Directory Enquiries.

[squidgelet10]

Greetings each.
Given the recent proliferation of 118 Directory Enquiries numbers being offered, here in UK, on behalf of private companies who then charge an exhorbitant fee for a service which was once provided FOC by BT: Does anyone please have any plausible ideas why this service is not accessible by Joe Public direct without having to pay these profiteers?
Cheers.

[ABerrant]

In August 2003 Oftel – which has since been subsumed into Ofcom – opened the directory enquiries (DQ) market to competition and the numbers 192 (domestic) and 153 (international) were replaced by a choice of over 200 different 118 numbers. Contrary to popular belief 192 was not a free service before deregulation: BT charged 40p for DQ using 192 and the majority of new 118 services were priced below 40p for equivalent services.

Competition has provided many alternatives for DQ services, some which are relatively expensive and others cheaper than pre deregulation e.g. GM Group's 118 226 allows up to two enquiries for a flat 23.5p no matter how long the call lasts...

http://www.gmgroupcorporate.com/118.html

As for the current BT service - 118 500 costs 40p per call plus 99p per minute or part thereof...

http://www.bt118500.com/118500.publisha

Free DQ services do exist. The cost is subsidised by a 20-30 second advert. More info here...

http://www.moneysavin...ectory-enquiries-free

[TTG]

Just look on the 'net, Yellow Pages or Thompson Direct.

[Buenchico]

ABerrant correctly states "contrary to popular belief 192 was not a free service before deregulation". However that's only true of the period in the run-up to deregulation. Prior to that, 192 was a completely free service.

TTG correctly points out that online directory enquiries are free but only suggests services for business numbers. For residential numbers use BT's own service:
http://www.thephonebo...ial/advanced.publisha
BT's business directory is also often better than that of its competitors:
http://www.thephonebo...ame/advanced.publisha

Chris

[ABerrant]

I can't determine if people's memories are short or long. ;-)

Although for much of its lifespan of 50-ish years the BT (previously Post Office) DQ service was free when called from a landline telephone, a charge for the service existed from at least the mid 1990s, around a decade before switch-off was proposed.

[squidgelet10]

Thanks Guys 'n' Gals.
I have decided to have the 'phone cut-orft completely.
It's much cheaper THAT way! :-)
Be good!
Cheers.