The 118 800 mobile phone directory service has broken down and isn't expected to be back up and running until tomorrow. The service aggregates UK mobile phone numbers and creates a searchable database of contact information.
Opt-out requests may have caused site outage
Its website is currently down, undergoing maintenance, and isn't expected to be back in operation by the end of the day. This means that anyone who has visited the website to either register their number or have it excluded from the mobile phone database will be left in limbo waiting for a confirmation text message stating that their request has been processed.
Over the past two days emails have been circulating round British offices suggesting that anyone who doesn't want their mobile phone number to be included in a commercial database visit the website of the company setting up the directory and enter their mobile phone number.
However, some sources have suggested that the email itself is part of a campaign to get people to enter their mobile phone number at the site, thereby confirming the number is active.
According to details posted at www.118800.co.uk in the FAQ section under Privacy, you should be able to have your number delisted by prefacing your phone number with the letter 'E'. A text message will confirm that this has been done and your mobile number won't them to added to the claimed database of some 15 million numbers.
The 118 800 service will sell its database to businesses and marketeers that want to be able to contact potential customers. Consumers will be able to find friends and colleagues via the service by entering the person's name and location and by paying a fee of £1. The service will then connect them to the person, but will not divulge the mobile phone number.
The company that runs 118 800, Connectivity, says it will broker the call but will ask the person receiving the call if they are happy to accept the call.
Even so, many consumers are unhappy that their private mobile phone numbers will be traded in this manner - hence the apparent surge in traffic to the site to go ex-directory.
Conveniently, the website where you can opt out of the database is down for maintenance. PC Advisor's calls to Ofcom for comment on the service itself and the legitimacy of the emails stating that you can opt out in this manner have yet to bear fruit. Ofcom has so far said that it believes the matter may be out of its remit and has no comment given that the service has yet to launch.
The accompanying TV adverts for the service, which went live on 18 June, suggest that the service will be akin to that of the Yellow Pages or other directory services that provide business and residential phone numbers. However, privacy campaigners are concerned that it's actually an infringement of consumer's rights.
"You are supposed to have people's consent if you are going to pass their number around and they need to know where it is going to go," says Chris Watson, a lawyer at CMS Cameron McKenna, told the BBC Working Lunch programme.
For now, the best advice is probably to ensure your phone number doesn't appear on sites such as Facebook, not to allow the sharing by 'selected organisations' of your details and to switch your phone silent.
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Lauz said: Its a damned disgrace Who gives them the rite 2 do that Mobile numbers r supposed 2 be a private line given out only 2 friends n family How dare they take that choice away from us n then have the nerve 2 say we have 2 opt out of it
Sue W said: I have received 4 calls in the evenings in the past two weeks from people trying to sell me or survey me This has NEVER happened before and therefore I can only assume that they have got my mobile number from the 118 site My peace has been shattered and cannot access the site to withdraw my number which must be on there in the meantime people can call up to get my number This is totally unfair and Im taking this further this cannot be legal
Anon said: Ive just had a call from a company trying to sell a phone deal to me - I wasnt asked if I wanted to take the call Does this mean that the number was not obtained by them through this route This is a serious breach of privacy Does anyone know of any complaints procedure or any organisation that is fighting to reverse this selling of mobile numbers to companies
Virgilio Anderson said: Joe from 118 800Your own CEO admitted on the BBCs Working Lunch 147 that this data was made live on the Internet without proper testing How can the public feel assured that proper security measures have been taken to prevent any hacking into your servers which contain thousands of confidential records from people who dont want to be on your databaseVirgilio Anderson
Joe said: Hello Joe from 118800couk hereJust to reassure you that well never actually give out anyones personal details When you search on 118800couk well send an SMS message to the person youre looking for giving them your contacts details and it is then up to you if you wish to call them back or notThe service aims to connect people that know each others name and address We dont give out numbers to anyone especially sales organisationsOur service on 118 800 and 118800couk 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 possibleIf you have any questions or concerns please contact us using the feedback form on our siteThanksJoe118800couk
Ted said: do not want my number listed in this directory It should be illegal without my permission
Josh said: I dont care who you are
Virgilio Anderson said: I dont want my mobile number given out as people are always trying to find out who I am Virgilio Anderson
Kevscar said: I want to know how they got my number I have never given permission to anybody to pass it out
ms said: i think it is terrible that a company can do this i do not wish my mobile phone number to be made public it is disgracefull
Peter said: Why should we opt out If I want my number listed I will use one of the services availableDo I trust a company that added my details without my permission No
Switch your phone to silent said: What - forever