Implimented in 2003

It would seem BTs action in 2000 was to do with who owned the rights to phone numbers !!!

you and google have been busy!

Misanthrope · 19-07-2005, 21:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Widdy

you and google have been busy!

Yeah.. I really must get a hobby or something...

Brian Fantana · 11-10-2006, 18:22

Is it still illegal?

intheknow · 11-10-2006, 19:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brian Fantana

Is it still illegal?

No it's changed back again now, they just decided it was silly so they changed it back to the old system and got rid of the 2003 law.

Of course it's still illegal lol

Brian Fantana · 11-10-2006, 19:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by intheknow

No it's changed back again now, they just decided it was silly so they changed it back to the old system and got rid of the 2003 law.

Of course it's still illegal lol

Don't be an arse. Its not a completely stupid question, some laws have been changed you know.

Appleseed · 11-10-2006, 22:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by Widdy

Its illegal to reverse look up a number unless you are connected to the authorities in some way.

If you found someones address in this way - and got your collar felt for it - you could always argue that if that person is in the phone book, you could have read it cover to cover to find that same information, so all you've done is speeded up the process?

What really makes the difference? If the person is listed it means that details are available to all, so who is anyone to dictate whether you should be able to find out the hard, or the easy way, the infomation that's there?

Last edited by Appleseed : 11-10-2006 at 22:09.

rex everything · 12-10-2006, 07:57

If you're after a name from a mobile number then no, it cannot be done without breaking the Data Protection Act which would get you in a whole world of trouble. If someone working for the relevant network did a look-up for you, they'd face prosecution too.

BT used to have something like a 'phonebook on a disk', not sure if they still do it but that's for landlines only.

Evevn the directory enquiry companies wouldn't be able to do it (I used to work for 118888) - they search on the name, not the number - but in any case, they list landlines only.

kev · 13-10-2006, 11:59

If its a business number then the chances are a Google search will find it in one of the following formats

"01159505050"
"0115 9 50 50 50"
"01159 50 50 50"
"0115 950 5050"

(If it's a five digit code then try "01159 505 050")

lil_me · 14-10-2006, 15:42

Try reversemobile.com or just google 'reverse numbers' and you will bring up a zillion sites. No idea how legal it is, and from I remember you have to pay for the info, plus if it's a prepaid mobile number it's unlikely to be listed anywhere, but if you want to try it....

Garyo2 · 15-10-2006, 04:01

Its only possible if the person has agreed to have their details put in the phone book.

Even if you work for the network you are not allowed to view random peoples details for no reason as this is breaking the Data Protection Act.

15-10-2006, 12:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by lil_me

Try reversemobile.com or just google 'reverse numbers' and you will bring up a zillion sites. No idea how legal it is, and from I remember you have to pay for the info, plus if it's a prepaid mobile number it's unlikely to be listed anywhere, but if you want to try it....

The site you mention only appears to apply to US numbers.
If you restrict the google search to UK sites only, you get 92 sites most of which either confirm that reverse look up is illegal in the UK or link to reverse look up sites for US numbers (plus quite a few about dyscalculia)

websi7 · 27-01-2008, 14:02

We there is a Uk site that offers this info for free www.mobilenumbers.org.uk - you have to join it to be in it - and there is other info on the site to help quests elsewhere.

glastofest · 28-01-2008, 07:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by websi7

We there is a Uk site that offers this info for free www.mobilenumbers.org.uk - you have to join it to be in it - and there is other info on the site to help quests elsewhere.

Badly coded site. Stay away from it.

websi7 · 28-01-2008, 07:09

The comment on bad coding of www.mobilenumbers.org.uk is unfounded this is a NEW site

There is a similar site that is bad coded etc
www.mobilenumbers.org ( no UK)

Maybe worth checking both sites!!!!

glastofest · 28-01-2008, 07:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by websi7

The comment on bad coding of www.mobilenumbers.org.uk is unfounded this is a NEW site

You are kidding? It looks like the home page was written by an year old.

prking · 28-01-2008, 08:01

How does that website get away with (badly)copying big chunks from other sites?

Astonishing, that anyone would put their details on there.

Toilet-Duck · 28-01-2008, 12:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by websi7

The comment on bad coding of www.mobilenumbers.org.uk is unfounded this is a NEW site

There is a similar site that is bad coded etc
www.mobilenumbers.org ( no UK)

Maybe worth checking both sites!!!!

