Stories · from · the · Stone · Caravan

I don't know about everyone else, but I guard my phone numbers quite carefully. Unsolicited calls from private numbers are very disruptive, and, if travelling aboard, expensive. Frankly, its bad enough having double glazing firms and fake lotteries ringing my work line (my predecessor used the number a little too liberally on line) without them calling me as I struggle on and off the tube, while I write at lunchtime (my phone on in case work need me) or in the peace of the Stone Caravan.
But now a company, acting within the letter of the laws on privacy and data-protection, but certainly not the spirit, plans to publish all our mobile phone numbers to anyone who has a name and a vague location for us, and £1 to spare.

Here is the BBC report with more details.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/working_lunch/8091621.stm

And here is the website of the offending spam-enablers.
http://www.118800.co.uk/

The good news is - you can opt out - but you need to act before the service goes live next week...

The bad news is - as of Thursday July 9th the website displays only the following information:

The 118 800 service for mobile phone connections is currently
unavailable - from this website and by phone - whilst we undertake
major developments to our 'Beta Service' to improve the experience
for our customers. We'll be back as soon as possible with the new
improved service.

All ex-directory requests made by people in our directory to date
are being processed. There will be no need to resend these requests.
And we will take further ex-directory requests when the service
resumes. We will not be taking ex-directory requests by phone or
text whilst the service is not operational.

Please do not call us on 118 800 for anything other than landline
directory enquiry requests as you will be charged for the call.

Sorry for any inconvenience caused.

So, in other words, they have removed the opportunity to remove a number *before* they make it available to the first set of sticky-fingered stinking spammers and stalkers to line up on Day One of their vile "service".