Hi Everybody

If you recall I first contacted members in regard to "RingLocal" the free alternative 118 service - it is now "118FREECALL"

At long last today 01/08/2011 is the launch "118FREECALL" this service provides a FREE alternative 118 service. I cannot provide you with the FREE 118 number at present becaue we do not have the staff to answer the phones. The service is to be launched in Barnsley and then only promoted in certain areas, our biggest fear is that we will not be able to cope with the number of calls that we anticipate if the service is widely known before we have additional resources.

If there is anybody out there that is interested in assisting me with this FREE alternative 118 service and you have broadband and a landline telephone number please contact me via a pm personal message. or aom@blueyonder.co.uk

I am also very interested in the feedback of members.

Regards

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In reply to silent victim:-

Funding - This service is FREE to the caller because the revenue is created from the paying clients and advertisers and subscribers calls are transferred both automatically and manually depending on the service.

I did not say that there wasn't anybody to operate it - I said that we only have limited resources at present.

I was just asking if any members wished to assist in some way, and what the opinion is. I have been a member of this site for a long time and I was just asking for feed back.

The number is 0800 1185118 and it will be live by Friday this should dispel any disbelievers

I note that there are some other 'free' 118 services.


http://www.moneysavingexpert.com/phones/directory-enquiries-free

bazzerfewi wrote on Aug 1^st, 2011 at 5:01pm:

Thanks for the limited information.

Given that the service will only be accepting calls from the Barnsley area, many of us will have to wait a while before our doubts can be dispelled by experience.

It is implied that all calls are transferred! As the service is free to the caller, then this is either a most radical step in the development of DQ services or a highly selective service that only offers contact with those who are sufficiently desperate to promote their business as to meet the telephone costs of callers.

A quick scan of pizza delivery services in Barnsley reveals no 0800 numbers. Would 118Freecall be expecting to capture all of these calls from those who pay for geographic, but not 0800, calls?

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UPDATE

The above was posted just as the immediately previous posting appeared.

I now understand that the service is restricted only to businesses that subscribe. (Please correct me if I misunderstand.)

As you have now launched the service is it a little late to offer further comment on the concept.

It will be interesting to hear how you get on.

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FURTHER UPDATE

I now understand that I was wrong to believe the previous posting.

I think that it is radical to expect your clients to provide with the revenue that enables you to refer callers to their competitors when the competitor has paid you nothing.

You also have a rather odd view about the concept of a worker's cooperative!

"A quick scan of pizza delivery services in Barnsley reveals no 0800 numbers. Would 118Freecall be expecting to capture all of these calls from those who pay for geographic, but not 0800, calls?"

It is the 118 number that is the 0800 number not the different client 0800 numbers

SilentCallsVictim wrote on Aug 1^st, 2011 at 7:05pm:


Yes that is correct - Also we have sourced the company that provides data to 118118-BT and Yell, when we have the financial resource we will be in a position to provide the service in alternative areas without the costly research.

118freecall is set to be the truly FREE 118 service in the uk. 0800 1185118 is the number for all but BARNSLEY HAS THE FIRST CALL WE INTEND PROVIDING THE SERVICE TO ONE AND ALL

catj wrote on Aug 1^st, 2011 at 7:42pm:



I have been trying to work out how to respond to the op and I think catj's response is spot on

catj wrote on Aug 1^st, 2011 at 7:42pm:

We went through the Dragon's Den-style helpful advice stage with Baz some time ago.

He has now done his numbers and secured the investment necessary to launch his service - we should perhaps just wish him well.

Baz does however owe us the courtesy of not over-hyping what it is that he has done.

It seems that it is a modest community project to promote local businesses for now. Not that there is anything wrong in that, but it is unfair on members of this forum to present it as being something much more grand without providing the necessary detail to show it for what it truly is.

It would be much easier not to be flippant in response if we were provided with something other than flippant comments about the nature and the scale of the service.

The most constructive comment I can offer, is one which I offered originally. Ask yourself why nobody else is doing this. Every original idea has to start somewhere, but it is a useful exercise to make sure that you have really seen an opportunity that others have missed.