Only 2 posts and both of them are advertising his site SCAM

19-07-2005, 17:48	#1
DanielWhit Forum Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Posts: 2,128	Find a name from a number... Does anyone know of how I can find the name of a person from a phone number?

27-01-2008, 14:02	#20
websi7 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Rugby, Warwickshire, UK Posts: 4	finding names of mobile users We there is a Uk site that offers this info for free www.mobilenumbers.org.uk - you have to join it to be in it - and there is other info on the site to help quests elsewhere.

28-01-2008, 07:09	#22
websi7 Forum Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Rugby, Warwickshire, UK Posts: 4	confused The comment on bad coding of www.mobilenumbers.org.uk is unfounded this is a NEW site There is a similar site that is bad coded etc www.mobilenumbers.org ( no UK) Maybe worth checking both sites!!!!

19-07-2005, 18:02	#2
Misanthrope Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: In my happy place Posts: 5,251	Yes, Its possible..I'm not being funny but can I ask the reason why ? I'd hate to help some nutter out EDIT...Never mind we no longer have the software at work anyway sorry

19-07-2005, 19:39	#3
Widdy Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Yorkshire, UK Posts: 1,955	Quote: Originally Posted by DanielWhit Does anyone know of how I can find the name of a person from a phone number? Its illegal to reverse look up a number unless you are connected to the authorities in some way.

19-07-2005, 19:46	#4
Misanthrope Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: In my happy place Posts: 5,251	Interesting, I'm sure that will be the reason we no longer have the software at work, several years ago we had a cd-rom with the phone books for the UK one of its features was the ability to reverse lookup numbers in there..I never used it myself so am not 100% sure of the details (and even if what I suggest about reverse lookup being one of its functions was true) but it was definately a commercial product.. Do you know if this was something that has recently become law or has it always been the case.. Just interested really?

19-07-2005, 20:01	#5
Widdy Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Yorkshire, UK Posts: 1,955	Quote: Originally Posted by Misanthrope Interesting, I'm sure that will be the reason we no longer have the software at work, several years ago we had a cd-rom with the phone books for the UK one of its features was the ability to reverse lookup numbers in there..I never used it myself so am not 100% sure of the details (and even if what I suggest about reverse lookup being one of its functions was true) but it was definately a commercial product.. Do you know if this was something that has recently become law or has it always been the case.. Just interested really? Actually got the legalities from BT when I was having some funny phone calls about 12 months back when I tried to trace a number. I do not know how long the laws have been in effect.

19-07-2005, 20:26	#6
Misanthrope Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: In my happy place Posts: 5,251	I just had a bit of a google and apparently a German company used to sell these disks in the UK, however BT took legal actions to suspend their sale..Its not immediately apparent the result of this action, the only sites I can find are quite dated (around 2000) and just say a legal decision is pending..

19-07-2005, 20:31	#7
Widdy Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Yorkshire, UK Posts: 1,955	Quote: Originally Posted by Misanthrope I just had a bit of a google and apparently a German company used to sell these disks in the UK, however BT took legal actions to suspend their sale..Its not immediately apparent the result of this action, the only sites I can find are quite dated (around 2000) and just say a legal decision is pending.. The law obviously goes back at least a few years.

19-07-2005, 20:52	#8
Misanthrope Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: In my happy place Posts: 5,251	Apparently its to do with the ECs ...The Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications..Implimented in 2003 Quote: introduces new information and consent requirements on entries in publicly available directories, including a requirement that subscribers are informed of all the usage possibilities of publicly available directories - e.g. reverse searching from a telephone number in order to obtain a name and address; It would seem BTs action in 2000 was to do with who owned the rights to phone numbers !!!

19-07-2005, 21:41	#9
Widdy Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: Yorkshire, UK Posts: 1,955	Quote: Originally Posted by Misanthrope Apparently its to do with the ECs ...The Directive on Privacy and Electronic Communications..Implimented in 2003 It would seem BTs action in 2000 was to do with who owned the rights to phone numbers !!! you and google have been busy!

19-07-2005, 21:48	#10
Misanthrope Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: In my happy place Posts: 5,251	Quote: Originally Posted by Widdy you and google have been busy! Yeah.. I really must get a hobby or something...

11-10-2006, 18:22	#11
Brian Fantana Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NOITACOL Posts: 2,725	Is it still illegal?

