Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Nearly four in 10 callers to 118 directory enquiry services are given the wrong number. Only 62 per cent of requests for British numbers are accurately dealt with, and just 37 per cent of those asking for international numbers are given correct information, a survey by Oftel shows.
Paul Whiteing, the deputy director of the phone watchdog Icstis, which helped carry out the survey, said: "I hope that this research will act as a spur to individual companies to improve the accuracy of their services. Those that don't risk losing their customers to other directory enquiry providers."
Worst offenders were 118 355, run by the communications firm Thus, which provided only 33 per cent of the correct numbers for residential numbers, and 118 119, run by 192.com, which got it right for only 43 per cent of customers wanting a British home number.
The 118 services have been heavily criticised since they replaced the old BT 192 number in August.
BT's new 118 500 number was accurate for 62 per cent of residential numbers and 71 per cent of business numbers. Directory Enquiries UK (118 800), which scored a success rate of 63 per cent for residential numbers, said many problems were caused by misspelt names on bills used to compile the database.
Researchers, who made more than 3,000 test calls in October, said that eight in 10 people who complained about wrong information were offered refunds. Nine out of 10 consumers are aware of the changes to directory enquiry services and 40 per cent had tried one of the new numbers.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments