BT 118 500 Reviews
Summary
Review your 118 500 Directory Enquiries Service or find whether this is the best Directory Enquiry number for you. With the increasing number of Directory services available
determining which comes out Tops can be no less than difficult. Whether it is time taken to answer the call or simply the cost, make comparisons from the reviews below and get dialling.
Latest Reviews
★☆☆☆☆
“BT 118 500 review”
Written on: 20/05/2013
I CALLED 118500 TO ASK FOR A NEIGHBOURS PHONE NUMBER. I AM VERY DISABLED AND AM COMPLETELY HOUSEBOUND. I WAS TOLD THAT THE NUMBER WAS EX-DIRECTORY AND WAS GIVEN A 2MINUTE AND 9 SEC. EXPLANATION OF WHY I COULD NOT HAVE THE NUMBER. I WAS CHARGED £6.60 TO LISTEN TO AN IDIOT........NOT GIVING ME THE NUMBER. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Disgusting Rip Off”
Written on: 29/04/2013 by killerx (5 reviews written)
I collapsed last week and was unable to walk and in a lot of pain fortunately a relative was at hand. It was decided we needed a doctor and browsed the phone book looking for G-Doc's telephone number. I was in an extreme amount of pain and the numbers for directory enquiries escaped me....192 sprang to mind but is of no use any more. Eventually after long worried discussion and my pain worsening the number 118500 sprang to mind and my 68 year old mother rang and had to wait a massive 10... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Rip Off Merchants!”
Written on: 29/04/2013
My husband rang 118 500 for 1 minute, 11 seconds and was charged £5.90 purely to get a local phone number - thankfully, he didn't ask to be connected through them, or goodness knows how much it would cost. Complete rip off! (read more)
★★★★★
“Get your facts right people!”
Written on: 28/04/2013
I have read all the reviews about 118 500 1. BT provide a FREE directory service for blind and disabled people, the number is 195; 2. If you ask how much the service costs you will be told; 3. If you want connected it is compulsory for the operator to advise you that it is £1.99pm 4. 118 118 has nothing to do with BT 5. If you are given the wrong number you can get a refund for that call (depends on circumstances) (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“massive rip off”
Written on: 24/04/2013
accidently "pocket" called this service on my mobile,realised and turned off after 2 seconds,charge=£3.00.......£3.00 for 2 seconds..BT should be ashamed of themselves. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Huge Charges for 118 500 connected telephone calls”
Written on: 09/04/2013
I have been charged £34 for a 16min local call. I asked why this was and it seems that the charge, if you ask to be connected to a number obtained from 118 500 is £0.60 PLUS £1.99 per minute. The moral to the story DO NOT SAY YES when asked if you want to be connected, dial the number yourself. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Ripoff”
Written on: 04/04/2013 by Elewolfe (1 review written)
My mum kept saying her bills were quite high so ended up going through them. What should have been no more than £34. Month for the full works were all in excess of £50. One bill showed she had been on the 118 500 line for 6 minutes, totally £16 in charges! Most charges were over £4, which in my view is typical of this country that allows such blatant thievery. What appears to increase charges is when you allow them to put you through, they just keep on charging. NEVER use this service!... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Daylight Robberry, borderline fraudulant service”
Written on: 26/03/2013
Just got a mobile bill for £65 which was a shock when it is normally £15 - the extra £50 was mostly made up of 118500 charges. I have been waiting months for BT to connect our phoneline and internet - had I had the internet I would not have had to use their 118500 service. I was under the impression that it was a flat rate fee of around 50p to gain a number and I never let them put me through. I have apparantly made a 9 minute (how I could possibly spend 9 minutes on the line asking... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Waste of Space 118500”
Written on: 25/03/2013
Not only did BT empty the credit from my mobile - they managed to give me the wrong number twice! A number which I found in 20 seconds at home, unfortunately I wanted to make an urgent call. Wouldn't mind so much if I hadn't carefully spelt out the name and address to the operator! (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Charged for two ghost 118500 calls”
Written on: 18/03/2013
My current bill has a charge for two supposed 118500 calls. Neither my partner nor I have ever used this service or were even familiar with the number to dial. BT insists the calls were made and I insist it was impossible. BT appear to be ignoring me and expect me to pay. So, even if you avoid this service, BT still makes a charge for it. My BT direct debit has now been increased by BT because they say I am using BT more than in the past - due entirely to the false charge. Looks as if I... (read more)
Jg4H's Comment
Written on: 13/04/2013
Hi,
I too, have been charged for ghost calls by BT. On my latest bill there was a charge for calling 118 1118 (I didn't) plus charges to 2 0844 numbers that I know for sure that I didn't call! I went onto BT's online chat for help, but the operator kept insisting that the 1181118 was a legitimate call, and one of the 0844s was a heating company! The third number...they couldn't find out what company it was! I am going to write a formal complaint and send copies of false charges they have billed other people for, if necessary, I will go to the ombudsman - I will not be cowtowed by a large company like this, and will also be changing my service provider.
