The telecoms regulator Ofcom has announced it wants to cap the price of 118 directory enquiry calls at £3.10 for a 90 second call.

Market leader 118 118 charges £11.23 for a 90 second call to its service. The highest cost of a 90 second call was charged by Telecom2 at £19.98.

 

Ofcom said providers had been increasing prices “quite significantly” in recent years and that people are paying much more than they expect.

Ofcom launched its enquiry into the cost of 118 calls in May 2017 ….  it said some people were suffering “bill shock”.

In a statement Ofcom said: “We’re concerned about rising prices for directory enquiries, and callers paying much more than they expect. So we’re taking action to protect consumers by proposing a cap on the cost of 118 numbers.”

Ofcom’s consultation will run until 22 August with a decision due at the end of the year.

 

(Article from BBC news 13/06/2018 –  https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-44473507# )

 

How the cost of 118 calls varies

Telecom2  £19.98

Hello Maureen £11.23

118118 (TNUK) £11.23

118500 (BT) £3.10

Yell £6.88

118180 (Virgin) £2.25

118402 (O2) £1.88