Time Running Out for your mobile fone

wannabee

You may already have heard about this, but early next week all UK mobiles will be on a directory which will mean that anyone will be able to access the numbers. It’s easy to unsubscribe but it must be done before the beginning of next week to make sure that you are ex directory. You may want to suggest it to all your friends and family who have UK mobiles or they could be swamped by unsolicited messages and calls. Removal is recommended by the BBC - see link below.



_http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/working_lunch/8091621.stm

To remove your number click on the link below, you need your mobile phone with you to do this as they text you a code



1, _http://www.118800.co.uk/

2, Click on ‘Ex Directory’ at top right hand side of page, from there it’s straight forward

satelliteman

It quotes "Service suspended whilst we make improvements".

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Tivù

Not "all Mobile Phones" - only those (admittedly the vast, vast majority) where the number has already been supplied to pre-existing databases eg via a contractual or marketing link or agreement.

The lucky few like me who use PAYG for highly restricted personal/private use won't be on it - but I shall check nevertheless (As advised by rolfw in a similar recent Thread, fine chap that he is)!

Tivù

Indeed - the unpopularity of this "service" seems to continue to escape their management who gave all the signs of anticipating making loads of dosh when interviewed by various News progs over the past few weeks.


More fool they - I anticipate their demise within 3 months or so.


I'm afraid the whole concept of "opt out" as opposed to"opt in" is as sinister and undesirable as inertia selling.

rick1980

I suggest sending e-mail. I'm pretty sure that they are breaking the Data Protection Act if they place your number in the directory when they recieve an instruction in writing not to. I don't think they can refuse exdirectory requests made in writing either by e-mail or snail mail.

I've booted up, I've patched in, I'm online, offline, downloaded and extremely cheesed off!

2cvbloke

Thing about this service is they cannot give out your number, and if someone requests to speak to you, either by text or call, the service calls or texts you for permission to connect you, and if you refuse, they cannot connect, but it still costs the other side a pound a pop, so I don;t see any urgency to become ex-directory, whether I am on it or not...

So it's not a case of them doling out your number to anyone under the sun leaving you swamped with advertising and marketing, they have rules to follow, and of they don't, then they're in deep doo doo under the data protection act...

Tivù

Agreed - but such constraints seem not to deter many other organisations, not least BSkYB, who were written to by ICO after their "Agents" bombarded me with unsolicited contacts. I also grudgingly got a £20 Marks & Sparks voucher ............


............ Believe me, these firms push well past the boundaries in the full knowledge that it takes many complaints over a long period of time before truly substantive action is taken against them. The doo doo (as you so delicately put it! ) is nowhere near as deep as it should be.

Sorry to be such a sourpuss!

Topper

I do not wish to be cynical here but isn't it just possible that this opt out, by giving your mobile number, is just merely a way of harvesting numbers?

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2cvbloke

Good point, another reason not to visit their ex-directory thing...

rolfw

You only have to provide the number from memory, so with no ancillary information, it is worthless.
Worried about your privacy now 118800 will list mobile numbers? is the original thread.

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Channel Hopper

The phone I use is under somebody else's name, and if I opted out I would probably have to correct the details to do so.

So I would need something a little more convincing to do so, but I do agree that any 'opt out' system stinks of corporate profiteering through public ignorance/apathy.

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness"

chris

Controversial new mobile phone directory service 118800.co.uk has crashed, after thousands of users flocked online to remove their numbers from the site, according to reports.

The site, which launched last month, now displays holding page which reads “service suspended while we make improvements”.

The firm obtained up to 16 million mobile numbers from market research firms as well as online businesses who require customers to leave their contacts details, according to the Telegraph.

Although it doesn’t hand out phone numbers to those who pay to use the service, it will connect a caller to the person they are looking for, leading some campaigners to complain it is an invasion of privacy, the report said.

However, UK data protection watchdog the Information Commissioner’s office has given a green light to the service, which includes a simple ex-directory opt out option on the website. Connectivity, the company behind the service, said it only bought customer information which was already in the public domain.

The Twittersphere has been awash with posts from angry users who can’t get on the site to make themselves ex-directory, some calling for either Ofcom or the ICO to reappraise the fairness of the service.

The message currently displayed on the site says it is undergoing major developments and will 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,” it adds.

“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.”



Source:V3

chris

A controversial service which allows connection to millions of mobile phone numbers in an online directory has been suspended, just weeks after it was launched. The 118 800 service, which charges up to £1 to put people in touch with a mobile number from its list, went live in June. Since then it has been deluged with people trying to remove their details from the system.

The site had caused concerns about privacy after it emerged it was making available details of 15m mobile phone numbers it had bought from market researchers and list brokers.

Consumers who wanted their numbers removed from the site were told they needed to log on and apply to be ex-directory.

Those who tried to do so late last week were unable to access the site. Visitors are now told the service is unavailable online and by phone while "major developments" are undertaken "to improve the experience for our customers".

The message says: "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."

Last week the office of the Information Commissioner said it wanted to talk to Connectivity, the site behind the 118 800 service, to find out how it planned to protect consumers against having their numbers included against their will.

However, a spokeswoman for 118 800 said the site's owners had earlier talked to the Commissioner and ensured the site did comply with UK laws. She said the suspension of the site and phone directory service were a result of "technical glitches" that meant parts of the site needed rebuilding and that the suspension would be temporary.

In a statement, 188 800 said: "The high number of queries 118 800 has received since launching have highlighted some technical glitches in the system. To ensure 118 800 provides faultless customer service the decision has been made to temporarily suspend the service allowing for technical work to be completed.

"All requests to be made 'ex directory' that have been sent to the service, via the website or text message, are being dealt with and these numbers will be made ex-directory. There will be no need to resend these requests to 118 800. 118 800 will begin taking further ex-directory requests as soon as the service is resumed.

"118 800 apologies for any inconvenience this has caused callers and will release a further statement once the service is up and running at full capacity."

The landline directory service at 118 800 is still operational.



Source:guardian

Channel Hopper

So, some execs in charge of mobile services are now making a pretty penny from the thousands of people texting their number for removal

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness"