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Mike Fader
16:37 04/04/06
Posts: 1 
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| At 0:37 17/12/05, dyslexic_bana wrote: |
It should be noted that accents differ greatly, on this small island we call 'Britain', and hence that certain people - mentioning those from no areas in particular *coughs*Scotland*coughs* - should be extra patient, given the difference between the dialect accustomed to by the 118 118 worker, and themselves. Overall, I'd say that accents and obscure place/business names are the bain of every 118 118 worker's life; and the Scottish and the Welsh are the worst, respectively, with regards to these.
Merry Christmas, and remember that patience is a virtue and that 118 xxx really is simply the vest........ |
Poor little love, having to deal with all the nasty Scottish and Wesh folk daring not to speak just like you. Have you ever tried to work out jusy how they manage to understand what you're saying ? Do you imagine that you have no accent ?
They should all be taught to speak regulation gutteral Eastenders patois and then we'd all know where we are without any of those irritating differences ! Anyway thanks to your insight, I now know which directory company to avoid.
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hwitn Guest
14:59 16/03/06
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A warning for parents
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A warning for all parents.
Having placed call barring on my home phone to stop our teenagers dialling their friends mobile phone numbers, I have now found that they can get round this by dialling 118 118 and asking to be put through to any number of their choosing!
I believed 118 118 were just a directory enquiry service and having now received a huge bill for my landline I now discover they are not what they appear to be.
Parents be warned!!
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oovar Guest
11:56 16/02/06
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phone directory assistance
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Nothing to grumble about really, but stumbled across this post ont' internet... I too have worked for 118 118, and after seeing how they work, and how efficient they are compared to BT and other directory assistance companies, they are by far the best. Conversation over... even if it was a delayed response!
And I love the 118118 products they sell on their websites! I've got the vest... is that bad?
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pewy
3:17 31/01/06
Posts: 1
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I also work for 118 118. I have found that the polite population of the UK is decreasing and rapidly. I find myself many times after my call has ended Laughing at how stupid some people are.
I feel sorry for the parents out there who open their phone bill and shocked that it cost so much. Because their little angel had called 118118, Ten times 1 after another just to shout " I'VE GOT YOUR NUMBER " or sing # 118118 theme tune and slam the phone down. which would cost about 55p a shot.
The Million Dollar question I asked a customer today!!!
Customer : I want the telephone number for AVIS car rental at The Airport!!
I: Which airport would that be please?
Customer : Starts to mouth off then Hangs Up!!
Was that such a hard Question???
I do have to admit.
Had a call yesterday asking for The Broadband Company.
Me thinking the customer had gone mad. Trying to explain that broadband is a service provided by a lot of different companies.
!! But I appologised, There was actually a company called "The Broadband Company" !!!
If you call 118118 from a mobile and say "can you text me the number for say the butchers in Milton" and put the phone down
You will not receive a text and you will be charged for the call.
Texts are sent out as you hear the telephone number being read out to you by the recorded message. So if you hang up before the message 90% of people wont get the Text.
Text messages are FREE 118118 do not charge you to send them to you. The text can take a while to come through, depending on how busy, Our network is, Your network is, and how good your signal is. I have waited for 2 hours for a text before now.
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dyslexic_bana Guest
0:37 17/12/05
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I've worked at the Plymouth 118 118 centre since October, and have, as such, just this week passed my probationary period.
Without a shadow of doubt, the hardest part of the job is simply hearing properly what the customer has said; hearing over the phone can be hard at the best of times, let alone distinguishing obscure place names and business names unfamiliar to one (i.e. every day words are familiar, and hence easy to pick up, but not so with rare place names). Plus, even if a good idea as to what's been said has been gained, spelling is another matter entirely; words are not always spelt as they're pronounced, and hence unfamiliar names often require confirmation of their spelling. This is why it takes time and clarification before searching can even commence (i.e. ascertaining as to what the customer has said, and then clarifying the spelling, if necessary).
