A WELSH-based directory enquiries provider has been criticised by Monmouth MP David Davies after a local company accused operators of referring potential customers elsewhere.
Heads of the Valleys Training in Gilwern, near Abergavenny, claim callers using 118 118 to get their telephone number are being offered to be connected to a rival business instead.
The firm complained to Mr Davies, who has written to Ofcom to see if any telecommunications rules have been breached.
He said 118 118, which has offices in Cardiff, was undermining fellow Welsh companies by diverting customers away from the businesses they wish to speak to.
“Heads of the Valleys Training is a well respected and well known local business in Monmouthshire,” said Mr Davies.
“Coincidentally, I did my HGV training with them when I worked in the haulage industry some 20 years ago, although there has been a change of management since then.
“It has come to my attention that when customers ring 118 118 and ask for the telephone number for Heads of the Valleys Training, the operator tries to put them through to the AA. I called myself and was offered a discount on lessons.
“118 118 purport to be an information service and it therefore seems highly questionable for them to try and direct potential customers elsewhere.
“It’s certainly a poor way to treat local businesses which don’t have the means to compete with large national organisations such as the AA.
“If companies want to pay for advertisements, then fair enough, but this is a very underhand method of carrying out marketing especially when people do not expect to be redirected elsewhere.
“It’s a great shame if Heads of the Valleys Training lose custom as a result.”
Paul Dunstall, Training Manager at Heads of the Valleys Training, added: “At this present time, running a business is challenging to say the least.
“When customers request our number from what we believe to be an impartial service, the last thing we need is for them to be poached and diverted to a large national company.”