Between these sources the directory claims to have about 15m phone numbers on its databases – less than half of the 40m adults who have one or more handsets in the UK.
When one landline per residential address was our norm, it was easy to ask the GPO to take our subscribers number ex-directory.
So even in those simpler times it was a case of opting out.
And that’s what those of us wishing to be spared inclusion in this latest database free for all must do.




