Ntl's 192 replacement 118878

[Russ]

Just how much less information than partial surname, partial location do you need ?? The online version allows wildcard searches e.g.Roberts or Robe* and e.g.London or Lond* and allows you to browse at your leisure.

You can't do accurate national searches on those and it's a little easier to call 118 when you're wandering down the street on your mowbilee

Afraid you'll be put out of work

More chance of that happening to you sir

[fraz]

Originally posted by Russ D
[B]You can't do accurate national searches on those and it's a little easier to call 118 when you're wandering down the street on your mowbilee

I did say

(assuming you're at home with a net connection)

what do you call an accurate national search ??

[andygrif]

Originally posted by fraz
Ain't they the people you're working for these days

Russ, as you're working for them, do you think you could tell me how much it costs me to call your company from an O2 mobile please? O2 don't seem to know, which is amusing!

[Russ]

Originally posted by fraz

what do you call an accurate national search ??

Our database is larger than that of BT's - indeed they rent some of ours

Russ, as you're working for them, do you think you could tell me how much it costs me to call your company from an O2 mobile please? O2 don't seem to know, which is amusing!

I'll ask my TL and post back later

[andygrif]

Originally posted by altis
All the info, including prices of the new services here:

http://www.newdirectoryenquiries.com/

Unless the site has been radically updated recently, this only gives prices of calls based on those from BT landlines. There is still much confusion as to how much it costs to call from mobiles and other landline networks.

[andygrif]

Originally posted by tridens
Why change the 192 any way we have had it and used it for years its easier to remember than some 118 118 or any of ther numbers
if it aint broke why fix it

It's becuase they were on shaky ground from a monopoly point of view, and needed to be opened up to competition. The end result is people will go where they get the numbers 1st time for the lowest cost, which can only be a good thing.

Seeing what has happened in other countries where this has happened, however, looks like it has backfired somewhat - some companies have pulled out leaving only a few big players left.

[Russ]

All mobiles are free to set their own tariff and because it's subject to change, we aren't told what each network charges. O2 should be able to tell you but after my experiences with them I'm surprised they know what day it is......

[andygrif]

Originally posted by Russ D
All mobiles are free to set their own tariff and because it's subject to change, we aren't told what each network charges. O2 should be able to tell you but after my experiences with them I'm surprised they know what day it is......

Interesting...thanks for the info Russ I appreciate it. Perhaps this is indicitive of the games that these companies like O2 and NTL are playing. You'll notice that both of them also seem to have directory enquiries services, but will only tell you how much their own one costs. Strange that isn't it?

I cannot believe I'm reading this:

To ensure a high level of service, NTL are insisting that all Direct Enquiries Service Providers agree in to a minimum level of service and quality, we are currently in negotiations with these suppliers. Once we have completed negotiations we will open up these 118 numbers.

Since when did ntl feel the need to vet the service standards of companies we might want to phone up? Do they phone all chat lines before allowing them to be accessed through the ntl network? Do they phone all the banks to see if their call centres are up to it before we are allowed to use our home phone to call them?

I don't need this big brother approach from ntl. I'm old enough to decide for myself who I want to call from my home phone, and mature enough to decide for myself whether I'm getting decent quality service from those I choose to call.

Let's be honest about this. Ntl are not forced to provide access to competitor services through their network in the way BT is and have chosen to take advantage of this. Once they have got all their customers used to dialling 118 878, and the competition's ad campaigns have finished running on TV, then they will 'decide' who is up to scratch and give access to those numbers. Of course by then it will be too late for most folks, who will have forgotten they are meant to have a choice.

[SMHarman]

Originally posted by towny
I cannot believe I'm reading this:


<snip>
Do they phone all chat lines before allowing them to be accessed through the ntl network? <snip>

LMAO

Almost as good a job as the caption writer or nipple tweaker for Page3.