- Tuesday, 9 February 2010
- INQ Mobile
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An unjust peace is better than a just war - Marcus Tullius Cicero
118800 embroiled in mobile privacy concerns
A CONTROVERSIAL NEW SERVICE in the UK is raising eyebrows as 118800.co.uk has announced it will list millions of people's phone numbers on a database that will let any lunatic, serial killer - or worse, telemarketer - get hold of them for just £1.
118800 says it will allow individuals and companies to search for people's private mobile numbers on its website, sending an SMS to the unsuspecting victim asking them to call back the contactor, be they your crazed ex, a bill collector, or someone trying to get you to buy [insert useless piece of rubbish here].
Some 15 million people are apparently already on 118800's database, having failed to tick that fateful little box on any form or website declaring "if you don't want us to leak your private details quicker than the British home office, please check this space."
Of course 118800 insists it does not give out mobile numbers, saying "when you search on 118800.co.uk, we'll send an SMS message to the person you're seeking, giving them your contact details so they can call you back if they choose to do so."
Still, getting bombarded with unsolicited SMS texts is not exactly pleasant, so there's a good case to be made that this is an invasion of privacy. Not to mention that receiving an SMS message incurs a charge under many mobile subscriber plans, so you could wind up paying to be harassed by people you've never met.
An opt-out escape apparently does exist though, with 118800 noting that unhappy and harassed mobile users can text the letter 'E' to 118800 from their cellphones to unsubscribe. Of course you'll be billed a "standard network charge" for doing so.
When an intrepid INQ tipster requested the mobile number for 118800's CEO, Raj Raithatha, and its marketing manager, Shona Forster, however, neither of them chose to reply to the contact request. Hmmm.... µ
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I'm not aware of any UK telco that charges to receive SMS's ... which ones did you have in mind that do this?
It appears their database is about three years out of date and they want you to opt out so they can confirm your number before they sell it on to some marketing company.
Yeah, I agree - I thought so too.
It's usually free to receive an SMS message unless it's for premium rate services such as ring tones, etc...
How about starting and waging a cyber war against the scum who do this.
If anyone pays £1 to send an SMS to some person, how can he be sure that SMS was actually sent? I mean, that outfit can charge anyone who uses it's fishy site, for £1, and do nothing.
If anyone pays £1 to send an SMS to some person, how can he be sure that SMS was actually sent? I mean, that outfit can charge anyone who uses it's fishy site, for £1, and do nothing.
Darn thas nasty stuff - Those infamous telemarketers always calls at the worst possible time ever and on top of that the offer that they make is mega crappie. jeje. I would call my ph provider and ask theme (pay) not to shear my ph # w/ any public/privet co.
I assume the text comes through from 118800, so perhaps it would be smarter to request a block on the number at network provider level.
That way, if some telemarketer twat pays a quid for my number, the text will be sent, they end up paying, but it never gets through! :)
I don't want my mobile number given out, as people are always trying to find out who I am!
Virgilio Anderson
Awww. What a shame those two from Connectivity didn't answer the reporters request for details on how to contact them, I'm sure they'd have been more than happy to oblige after helping to set up such a lovely service using millions of everybody else's details.
Nevermind, maybe if anyone googled 'contact Shona Forster Chief Marketing Officer connectivity ltd' it would be possible to get a direct number or email address to use simply to explain that there must have been a mix up or that maybe the in tray was full originally. Surely either of them would be more than happy to be contacted after being thoughtful enough to set up the directory. Maybe that's how it started. Maybe one of them thought 'I just love it when millions of people that I may or may not of met or know are able to contact me on a whim, why don't I give that same magnificent opportunity to anybody whos number I can possibly pay to get my hands on without asking them if they want to take part first'. So with that they rang up the Information Commissioners office and they said 'Yea go for it mate'.
Hello, Joe from 118800.co.uk here.
Just to reassure you that we’ll never actually give out anyone’s personal details. When you search on 118800.co.uk, we’ll send an SMS message to the person you’re looking for, giving them your contacts details and it is then up to you if you wish to call them back or not.
In response to the popular belief that there is a deadline to opt out, this is incorrect. The viral email that has been circulating is incorrect in that there is no deadline, users can opt out at any time.
Our service on 118 800 and 118800.co.uk was being tested in June. There are now developments we want to make to improve the service for our customers. But due to the high levels of enquiries we are getting, we are simply not able to complete the technical work required whilst the service is live. We are sorry for inconvenience and will be up and running again as soon as possible.
If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us on contact@118800.co.uk
Thanks,
Joe
118800.co.uk
Joe as enthusiastic as you are it seems like a lot of people just want to make sure that they aren't part of this directory and that their details aren't being used without their direct permission. Can you reassure us that the mobile numbers that people have to provide when opting out won't be used by Connectivity for any other purpose?
.. cat got your tongue there Joe?
Richard... or do you prefer 'Dick'? What are you on?
Do you actually think a nationally known company would ask you to opt out so that they could get your mobile number? Maybe if they were some 'down a back alley' outfit but think about it... the news says they have bought 15 million names and numbers. I don't know how much they paid for each one of them but even if its a penny a piece it's more money than I've got!
If you don't like the service they offer then opt out and quit your wining for pitys sake! I've opted in because it sounds like a useful service and they don't actually give out numbers. Do you think that some double glasing punter is going to pay a quid to see if you'll speak to him only to find out you hit the 'reject' key. I don't think so.
You've been watching too many roswell - consipiracy theory reruns mate.
Hi, Joe from 118800.co.uk again.
We don’t give out or sell data to anyone, so cold calling will not result from our service. Cold calling is common on landline numbers because landline data is freely and widely available. The mobile numbers in our directory are available to no one. 118800 connect people that know each other, we don’t give out numbers.
For more information please visit our website on www.118800.co.uk
Or see how the service works http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNgLWB123JA