118 118 has partnered together with PriceRunner.co.uk, the UK’s most comprehensive and impartial price comparison website, to make the service possible.

From today (30 June), consumers can ring up any of 118 118’s directory enquiry instant assistants, and, from the information provided by PriceRunner data, they will be able to compare prices against model numbers on the spot.

The ‘over the phone’ service is the first of its kind, and could end the distress of two common problems for shoppers. The first is the private ‘rip off’ misery we’ve all experienced when we subsquently find our purchase cheaper elsewhere. The second is the frustration of not buying an item because of uncertainty over the deal being offered by the retailer, and having shopped around, returning to the store later to find it has been sold.

Now Price Finder will help to remove the barrier of uncertainty. Shoppers can buy big ticket items with the confidence that they are getting a great price.

Consumer trials have already revealed the savings can be considerable for a wide range of consumer and other ‘big ticket’ items, including iPods, flat screen TVs, digital cameras and kitchen appliances.

The two companies also plan to extend the initial service offering; a co-branded micro-site will be available on www.118118.com in the next few weeks, and an SMS service will be launching later in 2006 (where callers receive a free text message in response to their phone enquiry), with the cheapest product price sent to their mobile phone.

Acccording to Mark Evans, 118 118’s Innovations Director, “Consumers now live in an Internet age and make extensive use of the Web to help plan purchases. Now, even when they’re offline and shopping, 118 118’s partnership with PriceRunner.co.uk means savvy shoppers can have all the benefits of being online and the facility to check prices with just a simple call.”

Gary Goodman, Marketing Director at PriceRunner.co.uk said “At PriceRunner we are always looking to offer new and innovative services, and to provide our offering through different channels, so our users can acess us when and where they want. The PriceFinder service goes far in achieving these goals.”

“In addition, to be able to offer phone and later on this year, text price comparison services to UK consumers, is a great achievement for us and our partner, 118 118. Our own research has shown that our audience has put a phone or text service near the top of their wish list.”
Notes to editors:
Anyone wishing to try the service need only call 118 118.

Using the 118 118 and PriceRunner PriceFinder service costs the same as any normal directory call; 59 pence to call and 14 pence per minute from a BT landline, call charges from other networks and mobile phones may vary. A typical PriceFinder call from a mobile phone will usually cost under £1.

118 118 is already the most called number in Britain. Source: 118 118 data, since August 2003.
For media assistance, please contact:

At The Number UK
Roxanne Cohen
The Number UK Ltd
Liberty House
222 Regent Street
London
W1B 5TR
Tel +44 (0) 870 233 1000
Fax +44 (0) 870 233 2200

At PriceRunner.co.uk
Lisa Artemis, PR Manager
0208 7858538
lartemis@valueclick.com