Phone database bollocks

[Tom]

If another person emails me with this stupid spam message about the mobile phone database, I'll scream.

For anyone thinking of sending it - there will be no cold calls. None. Ok? Nobody will be able to contact you without your express permission, given on each occasion.

 

[Moriath]

yeah but do you want to be anonymous with your mobile or do you want to accept the gradual errosion of our privacy and control of our information that is the 21st century

 

[Tom]

Where is the erosion of privacy here?

 

[dysfunction]

Well I don't want to receive random text messages saying someone wants to call you...

If I want someone to have my mobile number I will give it to them thanks very much...

 

[Moriath]

my mobile number is private to me i only give it to ppl who i want to call me

If i don't give someone that number then i don't want them to call me on it ..

including through a third party that interrupts what i am doing to ask if i want to be contacted by someone that, if i wanted them to be able to call me i would have already given them my number

therefore my privacy has been interrupted by a call that i never wanted in the first place

 

[nath]

What I want to know is where did they get these phone numbers?

 

[dysfunction]

From 02, orange, vodaphone etc..

 

[Tom]

my mobile number is private to me i only give it to ppl who i want to call me

If i don't give someone that number then i don't want them to call me on it ..

They won't have your number. They won't call you on it.

including through a third party that interrupts what i am doing to ask if i want to be contacted by someone that, if i wanted them to be able to call me i would have already given them my number

therefore my privacy has been interrupted by a call that i never wanted in the first place

Say your bank doesn't have your mobile number. You go on holiday, and spend a few hundred quid. Its a suspicious transaction, but they can't contact you. They put a bar on your card, you then have no money to spend.

You don't think that such a service might be a good idea? Its far more likely than a telemarketer attempting to sell you windows.

Where is the loss of privacy? There is none. Its a text message, you look at it, you think "nah", and you delete it. Gone. 5 seconds.

Big deal.

 

[dysfunction]

I really hate getting text messages from people I don't know. It annoys the crap out of me.
I only want to be contacted by people I know...

If someone calls my mobile with a withheld number I don't answer it...

With your bank example..you should have notified them you are going on holiday then you wont have that problem...

 

[nath]

I certainly don't like having a private company (assuming that's what it is) have all of this information regardless of what they promise. I also don't like having to actively opt out of things as you appear to have to do with this.

As to your card example, Tom, that exact thing happened to me when I was in Amsterdam. I just called them, it wasn't difficult.

 

[Ch3tan]

What dys said, it annoys the hell out of me when I get messages from companies I have never heard off saying I can opt out. I never opted in in the first place!

 

[Moriath]

opt out is always shit it should always be opt in

 

[tris-]

Is there somewhere to opt out of what ever the hell this is?

I registered with the telephone preference service, the royal mail no junk thing and something else. This has pretty much stopped all the useless shit I used to get and I dont want more coming in from another angle.

 

[dysfunction]

Is there somewhere to opt out of what ever the hell this is?

I registered with the telephone preference service, the royal mail no junk thing and something else. This has pretty much stopped all the useless shit I used to get and I dont want more coming in from another angle.

You can opt out here:

Remove Me

 

[nath]

Anyone else feel uneasy about having to remove yourself using their own site? Just feels iffy.

 

[Ch3tan]

You can opt out here:

Remove Me

That makes you click even more to get the info you need, such a badly designed site.

Can I be ex-directory with 118 800?

You can become ex-directory from this website. Or you can text the letter ‘E’ to 118800 from the mobile phone you want to be made ex-directory. Standard network charges apply. The first time 118 800 contacts you you will be sent an SMS reminding you about how to become ex-directory. Please allow up to 4 weeks for your ex-directory request to take effect.
How do I know when I am ex-directory?

We will send you an SMS message confirming when your details will be ex-directory.
I am ex-directory, so how can I be put back in the directory?

If you know you are already listed by us as ex-directory – and therefore we have your correct address - you can text the letter ‘I’ (for ‘in’) to 118 800. Alternatively, you can join the directory from this website. Please allow up to 4 weeks for your details to be included in our directory.

Up to 4 weeks? Fuckers, I don't want you to have my number in the first place.

 

[dysfunction]

I know! I think they do it so you get fed up and can't be bothered removing your number from their database...

 

[Dark Orb Choir]

i think its a good idea

 

[Ch3tan]

Wonder if you can request they remove your data completely, not just ex-directory via data protection act?

 

[Dark Orb Choir]

you can ask them to tel lyou what info they hold on you, tbh if you have never put your mobile number on a web form or said to someone that they could use your number for commercial purposes then i think you are gonig to be ok

 

[Ch3tan]

i think its a good idea

It should be opt in, the fact my network has given away my number and name pisses me off even more than the fact I have to waste time opting out of a service -and then waste more time and potential cost to get my details deleted from their database.

 

[Dark Orb Choir]

your network didnt give your number away, you did , thats if you are on the database

 

[dysfunction]

your network didnt give your number away, you did , thats if you are on the database

Yes they did. 118800 have purchased the numbers from the Mobile service companies and then created their own mobile directory service...which you then have to opt out of!

 

[Dark Orb Choir]

where does it say that ?

 

[Tom]

Up to 4 weeks? Fuckers, I don't want you to have my number in the first place.

But you agreed to let companies such as this have your number, when you signed your mobile phone contract.

 

[dysfunction]

where does it say that ?

It was in the News about a month ago...

Some info about it here:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/working_lunch/8091621.stm

 

[Chilly]

Wonder if you can request they remove your data completely, not just ex-directory via data protection act?

Nope, because you gave your number to someone who sold it on quite legitimately for marketing purposes and it ended up with this company. Be assured their major expense when setting up shop was buying in the number lists from marketers. The operators wouldnt be able to sell the numbers.

 

[Dark Orb Choir]

118800 gets numbers from three sources. First, market research companies who contact individuals and ask if they would be prepared to allow their numbers to be used for commercial purposes.
Second, from online businesses who often ask customers to tick boxes during the normal course of online transactions.
Thirdly, 118800 gets them from brokers who buy and sell lists of phone numbers.



so, i still cant see where it says the mobile networks are giving the numbers out?

 

[dysfunction]

118800 gets numbers from three sources. First, market research companies who contact individuals and ask if they would be prepared to allow their numbers to be used for commercial purposes.
Second, from online businesses who often ask customers to tick boxes during the normal course of online transactions.
Thirdly, 118800 gets them from brokers who buy and sell lists of phone numbers.



so, i still cant see where it says the mobile networks are giving the numbers out?

Well who do the brokers buy the lists from then? It's bound to be the mobile networks as they have 15million numbers in their database!

 

[Chilly]

how many websites and random services have you put your mobile number into and blindly cicked "I agree to the T&Cs" ?

Many people are sheep and give info when asked unquestioningly.

Anyway, 118800 dont have everyones number. If you are very careful with your number then they probably never will have it.