Myopia is a small word . Options

[lordtup]

One for our " younger " contributors . The latest BT phone directory has just fallen through that gap in the middle of my front door that was initially designed for letters .( Remember them ?).
Anyway I digress as usual so back to topic . Apart from the fact that this annual publication is now a shadow of it's former size , the print is so small it's nigh on impossible to read . The question is to those of tender years . Is it the phone book or my age ?
Polite replies only please , one day you will a senior misery guts.

[Strafin]

I haven't seen one for ages, I'm surprised they still deliver them. Virgin, Talk Talk and any others you can think of don't seem to.

[Newbelly]

I haven't seen one for ages, I'm surprised they still deliver them. Virgin, Talk Talk and any others you can think of don't seem to.

I seem to remember you said you lived in a flat alongside a commercial premises.

The son of a friend of mine was delivering directories and said he would not bother if he could not see the door from the street.

[Strafin]

That could be it! I also used to work in sales and you get them lying around all over the place!

[JeffG]

Mine came through the door the other day too. I am probably of a similar age to you, but have no problem reading the type. Mind you, I went to a shop in Northbrook Street who sorted me out. They're called Specsavers (other brands are available).

And if you're short-sighted as the title suggests, that shouldn't affect your reading as far as I know.

[spartacus]

It's certainly 'compact' and becoming a bit redundant. Probably takes into account the fact that most people look numbers up online these days... But I'll agree that the type size for the listed numbers at the back is tiny. Too small for me to see easily. Far easier to use Yell.com

[Downlander]

I haven't been a BT customer for some time, so I was a bit narked to find my number is still listed in there. Especially as I had made a point of ringing their 'customer services' and was assured that it would no longer appear there.

Mind you, it took some time to explain to their 'customer services' person - who didn't appear to know the meaning of the phrases 'ex-directory', 'directory enquiries' or telephone directory'. In fact, her grasp of the English language was very limited all round.

[Penelope]

I haven't been a BT customer for some time, so I was a bit narked to find my number is still listed in there. Especially as I had made a point of ringing their 'customer services' and was assured that it would no longer appear there.

Mind you, it took some time to explain to their 'customer services' person - who didn't appear to know the meaning of the phrases 'ex-directory', 'directory enquiries' or telephone directory'. In fact, her grasp of the English language was very limited all round.

Yes, it appears that the B in BT stands for Bombay.

[Biker1]

I am not sure (so someone may be able to correct) but I do not think BT are responsible for making telephone numbers ex directory if you are not their customer. (Which you say you are not.)
It is your telcom provider's job to do that as the numbers are held on a database which is accessible to many firms such as the 118 directory enquiry providers.
I also think it may be an OFCOM licence requirement of BT to continue with the paper directory even though, as pointed out, most no longer require it.

[lordtup]

Yes, it appears that the B in BT stands for Bombay.

As in duck ?............ .....Sorry couldn't resist

[Simon Kirby]

Yes, it appears that the B in BT stands for Bombay.

Which is now called Mumbai.

[Downlander]

I am not sure (so someone may be able to correct) but I do not think BT are responsible for making telephone numbers ex directory if you are not their customer. (Which you say you are not.)
It is your telcom provider's job to do that as the numbers are held on a database which is accessible to many firms such as the 118 directory enquiry providers.

That may be so, but it's not what I was told by the BT operator. Either way, it's annoying.

[Penelope]

Which is now called Mumbai.

Yes, but that doesn't rhyme old chap, doesn't scan.

[JeffG]

Chicken Chennai doesn't sound right either.

[lordtup]

Which is now called Mumbai.

The Mumbai duck is a well known cricketing term .........

[dannyboy]

That may be so, but it's not what I was told by the BT operator. Either way, it's annoying.

Do you really think cold callers use a paper phone book......

[dannyboy]

It's certainly 'compact' and becoming a bit redundant. Probably takes into account the fact that most people look numbers up online these days... But I'll agree that the type size for the listed numbers at the back is tiny. Too small for me to see easily. Far easier to use Yell.com

The thing stuffed through the door in the last few weeks is the phone book. If you have a phone line on the Newbury exchange you'll be in it.

The old phone book covered many exchanges & therefore was much larger.

The yellow pages & Yell.com was sold off from BT many years ago & now you have to pay even for a line listing. THis was once free. So the paper yellow pages is soon to be extinct.

Yell have also cocked things up for themselves online by encouraging businesses to overlap with directories in the neighbouring area. This is the reason why, when you type in 'Indian Restaurant' under a specific town you often get listings for restaurants many miles away appearing first - those restaurants have paid to appear at the top in all the local listings.

[Biker1]

The thing stuffed through the door in the last few weeks is the phone book. If you have a phone line on the Newbury exchange you'll be in it.

Unless you contact your telecom provider and ask to go ex directory.
Everyone with a landline in the Newbury exchange area has a phone line on the Newbury Exchange whether they are BT customers or not.

[Newbelly]

Yes, it appears that the B in BT stands for Bombay.

Bangalore!

[Downlander]

Do you really think cold callers use a paper phone book......

My concern has nothing to do with cold callers. There are other reasons why people may not wish their telephone number to be easily found.