With this in mind, customers would perhaps be a bit more understanding and patient, instead of deeming us to be deaf and/or stupid (a ridiculous conclusion to come to; as if the majority of a large sample of hundreds of people are going to be deaf and/or stupid). Customers should also realise that, just because a business name and/or location is familar and hence easy-to-spell to them, doesn't mean that it really should be easy to anyone; those requiring a listing under, say, a 20-letter-long Welsh placename, should perhaps have the sense to offer a spelling.
While on the subject of spelling, it'd also make sense for customers, when asked, to spell what is asked of them at a pace slow enough for us to hear and remember, rather than moodily blurting it out; don't people have the sense to realise that talking slowly is most probably best, if we're having difficulties understanding them? It should be noted that accents differ greatly, on this small island we call 'Britain', and hence that certain people - mentioning those from no areas in particular *coughs*Scotland*coughs* - should be extra patient, given the difference between the dialect accustomed to by the 118 118 worker, and themselves. Overall, I'd say that accents and obscure place/business names are the bain of every 118 118 worker's life; and the Scottish and the Welsh are the worst, respectively, with regards to these.
The illogic of many customers reminds one of just how many morons there are in this country. For example:
Customer: "Can you find *the name of an hard-to-spell business*"
I: "Where is that based?"
Customer: "I don't know!!!! Just *the name of a hard-to-spell business!!!!!!!*
I: "Do you know how that's spelt?"
Customer: "NO!!!! It doesn't matter!!!! Just find it!!!"
I (trying various spellings, for a 'UK' search): "Please understand, I'm having to try various spellings, and can only search on what you've given me"
Customer: "Then get the manager!!!!!!!!!!"
What a f***ing retard.
Or:
Customer: "I want Adams Cars; a car rental business in Slough"
I: "Adams, in Slough"
*searches*
I: "And that was a car RENTAL place"
Customer: YES!!!! CAR RENTAL!!! I'M TELLING YOU THIS FOR THE EIGHTY-BILLIONTH TIME"
I: No; that was the SECOND time.
"If only his mother had had a headache, the night he had been conceived" is all I can say.
I really do wish customers would be more rational, by and large: if ONE listing is found, then in my eyes, this is hardly proof conclusive that the whole service is rubbish; if the 118 118 worker is unable to spell 'Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch (pronounced VERY differently)' (which I can, as it happens), then this does not make them a moron deserving not of being in the job; if they haven't heard of a certain business, it does not make them stupid; if they can't understand your Glaswegian accent, it does not make them uncultured; if they have to ask the customer to repear his or herself, this does not make them in need of an ear syringing. And, above all, if it takes longer than 30 seconds to find a listing, it's not the end of the world.
So, yeah: if you're a customer that criticises the job we do, please take note and learn the meanings of the following words: 'calm', 'patient' and 'rational', and of the saying 'Don't shoot the messenger'. If you're a fellow worker, than I hope you've seen, in me, a kindred spirit.
Merry Christmas, and remember that patience is a virtue and that 118 118 really is simply the vest........
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complaintscentre.com Guest
11:24 02/09/05
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Re: 118 118
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Re "118 118" posted by lesleyruth at 8:44 29/08/05 ...
If a 118 tries to put you through without asking or informing you of the costs first, you can report them to http://www.icstis.org.uk/
Keep an eye on www.118tracker.com and the awards website. www.118awards.com They are independent analysts researching the quality of the new 118 services in the UK. You can read more about the monthly accuracy on the reports page www.118tracker.com/reports.
Their new site due to be launched in the next few weeks has a search tool to help you choose the best service for your needs.
Keep up the grumbles.
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lesleyruth Guest
8:44 29/08/05
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118 118
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| I'm so sick of 118 118 operators putting me straight through to the number requested even after I have asked them not to and to simply give me the number. The call is more expensive if they put you through - and I end up without the number and holding for hours to complain to the customer services number! What a con!!!!! Very annoying too as I need numbers fast as part of my job...... Pig sick of it!
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darupark
7:27 01/07/05
Posts: 2
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Re: 118118
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Re "Re: 118118" posted by darupark at 17:05 19/05/05 ...
