I use 18185 for most of my calls so my BT bill usually represents just line rental. My current bill shows a single call to 118505 which is International Directory Enquiries. The call lasted 2 minutes 40 seconds and was charged at £5.67 + VAT. At first I thought this was a mistake but after checking I found that the service is charged at an incredible £1.99 per minute plus VAT.

I needed to contact Australia Post urgently after a valuable registered package was mis-delivered and only had a local (to Oz) freephone number which the BT operator told me I could not dial from the UK, so I had to find a geographical number. 

First and last time I will use this service

Thanks! There was a link to White Pages which has geographic numbers.

I'd found a six digit freephone number on the Australia Post website and rang the UK operator to ask if it was possible to use this by adding other digits. Some UK 0800 numbers can be dialled from abroad by adding the international prefix. The operator told me that this was not possible and transferred me to International Directory Enquiries.   

It never occurred to me to ask the price of this service (my fault) and it was only when I saw the bill that I realised that I had been charged £6.66 (£5.67 + VAT) to be given one telephone number which I just found myself in under thirty seconds through two unfamiliar websites.

The exorbitant rate is bad enough but when coupled to very slow response time it can produce shocking charges. I've cancelled my direct debit with BT and will send them a cheque for line rental and a nominal £1 for the 118505 call.

Quote:


Well, they are in the sense that they are 'non-geographical' but the BIG difference is that they are a single price (generally about 25c or about 12p) REGARDLESS of the length of the call. I have been on hold for 50 minutes on a 1300 call - and it still only cost me 25c.

Of course, there is always a catch. You didn't think the telcos would let you get off that lightly? 

That price is only from a landline!! Just like 0870 numbers, cell phone companies charge a premium for them if called from a mobile. 

In addition, they are NOT included in call packages. Does that sound familiar? Luckily, most companies will give you a geographical equivalent quite freely if you ask.....

So - just a warning to anyone visiting God's Own Country - DON'T think you can get a 1300 call for 25c from a cell phone!

from the bt website:
* Calls to 118505 cost 194.77p per minute or part of a minute, plus a connection charge of 67.53p. All call charge include VAT and are from BT landlines. Other mobile and network charges may vary.

how can they charge so much for a directory service??

free directory enquiries numbers:

The Number, 0800 118 3733

Pros: More than one number request
cons: Advert played immediately, automated system.


Freedirectoryenquries, 0800 100 100

Pros: A real person answers, no registration needed.
Cons: Accuracy issues, only one enquiry allowed per call.

alot cheaper than 118 500 and 118 505