Whether you're on your home phone, mobile or the internet it's possible to call or use Directory Enquiries for free. While in the main the liberalisation of Directory Enquiry services has caused us to spend more money and get worse service; for those in the know it's brought prices right down.
Free calls from a landline
Most Directory Enquiry services rely on similar number databases, which is why when one makes a mistake, it's often repeated with others. Therefore the real deciding factors are the speed, ease of use, service and of course price. Two mainstream providers allow you to call for free from home.
How do they do this? The model is quite simple; as part of the call you'll need to listen to an advert, which usually lasts about 20-30 seconds and this subsidises the cost.
- The Number, 0800 118 3733
Pros: More than one number request. Cons: Advert played immediately, automated system.
Technically to use this service for free you must first register online on 118.com, so it can add you to its advertising database, though it often works without. You then listen to an advert immediately and answer automated questions to ask your enquiry. Rather annoyingly it always asks for an 'address' which can be a little confusing; and only later, if it can't find the details comes back and asks for an area.
This means it tends to take a longer time than other services; though the voice recognition system is reasonably accurate.
- Freedirectoryenquries, 0800 100 100
WARNING! Freedirectoryenquiries is temporarily out of order
Free Directory Enquiries is currently unavailable while it moves it call centres to another location. It expects this to take around six weeks. In the meantime use the other free services.
Pros: A real person answers, no registration needed. Cons: Accuracy issues, only one enquiry allowed.
If it knows the number, this is a quick service, with the ad only lasting 20 seconds. Better still the advert is only played after it's confirmed it knows the number; so if not you can ring off. It's also an easy number to remember.
The business model behind this is interesting. To make it viable, the advert you're played will tend to relate to what number you're asking for and also allows you to connect through, for free, to the advertiser. e.g., if you ask for the National Rail Enquiries number, the advert is for Eurostar.
- Free Enquiries service for those with disabilities
There's a special 195 Directory Enquiries number available, without adverts, for those for whom using a phonebook may be difficult e.g. if you have memory loss, ME or a physical disability. Complete a form and get it countersigned by your GP or another professional familiar with your disability then call 195 from any phone (landline or mobile) for more info. Text phone users can call 0800 838 363
It's worth noting the services are not free from mobiles; see the free directory enquries from mobiles section for more.
Cheapest Non-Advertising numbers
The free services have improved greatly; but for the sake of speed some may prefer no adverts. If you do decide to pay for a call, there's a huge range of charging structures.Always ignore those which charge by the minute as you've no control over the cost. For example, the 118 118 service has done an incredible job in hypnotising the nation with brilliant adverts so many don't question its price. It charges a whopping 69p on connection plus 19p a minute. You're far better off sticking with fixed fee services.
- The GM Group's 118 226 allows up to two enquiries for 23.5p
For a flat 23.5p no matter how long the call lasts, you can make up to two enquiries per call. Run by a little known company G.M. Group, actually the Directory Enquiry service is provided for it by BT, with the same call centre staff doing it as its other operations. The service is really designed to appeal to businesses, yet there's nothing stopping consumers from using it.
- Alternatives. Get up to three calls for 40p
Next cheapest, and the cheapest officially marketing itself to consumers, is Colt Telecom on 118 390 at a flat 32p for one enquiry. Plus if you want to make three enquiries Conduit's 118 848 is a flat 40p but allows three enquiries.
| Directory Enquiry Services: Sample Costs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| One Enquiry | Two Enquiries | Three Enquiries | |
| BT (118500) | 78p | £1.27 | £1.76 |
| 118118 | 88p | £1.07 | £1.26 |
| GM Group (118226) | 23.5p | 23.5p | 47p |
| Conduit | 40p | 40p | 40p |
| Freedirectoryenquiries | 0p | 0p (but redial) | 0p (but redial) |
| The Number | 0p |
0p |
0p |
| Internet Enquiry | 0p |
0p |
0p |
| Assumes each enquiry takes 1 minute. Correct Feb '08
|
|||
WARNING! Call completion is a charming assassin
While it doesn't apply to any of my top picks, one of my pet hates is ‘call completion' where the operator asks if you want to be connected through. It may be convenient but costs a fortune. Rather than paying the cost for a standard call, you're charged the Directory Enquiries rate for the normal call.
Let me use an example, that isn't even the most expensive. Imagine you were using BT's 118 500 number one weekend. Get call connect and you're charged 49p a minute or almost £30 an hour; yet if instead you'd simply taken down the details and called the number yourself, then even for BT users (who can save a fortune, read Cheapest Home Phones) the call would've been free!