I am sorry you had problems with the operators finding your listing for pizza business that you had requested - you should of been asked the name and location, spelling and road address to aid finding the listing if all this failed was you transfered to a supervisor to see if they could find this for you? You state you would like a refund if you phone the FREEPHONE customer care helpline based in Cardiff on 08003891118 they will be able to help, as a rule if the company you had requested have not a registered phone number there is normally no refund as you pay for the search to be performed, but certainly if you phone the above number they can research this information for you and take it from there. I sincerely hope that this information has been of some assistance to yourself!!
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118annoyed Guest
14:24 23/06/05
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Re: Add 118866 to your grumble list
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Re "Re: 118118" posted by tobo at 9:27 20/06/05 ...
Just read this post about 118 costs rising
118866 ( have changed their name to RingTrue to hide from the bank!) and have put their costs up by over 300% to a frightening �1.50 for the call plus 30p a minute on top of that.
When a company increase its prices that much should they not have to advertise this fact. I only found out when I got my phone bill!!!!
All of a sudden 118118 now seems as cheap as their ads
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tobo Guest
9:27 20/06/05
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Re: 118118
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Re "Re: 118118" posted by darupark at 17:05 19/05/05 ...
tried to use the service repeatedly..put 3 calls in for the same inquiry but failed with three different operators...
staff appears to have severe problems with the english language and was incapable to find a pizza place that has been in existence for many years despite being given the exact name and location....
would like to know how to get in touch with them for a refund...
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darupark
17:05 19/05/05
Posts: 2
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Re: 118118
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Re "118118" posted by info at 10:05 26/04/05 ...
just a quick reply to your opinion of "118118" as much as i sympathise with your concerns, as a supervisor at the call centre in cardiff ( of whom i happen to be english) - I just felt I had to reply to yourself that not all staff at "118118" are rude and ignorant and incompetent (as in all walks of employment there are individuals who are not as professional as others - but at our company these individuals are filtered out by regular monitoring) if you do ever experience such a case please ask to be transfered to a supervisor or ask for our FREEPHONE customer care department who will be happy to help.
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aann.elli Guest
11:58 26/04/05
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Re: 118118
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Re "118118" posted by info at 10:05 26/04/05 ...
Have never used them anyway. Just took one look at their ads on TV and thought a company that had such ridiculous advertising had to be just as ridiculous! I just stick to 118 500.
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info Guest
10:05 26/04/05
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118118
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I will never use the 118118 service again!
What rude, ignorant operators.
I called 118118 and asked for a number and the operator asked me for more information about the company whose number I had requested. When I gave the full name of the company the operator said in her Welsh lilt, "are you gonna let me finish?"
I have to say that the BT service is much more professional and pleasant - I am quite prepared to pay a little more to avoid a load of lip and curt service from some jumped and rude phone jockey!
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jigsawgraphics Guest
12:09 21/10/04
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118888
I have used this service frequently and have had no problems until recently.
I have made 5 enquiries and only 2 of them were text to me via SMS, if you phone up and complain - you get charged again.
Is there a way round this?
Clive Cope
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paule Guest
17:09 29/06/04
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| No probs. Thank you for thanking me for thanking you..... must go and phone Peterborough Library now... if only I had a reason Re "" posted by DaveL at 17:51 28/06/04 ...
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DaveL
17:51 28/06/04
Posts: 23
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| At 17:19 28/06/04, Guest wrote: | Thank you for posting, your message is important to us....
Re "" posted by DaveL at 14:52 28/06/04 ... |
Thank you for thanking me. Have a nice day.
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Guest
17:19 28/06/04
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Well, thank goodness for that! I've always wondered what the phone number was for Peterborough Library..... NOT....
Thank you for posting, your message is important to us....
Re "" posted by DaveL at 14:52 28/06/04 ...
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DaveL
14:52 28/06/04
Posts: 23
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Found it in all of 1 minute on BT Directory Enquiries!
Peterborough Central Library
Tel: 01733 742700
Broadway, Peterborough, PE1 1RX
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Guest
16:59 27/06/04
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118118 - what a waste of time
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| Phoned 118118 and after 2 minutes of staggering embarrassment to the operator, she could not find "peterborough central library". Surely they should reimburse you for your wasted 60p?
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chateauferret
20:46 08/05/04
Posts: 8
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Re: These adverts are on during most advert breaks during pe
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Re "These adverts are on during most advert breaks during pea" posted by visitor at 13:38 01/09/03 ...