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Showing 1 - 10 of 59 Reviews
★☆☆☆☆
“Awful”
Written on: 14/03/2013
I specifically asked for a high st hairdressers to be asked is this a business or residential number. Stop milking every penny out of your customers. If u provide a good service people will come back. I wont. I'll look number up on ipad in future. Bye bye 118 500! We r finished, (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“118500 ”
Written on: 12/03/2013 by MICKYJP
Received my BT Bill to find a call to this no. racked up a bill of £42.42 just for the one call albeit lasted 20 mins. What a rip off not only do they charge exorbitant fees but the no. they put through was not disclosed on the bill. WHO WAS THIS PERSON ?? Why charge so much and since when is the cost disclosed!! Be WARNED take the number and call them back yourself DO NOT BE PUT THROUGH UNLESS YOU WANT TO PAY THE EARTH> MONEY BAGS!!! (read more)
★★★★★
“BT 118500 number”
Written on: 17/02/2013
On my Vodafone Monthly contract bill I found an item, 118500 charged to my account at £2.50 + VAT for 21 senconds use of this number? I had a shock as I am on a Vodafone Monthly at £10.50 including VAT,and I always aim not to go over my Monthly Allowance for Calls and Texts,thus DISABLING any features on my phone that incurs costs such as VoiceMail,Google Access,Internet Access,as I don't want any of these 'stupid features as a Pensioners.Now,I shall have to trace my friend who used this... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“How Much?”
Written on: 05/02/2013 by jasoncooke93 (31 reviews written)
£4.50 for 2 x 1-2 minute calls, number required not even found. Wow! (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Biggest rip off ever”
Written on: 23/01/2013
I used just over 4mins charged 10 pound just over no connection charge included in this did not even find me a number disgusted it was them who where looking for number that boosted the time will never use again will tell all I know about this appalling service! (read more)
Wilshire's Comment
Written on: 02/02/2013
i have been with bt just 2 months and already had a bill for £85 left sky to go on to bt basics nothing was done wrote to tell them i am leaving them and wont be paying ie no direct debit no contract just a phone call to take the line over from sky. was with sky 12 months had no problems i must be an idiot . i suggest we let the rest of the country know to keep well away from bt
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★☆☆☆☆
“High price for a wrong number”
Written on: 08/01/2013
This service costs a fortune so I was particularly irritated to find out they'd given me a wrong number. Bizarrely, when I checked later, I found the correct number easily on their website. When I googled the number they'd given me, it came up as a spam number. Think the call centre woman must have been having a laugh. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“the total 118 rip off”
Written on: 04/01/2013
I have a 35 year old son who i am sorry to say has an acute mental problem he is addicted to ringing 118500 numbers ,He has rung up bills of over £100 a month i am with sky which was sold to me with no call charges to land lines in the uk . This band of cowboys should be STOPPED Involve the goverment FSA . (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“BT Rip off Blind Person using 118500”
Written on: 04/12/2012 by Nounours (1 review written)
My 94 year old mother used 118500 to find the tel number for a hospital where her friend had been taken to as she was worried about her. As a blind person she does not have the option to write down numbers and dial for herself. The cost of two calls was more than she normally pays for the whole bill!!! I regard this as flagrant discrimination of the disabled and will be pursuing the matter through the DDA minister. I cannot believe how anyone would imagine a pensioner of limited means but... (read more)
Lindsaymcdougall's Response to Nounours's Review
Written on: 22/01/2013
You're not kidding. Here's another pensioner who remembers the days when 192 calls were free, so I didn't hesitate in using the 118500 number. I do know not to get put through, but to write it down, but even so 2 enquiries have cost me ovefr £9.00. I'm fuming. You're right about Watchdog.