Free/cheap from your mobile
If you're prepared to use your mobile's internet type capacity, you can make directory enquiries at virtually no cost. If you simply want to make a call then while it can't be done for free; massive savings are still possible.
Free enquiries via the mobile internet
What to use depends on how advanced your mobile phone is; many phones bought in the last year or so can often outstrip computers of ten years ago.
- Lower Tech Phones: BT's Free WAP Directory Enquiries Service.
WAP is the cut down basic internet for mobiles available on most of the phones launched in the last three or four years. Even if you don't think your phone has WAP, it's worth checking as it's likely you do. It may be called web or services or internet.
Once you've found it plug in the following WAP address wap.thephonebook.com then just enter the name you're looking for and the area and it'll give you the details. Add the wap address to your phone's bookmarks or favourites list so it's easy to come back to again and again.
While the service is free, you pay for accessing WAP on your mobile, yet as the cost usually depends on data usage this is likely to be negligible or at least very small.
- Higher Tech Phones: Free via mobile internet.
Many more recent phones allow you to surf the full blown internet on your phone. If your's has this capacity then you can simply use the websites listed in the Free from the web section for your enquiries. Also try www.google.co.uk/m and search for something like “Chinese” and it’ll list all the Chinese restaurants near where you are at that moment; and allow you to click to a map of it.
While I've listed these as free, it's likely there will be some form of data charge for accessing the services; though on most mobiles this will be negligible.
Dirt Cheap Enquiry calls from your mobile
The costs of calling Directory Enquiry services from a mobile are hideous, much higher than from a normal phone. This is due to the mobile networks' companies not the Enquiries operators, as they set the prices. They often gemmy it so their own services are the cheapest, but still they aren't cheap, so it's best to avoid them. Yet there is a way round it:- Use the 'free enquiry services'.
The two free directory enquries services for landlines both involve calls to 0800 numbers. Contrary to some erroneous press reports and even press releases from these companies, these are not free when made from mobiles. Most networks do charge for calls to freephone numbers, this is usually at the standard rate for calling a landline and aren't permitted within any free minute allocation. Enquiries via 0800 100 100 will be send via text to the mobile you're calling from. It'll have the number plus a small plug for whatever ad you had to listen to and it promises that you won't be spammed with any other advertising texts. 0800 118 3733 will give you the number while you're on the phone.
Typical cost of calling 0800 directory enquiry numbers vs networks' own 118 numbers |
||
| Network | Total cost of calling 0800 number (1) | Total cost of calling its own Directory Enquiries service |
| Orange Pay As You Go (PAYG) | 38p | 59p |
| Orange Monthly | 15p | 59p |
| Vodafone PAYG | 45p | 82p |
| Vodafone Monthly | 23p | 82p |
| o2 PAYG | 23p | 90p |
| o2 Monthly | 30p | 90p |
| 3 PAYG | 23p | 50p |
| 3 Monthly | 23p | 50p |
| (1) Assuming a 90 sec call. Based on standard tariffs. Costs may vary so always check before you call. | ||
Rather bizarrely, if this was a normal number rather than an 0800, it would be cheaper on most mobiles and would be eligible as part of your free minutes allocation.
I've spoken to Freedirectoryenquiries and the reason it isn't currently offered is because as part of its business model it sends a text of the number plus advertising, not possible on a normal number. However I'm talking to the Director of the company to try and find a solution for MoneySavers. Full details will be in a future weekly e-mail (to get it, add your e-mail to the box below).
- Get three business enquiries for 25p
If you're looking for a particular service while out and about dq4Mobile offers three numbers for per text at a cost of 25p. For example if you're looking for taxis in Islington text taxis.Islington to 83211 and it will text you back with three options. While cheaper than networks' own servies it won't help for residential or specific searches.
Free via the web
A variety of websites offer free Directory Enquiry services. Usually they require registration, enabling them to market other services to you, yet just ensure you tick the ‘don't send me further info' boxes and this shouldn't be a problem. My pick of the services are:
- 118.com Unlimited searches, no need to register. Link: 118.com
- thephonebook.bt.com Unlimited searches, no need to register. Link: thephonebook.bt.com
- 192.com requires free registration which gives 10 free searches per day, but includes additional search facilities (some need paying for) such as viewing the electoral roll. Link: 192.com
- Ukphonebook.com allows five free searches a day if you register. Link: Ukphonebook.com
- Free International Enquiries. 192.com has an international service which links to nearly 400 directories in 204 countries including an in built translator. Link: World192.com
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