Tag: 118800
How to make your mobile phone number ex-directory…
This is public service announcement from Tech Digest. One and all, please be aware that the 118800 mobile phone directory goes live next week with around 15 million of the UK’s current 60 million mobile phone numbers listed. So, for the non-mathematicians amongst you, that’s around 1 in 4 of us that’ll be in there depending on how many advertising lists we’ve already got ourselves on.
Now, I’ve never one to be that bothered about my personal data being out there in small bite-sized chunks but you might want to consider making yourself ex-directory from the 118800 list. All you have to do is go over to their site and follow the the instructions.
You give them your number, they text you a code and you type it back in. On the down side, it does mean that you actually give them your phone number and there’s a 75% chance they never had it in the first place. Your call. I suggest reading some more about the service itself before you make your mind up. It’s actually not as Daily Mail, life-endingly bad as it sounds.
While we’re on the public service tip, I also suggest that all Londoners who were effected by the Tube strikes a few weeks back also go here to claim two days’ worth of travelcard expense back onto your Oysters. Again, the downside is that they’ll end up registering your Oyster card in the process such that Tfl and their buddies will be able to know your comings and goings about town. On the plus side, it’ll probably cost them a tenner. Worth it?
I shan’t tell you which way I decided to step in both situations. All I’m saying is that you’ve got a very short window in which to make your own minds up. Choose wisely.
118800 to give out mobile details to anyone
118800 will, from next week, begin to sell people’s mobile phone contact details to anybody who requests them.
Annoying telesales companies, charities, your ex-girlfriend who stalked you for three years or even the local ASBO kids will all be able to get hold of your details and give you a call, or even a text.
And do you know what? It’s all your fault. That’s right, because you didn’t tick that little box at the end of one of the many applications you’ve filled in, you’ve allowed your details to be passed on and you’ve effectively given up any right you had to any privacy.
For just £1 118800 will pass on your details, providing you’re one of the 15million people listed in their database.
118800 insist that people’s privacy is paramount to them and you can have your number removed from the database upon request. This sounds like a bit of a cop-out to me though, surely if they were that concerned with people’s privacy they wouldn’t be buying numbers or giving out details in the first place.
Sorry to get all Daily Mail in this post, but this has annoyed me quite a bit. For years mobile users have got away with not being pestered by unwanted phone calls. It seems that now we could be heading down the landline path, where every other phone call seemed to be someone trying to sell you something.
(via BBC)
