Oxfam ties up with Spiritel for charitable DQ service

Oxfam has teamed up with telecoms company Spiritel to launch a directory enquiries (DQ) service that will see 9p from every call donated to the charity.

The service has a similar price structure to other major DQ services in the UK and uses the number 118 918, with the 9 signifying the 9p a call contribution to Oxfam.

Spiritel is rolling out a nationwide above- and below-the-line campaign urging business and residential users to use 118 918 as their preferred directory service, as well as encouraging mobile phone users to store 118 918 in their phones.

Spiritel chief executive Alastair Mills says: “We believe the 118 918 service represents a winning partnership in which Oxfam has the potential to receive significant new funds; we have the potential to make a commercial return; and consumers have the opportunity to make a difference for Oxfam without paying a premium to the price charged by major 118 services.”

The UK directory enquiries market is estimated to be worth £180m a year from the 360 million calls.

Spiritel acquired rights to the 118 918 number from Ofcom and is using Kingston Communications as its directory services provider.