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Got the wrong number?

13 April 2012

Getting the wrong number has never cost so much. Four out of ten calls made to the new 118 directory inquiries services result in the wrong number, a survey has revealed.

Since BT lost its monopoly on the market in August, callers have been getting a bad deal, the latest findings from Performance House consultants show.

Researchers rang each of the 58 phone companies ten times last month and found only three gave out the right numbers all the time. These were Share Communications (118 499), BT (Welsh) (118 404) and 118 UK (118 888).

The worst offender, Eckoh (118 117), got eight out of ten calls wrong, while Cable & Wireless (118 099) and One-tel (118 111) wasted customers' time and money six out of ten times.

To make it worse, callers are paying more for the bad service. Calls now cost 49p, compared with BT's old 192 service fee of 40p.

Martin Ashfield of Performance House said: 'It's not good enough. It's a public service that you're paying for.'

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