A new service that claimed to offer a directory of 'millions' of UK mobile phone numbers has chosen to 'temporarily suspend' its service.
An announcement today cited technical issues that forced 118 800 to take down both its web site and its mobile call centre. However, its landline service remains available.
118 800 launched less than a month ago, allowing users to request a name and mobile number of any given person for £1.
118 800 service not 'faultless'
A spokesman for the company 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."
If a requested person's phone number is in the directory, they receive a text with the number of the person trying to contact them, asking them to complete the call.
The service proved controversial after it was revealed that Connectivity, the company behind the 118 800 numbers, had sourced most of its directory from marketing lists held by other companies.
Users can request to be removed from the 118 800 directory, and the company said today, "All requests to be made 'ex directory' that have been sent to the service, via the website or text message, are being dealt with. 118 800 will begin taking further ex-directory requests as soon as the service is resumed."
The company said that its website at www.118800.co.uk would be available again tomorrow.
Your comments (4) Click to add a new comment
neil118800
August 6th
4. Hi Mark, Adam and Virgilio,
Im Neil and I work for 118800.co.uk
We don’t give out mobile numbers. 118800 is a service for connecting people that know each other’s name and address. In the majority of cases it will be a friend or colleague who has lost your number or doesn’t have it on them and needs to get in touch. If you are contacted it will be by 118800 calling to announce the name of that person, or sending a text message with the name and number of the person trying to get in touch. It will then be up to you whether you want to speak to them or not.
Please have a look at a video of how the service works http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNgLWB123JA
Or visit our website for more info http://www.118800.co.uk/
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bphilips
August 5th
3. I think if they had made it an 'opt-in' instead of 'opt-out' service they would have been more warmly received. Interesting to see the huge backlash - very impressed with saynoto118800.co.uk
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adam1
July 11th
2. The company said that its website at www.118800.co.uk would be available again tomorrow.
I also don't want my number given out. The site is still suspended and as today is yesterdays tomorrow, I'm thinking that tomorrow will never come.
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virgilioanderson
July 11th
1. I don't want my mobile number given out, as people are always trying to find out who I am!
Virgilio Anderson
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