Good Business - 118 Charges.

[bainbrig]

On The Today programme today -
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-46369401

Examples of ‘Good business’? Directory enquiry calls, used mainly by the elderly, are a source of huge profits to the various providers. Good business, or rampant exploitation?

I know where my vote goes, but perhaps I’m wrong.

B

[BANANASPLITS]

Anyone using 118 needs their head testing

[david small]

Exploitation of the needy, by the greedy.

[hc4361]

It should be £1 maximum to make a call to directory enquiries. Absolutely shocking to charge over £11

[Mamyalynne]

They are outrageous amounts and if I knew of any person who may need to use them , I'd tell them either the cheapest to call or get them to call me to find a number for them.

[Canary42]

Vicious exploitation of those who can't manage on the Internet. It's called Compassionate Capitalism.

[DTCwordfan]

what are the blind supposed to do - disgraceful - even £3-65 is far too much. Take off the 3.....

[hc4361]

Many blind people are able to use the internet.
This is where the likes of Google Assistant and Alexa gadgets come in to their own - anyone who can speak can ask for phone numbers and you can buy them with a display for the hard of hearing.
Even a cheap Android smartphone will have this ability.

[youngmafbog]

What utter lefty toah Canary.

These companies are not businesses and this business is pretty labour intensive plus, as many no longer use it, no longer has economies of scale. Nobody is forced to use it, pop down the library if you cant use the internet or ask someone.

[bainbrig]

That's right, youngmafbog! I was hoping you or one of the other realists on the forum would be along to straighten out these bleeding-heart liberals.

Good business it is!

Old people like me deserve all we get.

B

[AuntLydia]

No its not 'good' business, its a company preying on the elderly and infirm for profit.

[bainbrig]

Sorry AuntLydia, but youngmafbog has a point, hasn't he? You must agree that a load of left wing tosh should be exposed, surely?

[maggiebee]

Sounds a bit like the advert on TV for Bright House (not sure if these shops are only in Scotland). Buy the latest Xbox for your wee treasure for £300 + and pay back over 30 payment. Gosh you only pay back £800 +. I know you don't have to buy but many parents are under pressure at this time of year, and it hits those who can least afford it.

[AuntLydia]

I don't see it as political at all, let alone 'tosh'. Its preying on those who can ill afford it, like payday loans, and the dreadful Bright house. All these things now have regulations in place, so directory enquiries should either be the same, or openly advertise how much a call will cost before the cost is incurred.

[bainbrig]

Well, don't ask me, maggiebee - youngmafbog and AuntLydia will put you straight on this one. I think it's about irresponsible parenting, single mothers on benefits owning large-screen TVs, and smoking, but I could be wrong.

[fiction-factory]

I never use directory enquiries but I got got caught out and felt exploited when an relative died and I rang the number on the card for the AXA prepaid funeral plan to notify them (as instructed in the policy) to stop the premiums and start the funeral arrangements - and only later found that I was charged £14 for the call.

[bainbrig]

Offcom have come down on the side of the scroungers (big surprise) and capped the cost of a 90 second call at about £3.65.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/nov/28/watchdog-hangs-up-on-excessive-directory-enquiry-charges

What is happening to the free market? Roll on Brexit.