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★☆☆☆☆
“Unbelievable ”
Written on: 28/11/2012
I rang to get one number, I have a slight speech impediment and the operator mad a big thing about not hearing what I said, the call lasted 8mins and 11 sec for which I was charged £15.83 - - I am in a state of shock that is more than I normally spend on calls in a quarter. My sole consolation is that I found this review site and know I am not alone in being swindled by 118 500 (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“only if you want to be ripped off”
Written on: 31/10/2012
Grossly overpriced. £5.00 for a 2 minute call thats £150 an hour. I don't think you need to know anymore to know not to use. (read more)
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Showing 11 - 20 of 59 Reviews
★☆☆☆☆
“A legalized scam”
Written on: 25/08/2012
I was trying to get the number for the local walk in clinic and was given a number for the local District Council office. This call cost over £7.00. At no point was the tariff divulged. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“fraud”
Written on: 03/08/2012
I have a package with AOL which includes Aol Broadband and all telephone calls totalling £25.00 per month last week I got bill from Aol for £47.99! -the extra charge was for APPARENTLY 8 minutes on 118500 directory enquiries -I am no stranger to their rip-off tactic of offering to connect you which I got stung for £27.00 a couple of years ago!-never again I said! In the 5 calls i made to BTelecom Directory Enquiries last month I can only have spent a maximum of 2 to 3 minutes at MOST,... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Directories Rip off”
Written on: 01/08/2012 by LHLH
I asked for two numbers from BT directory enquiries and was charged almost £10. The enquiry was as expensive as the curry I ordered when I got the number. It's a blatant rip off. Don't call them. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“118 118 disgrace”
Written on: 02/07/2012
I recently lost my mother so I had to use this service a few times to get number to contact friend and family for 9 call to 118 118 I was charged £158.07....I have written a complain to BT as noone helped me when I contacted them to get this broken down and sent out in writing, I was told by a manager that they could not do this....do they really think I'm going to take their word for it.. DISGRACE BT..... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Total rip off, BT should be ashamed.”
Written on: 13/06/2012 by brox2 (1 review written)
My mother made an improtant medical call....she was not given the option of being given the number or connected.They connected her not saying the whole call would be £1.69+vat per min + 62p connecetion....16 mins cost £29.00 an absolutley ridiculous rate especially for a pensioner.Surely once connected from 118 500 the call should be normally priced....shame on BT (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“OVER THE TOP”
Written on: 08/06/2012
118500BT HELP, more like help yourself. £4.80 2 mins they could not find the number anyway. No wonder I am no longer with BT. Never use Bt directory again. STAY AWAY ALL. (read more)
★★★☆☆
“As A Former BT 118500 Advisor..”
Written on: 16/05/2012 by lauraleilana
I worked for BT a few months ago when I was 18 and I will be the first to say that their pricing IS ridiculous, and several people I worked with definitely wouldn't be my first choice as an employee. I genuinely cared about my customers and tried to help them despite the mountains of unnecessary abuse I received every single day, and the constant blame for a number being either ex-directory or not being in the database, or being wrongly listed, which is completely down to the business or the... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Disgusted”
Written on: 12/05/2012 by DCEB001 (1 review written)
I called 118500 during the early hours of the morning because I had a very sick 2 year old and needed to speak to NHS Direct, at no point was I advised how much the call per minute would be and in fact they did not ask if I wished to be connected they just connected me I was charged £45 !!!! The call lasted 26 minutes because the nurse had to do checks for meningitis. I am disgusted, it was a medical emergency not calling for a pizza shop !! Warning never use this service BT are awful ! I... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“directory enquiry misleading”
Written on: 24/04/2012
I had to make a call and could not find the number to the person I needed to contact. I phoned 118 500 and was put through. The call lasted 9 minutes according to my bill and cost over £17.00 I didn't recall being given the option of being put through - I would normally take a note of the number and phone it myself. I found there was a lack of any information about call charges and I cannot recall being given the option of taking the number myself. If I had the option of being put... (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Connection Scam!!!”
Written on: 15/04/2012
My wife agreed to be connected by bt118500 operator to her call and was not told that the the connection would be charged at premium rate and we were re that this wacharged over £30 for a 20 miute phone call. She was not made aware that this would be the case. I consider this to be "sharp practice" and should be stopped. (read more)
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Showing 21 - 30 of 59 Reviews
★☆☆☆☆
“rip off bt”
Written on: 06/04/2012
ripped us o for £3,50 for one number for directory enquries on xmas eve!! only on phone for 1min 43 secs. going to change my provider form BT now as have 3 lines with them !! its there loss now (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“crap”
Written on: 05/04/2012
5 pounds for wrong number and told its right go on internet and get right number so why cant thay do it crap survice (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Blind mother ripped off! £76.34 for 45 minute call!”
