Soon you'll be even less likely to remember the phone numbers you need... you'll be too busy trying to remember the multitude of new Directory Enquiries numbers on offer.
It's going to be chaos... Later this summer it's all change for Directory Enquiries. Goodbye 192 and 153 and hello to a host of six figure numbers, all beginning with 118. All will have different charge rates and many will offer different services - from one basic phone number to finding you a florist or the address of a firm you have only the number for and guiding you along the road with directions.
It all sounds wonderful and we'll be checking them out in the future, but frankly we're not convinced. Maybe because the first time I used one of the new numbers they managed to get me not just the wrong number but also the wrong town... oops
The main difference between them is the range of services and the number of enquiries you're allowed. Some offer a cheap and cheerful one number only service. Others allow three numbers on each enquiry. Others would let you go on all evening tracking down long-lost friends, the wonderful curry house somewhere in Birmingham, what time the main film starts and so on and so on.
These numbers are all up and running now, together with 192.
Most charge a fixed rate connection call, then charge you per minute for however long the call takes. The charges we give are from landlines - it could cost more from mobiles.
Most also offer "call completion" ie, they'll connect you to the number, which saves you writing it down, but will probably cost you a lot more than dialling it yourself.
ONE ENQUIRY ONLY
118 119, operated by 192.com
Cost: 25p connection plus 30p per minute, billed by the second.
118 099, operated by Cable and Wireless Quickcall
Cost: 35p from BT and Cable and Wireless lines
118 888, operated by Conduit
Cost: 20p a minute
118 111, operated by One.Tel.
Cost: 35p per call
118 877, operated by Telco
Cost: 35p per call
118 811, operated by One
Cost: 30 p per call
UP TO THREE NUMBERS
118 000, operated by Orange
Cost: 49p minimum charge for first minute, then 20p a minute
118 118, operated by The Number
Cost: 49p fixed rate plus 9p per minute
AS MANY NUMBERS AS YOU LIKE
118 247, operated by Yellow Pages
Cost: 40p per minute, billed by the second
118 500, operated by BT
Cost: 25p fixed rate plus 30p per minute, billed by the second
118 866, operated by Double one, double eight, double six
Cost: 25p fixed rate plus 20p per minute.
CONCLUSIONS
There will be many providers coming on the market, so all this could change once 192 has gone for ever.
But if providers want to get and keep our custom, they're going to rely very heavily on the pleasantness and efficiency of their staff so it's time they invested heavily in more staff training.
Most of the people who answered our calls - all of them sounding very young - were perfectly pleasant if sometimes a bit clueless. One or two were exceptionally cheerful and helpful - three cheers for the girl from Conduit and the young man from 118866. One was absolutely dire - we won't be using One Tel again..
IMPORTANT!
Although 192 is going, the 195 service for people who have difficulty using the phonebook, will still be available.
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