Icstis acts to end abuse of 118 services

Icstis is moving swiftly to end an abuse of 118 118 and similar directory-enquiry services uncovered by Computeractive.

The premium rate watchdog said it now expects directory service companies to put safeguards in place to close a loophole that allows people to bypass some call-barring facilities.

Its concerns centre around what is called 'call completion'. This is an ancillary service telephone directory companies can offer customers. It allows the companies to connect a caller directly to a number, normally after a query from the caller.

However, Computeractive has learned that teenagers are making use of call completion to bypass parental controls on landline phones.

Instead of using directory enquiries as a number-finding service, they simply give an operator the mobile phone number and ask to be connected directly.

When we contacted Icstis about this issue it liaised with regulator Ofcom to make sure the loophole was not a breach of the code of practice that directory enquiry companies have to abide by.

Although it concluded that there was no breach, it agreed the problem showed the system was open to abuse.

It was also concerned about child protection as this loophole could be used by paedophiles to get children to contact them. Because no phone number bar the 118 service would appear on the bill, parents would not be aware of whom their child was calling.

"This shouldn't happen and we expect the operators to ascertain why someone who already has a number wants to be connected through directory enquiries rather than calling direct," said an Icstis representative.

"We have been told some adults are using this as a means of hiding an affair. However, what is alright between consenting adults and the bill payers does not apply to children."

Computeractive reader Paul Gallaher of Batley, West Yorkshire, who first alerted us to this problem, was saddled with a bill of nearly £680 that had been run up by his teenage daughter using the 118 118 directory enquiry service. He said he believed it was a ploy well known by local teenagers.

Both Icstis and Computeractive independently verified that 118 118 operators were doing this. Twelve other directory enquiry services, when blind tested, refused to connect us, saying we should contact the operator.

Although we found that only 118 118 operators was connecting people this way, Icstis is writing to all directory enquiry companies about the matter.

118 118 told Computeractive it was deeply concerned by our findings. It said it was already looking at measures that could be put in place to prevent a repeat of this problem.

As a goodwill gesture it is prepared to pay a significant proportion of Mr Gallaher's bill.

Related article:
Loophole exposed to get around call barring to mobile phones