Written on: 11/03/2012 by alrobis (1 review written)
My Mother is 89 and 85% blind. Lost her brothers number so asked her other brother for the number, he advised 118500. Rang it from Virgin Media, they must have offered to put her through bill arrived 45 minute call to a landline £76.34! Dont know if its virgin media or BT who are ripping her off probably both, they should be ashamed! And these changes were brought in to bring more competition to 192! Its a total disgrace!! (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“47 quid for getting 7 numbers Thanks BT 118 500!”
Written on: 16/02/2012 by steveknox (1 review written)
Just complained about the fact my mum asked for 7 numbers and was charged 47(forty seven) pounds. I phoned the operator who offered to deduct 10 pounds if i took it no further. I refused as i felt it was an insult and wanted to take it further. I admit that she agreed to be connected but she obviously didn't realise the high cost of them doing this. especially as the service many years ago was once free. I contacted the customer help line who seemed to be understanding but they didn't get... (read more)
Joeok's Response to steveknox's Review
Written on: 18/02/2012
Don't give in Steve, I got a full refund (in postal orders and 1st class stamps)Put your claim in writing they will pay up eventually. This service is a complete rip off
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★☆☆☆☆
“Disgraceful Charging”
Written on: 05/01/2012 by Farnleywoodfarm.789
This evening my 87 year old mother in law rang 118 500 to enquire how much it was to enquire about a number, she was given the information and was told that call she had just made also cost her £1.69. She worked at the Leeds Telephone Exchange in excess of 20 years and was disgusted at this particular charge! (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“£2.00 per minute inc vat. When connected by BT on Orange”
Written on: 16/11/2011 by joeok (3 reviews written)
My son used his Orange mobile to contact his local Police Station (I pay the bill)He obtained the number from 118500, he was not informed there would be an additional charge for being connected. As a result over £26 for a 13 minute local call. Cat326 writes a review from the point of view of a BT operator and asks "everybody please read" I suggest that everybody does read along with her employer to see the attitude of these people. She suggests that having a "degree" means she will... (read more)
★★★★★
“everybody please read”
Written on: 18/10/2011 by cat326
okay so i have just read all 22 reviews all of them being bad and have stated that its a rip off and a rubbish service. i would like to point out the following.. first of all bt 118500 is a premium rate service do not use it if you dont like the price! you wouldnt go to tesco buy a loaf of bread have a slice of toast then look at your receipt and go back and complain about the price of the bread would you... when we onward connect our customers we have a script on the screen which reads... (read more)
Joeok's Response to cat326's Review
Written on: 01/11/2011
Just been charged over £26 to be connected to the local Police Station for a 13 minute call. The operator Did NOT warn me of the cost, but just said \"would you like me to connect you\". I can speak \"properly\" and I'm not \"elderly\" (God forbid)and it would have been more appropriate if the operator said... would you like me to rob you on behalf of BT!!!
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Joeok's Response to cat326's Review
Written on: 01/11/2011
......\"i have a degree and i am not stupid i am doing this job because in my area there is nothing else and i would also like to say that there is many people in the same boat as me in this job educated good people with degrees. there are many tests we have to pass before getting an interview spelling is one example\"
Must send this review to BT with my valid complaint, you obviously did not get a degree in English
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★☆☆☆☆
“118500 disgrace ”
Written on: 30/05/2011
Checked my elderly parents phone bill to find a £15.90p call for 8 mins through 118500.Obviously took the option of being connected through them not realising the extortionate charge.One call £15.90p be aware folks when using this service and Never get connected through them ! (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“What a rip off. I will never use this again. I thought...”
Written on: 02/04/2011
What a rip off. I will never use this again. I thought it was a one off charge and made two calls to 118500, as the first gave me wrong number only to be charged over £3 for the privelege. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Absolutely disgraceful. £17.55 for a nine minute call....”
Written on: 31/03/2011
Absolutely disgraceful. £17.55 for a nine minute call. Girl offered to put me through, but didn't mention that the entire call would be charged at their premium rate. (read more)
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Showing 31 - 40 of 59 Reviews
★☆☆☆☆
“A very quick call to 118500 with no connection has...”
Written on: 30/03/2011
A very quick call to 118500 with no connection has left me with a bill for £3.30. I will never use this rip off service again. I give it O rating, unfortunately have to it seems give it a star rating as no nil rating is an option. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“bt are totally ripping customers off with there 118500...”