These things are the triumph of marketing over content. In theory there is supposed to be competition so that whoever provides the best service for the best price gets the business. In practice all the business goes to whomever gets the most memorable number and gets it in papers and on TV screens most often.
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visitor
14:49 23/11/03
Posts: 16777215
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I cannot believe that out of the 100+ 118 DQ providers we
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I cannot believe that out of the 100+ 118 DQ providers we can all only remember 118 118 and 1188888 when these are now two of the most expensive services!! 118888 has just put their prices up so they are now Twice the price of their original (half the price of bt) costs. 118 118 has always been one of the most expensive! The only was to find out the best deal and most accurate is to check out independent sites like 118tracker.com that has all of the numbers and their costs listed.
I didnt realise the costs to call these numbers until I visited this site. Make sure you do before you call 118**** again.
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visitor
14:13 23/11/03
Posts: 16777215
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There are hundreds of new 118 directory enquiries service
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There are hundreds of new 118 directory enquiries services, Did you know that 1188888 had doubled their call charges? and that 118 118 is one of the most expensive services? I didn't either until I visited 118tracker.com. It has lists and lists of numbers and their charges and also information on accuracy. well worth a visit
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visitor
22:15 30/10/03
Posts: 16777215
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can i just say that i use 118 118 all the time and they a
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can i just say that i use 118 118 all the time and they are brilliant, i called the BT one and asked for atlantis investments in high street london and BT couldnt find it, phoned 118 118 and asked for 55 high street london and pretended i had no more info and they found it str8 away, just proves you shouldnt believe all the rubbish you hear in the press etc, every time i phoned bt they either gave me the wrong number or said it wasnt there, i have had no problems with 118 118 as they are always polite, helpful and go the extra mile for me, guess you just have to give some respect which after working for orange customer services for some time i find some people just arent capable of. Not every call centre operator is a numb-skull some of them actually have degrees, and i know the number 118 118 are based in plymouth and cardiff UK and only foreign link is american owners infonxx directory enquiries in usa hence the fact they can search usa and canadian listings for same price as uk dq and also put me straight thru to usa at 9p per minute!!!!!
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visitor
20:39 15/09/03
Posts: 16777215
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Why only these 2 directory numbers...I've used both and t
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Why only these 2 directory numbers...I've used both and they don't come up to scratch! BT aren't any better either..you can get unlimited numbers from 118 24 7..they're friendly..and if you give them the wrong infor, they'll still try and find something for you...no recorded message cop out telling you 'that number has not been found'!
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visitor
17:51 14/09/03
Posts: 16777215
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I recently phones 11 88 88 and they could'nt even find me
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I recently phones 11 88 88 and they could'nt even find me the number to asda in swansea. On the 3rd time of phoning they gave me johnsons dry cleaners in pudsey.
This is supposed to be a dq service well give me the phone book anyday and they say they are the cheapest well its no wonder they are with the pathetic service they provide.
MR CONDUIT PLEASE SORT THE ACT OUT AS YOUR NUMBER IS NOT WORKING
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visitor
18:49 13/09/03
Posts: 16777215
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more info on where to buy the running tops from 118118 ad
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| more info on where to buy the running tops from 118118 advert is on there site www.thenumber.com also they have the ringtones from there adverts on there free!
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visitor
20:00 11/09/03
Posts: 16777215
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Does anyone know where you can get the 118 118 costumes!
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| Does anyone know where you can get the 118 118 costumes! We need 16!
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visitor
13:38 01/09/03
Posts: 16777215
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These adverts are on during most advert breaks during pea
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These adverts are on during most advert breaks during peak times and popular programs, dont they realise the nation must already have 11 88 88 and 118 118 pogramed in our brains by now! all i can say is YES WE'VE GOT YOUR NUMBER!!!! i read the other day that you can call “The Number” (118118) for 30p a call from BT landlines by calling 11 88 11. Also The Number offer free ringtones, but don't send them to your mobile. Checkout www.thenumber.com i prefer to use the free directory enquries service on my O2 mobile at wap.bt.com and follow the links.
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