11-10-2006, 19:09	#12
intheknow Banned User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Bristol Posts: 4,837	Quote: Originally Posted by Brian Fantana Is it still illegal? No it's changed back again now, they just decided it was silly so they changed it back to the old system and got rid of the 2003 law. Of course it's still illegal lol

11-10-2006, 19:25	#13
Brian Fantana Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: NOITACOL Posts: 2,725	Quote: Originally Posted by intheknow No it's changed back again now, they just decided it was silly so they changed it back to the old system and got rid of the 2003 law. Of course it's still illegal lol Don't be an arse. Its not a completely stupid question, some laws have been changed you know.

11-10-2006, 22:07	#14
Appleseed Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Norfolk Posts: 3,673	Quote: Originally Posted by Widdy Its illegal to reverse look up a number unless you are connected to the authorities in some way. If you found someones address in this way - and got your collar felt for it - you could always argue that if that person is in the phone book, you could have read it cover to cover to find that same information, so all you've done is speeded up the process? What really makes the difference? If the person is listed it means that details are available to all, so who is anyone to dictate whether you should be able to find out the hard, or the easy way, the infomation that's there? Last edited by Appleseed : 11-10-2006 at 22:09.

12-10-2006, 07:57	#15
rex everything Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 247	If you're after a name from a mobile number then no, it cannot be done without breaking the Data Protection Act which would get you in a whole world of trouble. If someone working for the relevant network did a look-up for you, they'd face prosecution too. BT used to have something like a 'phonebook on a disk', not sure if they still do it but that's for landlines only. Evevn the directory enquiry companies wouldn't be able to do it (I used to work for 118888) - they search on the name, not the number - but in any case, they list landlines only.

13-10-2006, 11:59	#16
kev Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2000 Location: South Notts (Waltham TV TX) Posts: 20,200	If its a business number then the chances are a Google search will find it in one of the following formats "01159505050" "0115 9 50 50 50" "01159 50 50 50" "0115 950 5050" (If it's a five digit code then try "01159 505 050")

14-10-2006, 15:42	#17
lil_me Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 43	Try reversemobile.com or just google 'reverse numbers' and you will bring up a zillion sites. No idea how legal it is, and from I remember you have to pay for the info, plus if it's a prepaid mobile number it's unlikely to be listed anywhere, but if you want to try it....

15-10-2006, 04:01	#18
Garyo2 Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: UK Posts: 566	Its only possible if the person has agreed to have their details put in the phone book. Even if you work for the network you are not allowed to view random peoples details for no reason as this is breaking the Data Protection Act.

15-10-2006, 12:10	#19
dawson Posts: n/a	Quote: Originally Posted by lil_me Try reversemobile.com or just google 'reverse numbers' and you will bring up a zillion sites. No idea how legal it is, and from I remember you have to pay for the info, plus if it's a prepaid mobile number it's unlikely to be listed anywhere, but if you want to try it.... The site you mention only appears to apply to US numbers. If you restrict the google search to UK sites only, you get 92 sites most of which either confirm that reverse look up is illegal in the UK or link to reverse look up sites for US numbers (plus quite a few about dyscalculia)

28-01-2008, 07:03	#21
glastofest Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 716	Quote: Originally Posted by websi7 We there is a Uk site that offers this info for free www.mobilenumbers.org.uk - you have to join it to be in it - and there is other info on the site to help quests elsewhere. Badly coded site. Stay away from it.

28-01-2008, 07:14	#23
glastofest Forum Member Join Date: Aug 2002 Posts: 716	Quote: Originally Posted by websi7 The comment on bad coding of www.mobilenumbers.org.uk is unfounded this is a NEW site You are kidding? It looks like the home page was written by an year old.

DS Forums

Find a name from a number...

28-01-2008, 08:01	#24
prking Forum Member Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Weston-super-Mare Posts: 9,167	How does that website get away with (badly)copying big chunks from other sites? Astonishing, that anyone would put their details on there.

28-01-2008, 12:19	#25
Toilet-Duck Forum Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Tyne And Wear Posts: 688	Quote: Originally Posted by websi7 The comment on bad coding of www.mobilenumbers.org.uk is unfounded this is a NEW site There is a similar site that is bad coded etc www.mobilenumbers.org ( no UK) Maybe worth checking both sites!!!! Only 2 posts and both of them are advertising his site SCAM