Written on: 09/03/2011
bt are totally ripping customers off with there 118500 number they wont listen to you when you challenge them to justify the cost of these calls .to me these are premium rate numbers (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“My daughter phoned the allegedly "friendly" 118500 #...”
Written on: 15/01/2011
My daughter phoned the allegedly "friendly" 118500 # to find a number and then must have accepted the offer to connect her and talked for 6.00 minutes exactly without understanding the charge. At £1.19 / min + 50p connection fee I still cannot get it to the £8.48 they have charged me. I shall make a point to explain to as many people as possible the unfairness and deception of BT Directory Enquiry 118500 service (SIC) and charges. (read more)
R3Vi3W3R's Comment
Written on: 20/01/2011
Update - after a strongly worded complaint - BT have offered to refund the cost. Key point must be that their procedures cannot guarantee operatives warn enquirers that any connection will be charged at prime rate. Just need to wait and see if the promised postal order arrives ! RESULT !
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★☆☆☆☆
“My mother, who is 80, racked up a bill for £13 on a...”
Written on: 30/12/2010
My mother, who is 80, racked up a bill for £13 on a single call to this number. She nearly collapsed when she got her phone bill. I think this service is a scandal. I hope that everyone reading this review warns family, friends and colleagues not to phone this number. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“Ihave just recieved my bill and to my surprise i have...”
Written on: 03/11/2010
Ihave just recieved my bill and to my surprise i have been charged £16.01 for making 9 call to 118500, apparently totalled to 5 mins, it is supposed to be £1.16 per min, so that should only cost £5.80, total rip off, called bt and i got a refund of £8, if you want to call directory enquires call 0800100100 (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
“i would never use this service again...after being...”
Written on: 19/10/2010
i would never use this service again...after being charged £99.90 for 1 phone call..so please if you do use this service beware how you can be easily ripped off..this review will most probably not be published as it shows the truth.. (read more)
Amy2708's Comment
Written on: 19/10/2010
I found this review very helpful because...it warned me never to use this service again..same as all the other reviews...
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★☆☆☆☆
“Disgracefull service, has been giving out the wrong...”
Written on: 17/10/2010
Disgracefull service, has been giving out the wrong number for my business for a substantial length of time before coming to light and then not interested in doing anything about it. The cost is a rip off. (read more)
★☆☆☆☆
★☆☆☆☆
“Avoid Avoid! ”
Written on: 25/08/2010
Avoid Avoid!
it was a trial and i will never ever use this number again , especially not from a Vodafone mobile.
They charged me 6.33 for 3m 43s; The 118500 employee couldn't find the number of the restaurant i was looking for even though i spelled them the name and gave them the exact adress (including post code!). Fortunately for my bank account, i suggested her to use google....then as magic she found the number im less than 5 seconds. These guys are thiefs!
avoid using them and buy a...
(read more)
★★★☆☆
“uk call centre, did everything they could to try &...”
Written on: 05/08/2010
uk call centre, did everything they could to try & find the number i was looking for, he did sound a bit bored though (read more)
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Showing 41 - 50 of 59 Reviews
overview
Top 5 Directory Enquiries Services
To calculate the top 5's we take the following factors into account:
• All the star ratings the company/product has received,
• The number of reviews
• How recent the reviews are
As rated by real users
-
1. Share Communication 118 499
7 reviews read latest review -
2. Yell.com 118 247
23 reviews read latest review -
3. 118 UK/ Conduit 118 888
11 reviews read latest review -
4. BT 118 500
59 reviews read latest review -
5. The Number 118 118
144 reviews read latest review
Hot Stuff in
Latest Reviews in Directory Enquiries Services
-
BT 118 500
"BT 118 500 review" Read More
-
Yell.com 118 247
"Horrendously bad service" Read More
-
The Number 118 118
"Avoid like the plague" Read More
-
Share Communication 118 499
"Quick and accurate!" Read More
-
Call Sid Scrimshaw - www.callsid.co.uk
"Quick and Easy" Read More
Latest items in Directory Enquiries Services
See more ▼
Davidcmoss8's Comment
Written on: 01/04/2013
I agree completely! I mistakenly put this number on my home phone to use for Directory Enquiries as it was from BT, and have just got my present Bill. One call to this number cost me over £4, despite being on the line for 1.4minutes, and did NOT ask to be connected!! Get off your backsides OFCOM and close this service down!!. This is tantamount to EXTORTION by BT!! I will never use this so called "service" again. If anyone wants Directory Enquiries then ring 118365 - costs around 60 -80p in total