118 118 – Who You Gonna Call?
18 February 2009 by SilkyHere’s a quick bad ad submission from Anthony.
Everytime I see this overly-long advert, it makes me cringe.
The worst bit of it is where everybody is gathered around at the end rythmicly shouting “One one eight!”.
Just awful.
As every TV’s Worst Adverts fan worth their salt knows, Ghostbusters is one of my favourite films and I die a little bit inside each time I hear Ray Parker Jr straining out every line to the directory enquires based version of the Ghostbusters theme tune whilst simultaneously taking it up the poop chute off the 118 boys for a few dirty dollar.
It’s enough to make poor ghost-busting meta-psychologists cross their streams. It really is.
Just How Bad is this Ad?
(70 votes, average: 4.20 out of 5)
40Responses:
MacPedro
Said on the 18 February 2009
Truly awful, but… he ain’t ‘fraid of no goats… Class!
rick
Said on the 20 February 2009
i know where ive seen them before, in a harry enfield sketch as the two scousers aaa de doo dat don deh do ,
craig
Said on the 22 February 2009
pair of 70 s porn star tashed up rejects i would love to use them for target practice when they are running along
anoying toss advert
frankie smales
Said on the 1 March 2009
the whole piont on having gold old
ray parker jr singing the 118 118 version
of his hit ghostbusters song in these ads it’s away of
promoting the long awaited ghostbusters video game
by atari to be released in june this summer fall and thats
all it is nothing but a cheap way of promoting a movie
merchandise like this one ok.
frankie smales
(gb fan)
Wetdog
Said on the 1 March 2009
Bangin Tunes mate.
Insanewm
Said on the 2 March 2009
Wow, that surprised me.
In France, the information service’s phone number is 118 218. And in French ads, the 118 218 guys look kinda like those 2. I mean, really. Same mustaches, same clothes. Any one know what’s the real link between those 2 ?
Here is a link to the french information service : http://www.118218.fr/ (photo of the guys on the front page)…
I’m completely puzzled, wonder if I am missing something obvious ~
CovertJellyfish
Said on the 2 March 2009
# it’s away of promoting the long awaited ghostbusters video game #
erm… after the HUGE video docs on LIVE I doubt Atari or Microsoft are best pleased at the Ghostbusters theme being used in a tacky TV ad, the take-up rates for this IP have been huge, as the target audience for this game (Age 20 – 35) are demographically speaking the ones with the most free cash to spend on games. If you have spent millions of dollars on a project (and let’s not kid ourselves, game production values are spiralling upwards) would you want some mustashioed, irritating, corporate shills, attached to, or even close to, your expensive luxury product? I wouldn’t, and I like to think I have half a braincell still functioning….
robert
Said on the 4 March 2009
118118 all the adds for 118118 are s**t
Michelle
Said on the 11 March 2009
These two 70s badly dubbed porn rejects need slapping, and fast. It doesn’t make me want to use 118-118 at all!!!
CovertJellyfish
Said on the 11 March 2009
HA! I phoned 118 118 today. Erm “NOT GOT YOUR NUMBER” After I spelled it out three times because the person on the other end could only type phonetically ( If his name was “Andy” like he said my name is Rajah Napatelatapoola ) Note for Silky – Please can you start a site Naming and Shaming the worst offenders for out of the country call centres, and people can post their funny experiences….
frankie smales
Said on the 12 March 2009
did you know that one of the 118 118
men is the guy from thoes carling adverts
yes it is true it is the guy on the right is
the same guy from the carling adverts
because i have spotted it out the other
day you can see him in the carling ads on youtube
an ocassionaly seen on tv .
frankie smales
(retro tv adver fan)
AngelEyes
Said on the 12 March 2009
Firstly, I don’t understand that point of this service – if you want to look up a number these days you use your internet phone. So really all that is left is the ‘ask a pointless question’ service…
Secondly, based on my first point, how do they still have any money to throw at long and pointless TV commercials.
Archer
Said on the 12 March 2009
Did anyone else read about their wonderful ‘we’ll text you a racist joke’ service? It was on the news a couple of months ago.
http://www.metro.co.uk/news/article.html?118_118_sent_Muslim_racist_jokes&in_article_id=419697&in_page_id=34
The Boy Of Steel
Said on the 28 April 2009
These two Chucklebrother lookalikes infuriate me.
They’re on the sponsor for Prison Break, I grit my teeth and imagine myself strangling them.
‘We brought you a cake..’
Whatever.
Idiots.
Another Ad Hater
Said on the 29 April 2009
I am so sick of seeing these 118 118 ads. What infuriates me more is the cost of actually making the call to use this service. According to the small print, it costs 29p PER MINUTE and a 79p connection charge to use this crap.
Now after using up 1 minute that’s already cost you £1.08 which is already 8 freaking pence more than those stupid “09″ premium rate numbers. So, why should a DIRECTORY ENQUIRY service cost more than calling a premium rate number?! Also, these “09″ numbers cost £1 PER CALL and not per minute.
If you want to use a directory enquiry service then just go on the GODDAMN INTERNET as it’s FREE and you don’t have to talk to some guy on the phone who has no idea what you are asking for.
It is also really annoying seeing these two jerks everytime I watch Simpsons on Channel 4. Geez, why did C4 allow this utter piece of crap to sponsor that?! I have to see these idiots THREE times whenever I watch this show. First before the show is on, then 6 freaking minutes later it’s already an ad break and I see them again and then they appear once more after the show is finished.
I also wanted to say shame on 118 118 for ripping off the Ghostbusters theme and shame on them for using the legendary Ray Parker Jr as a method of advertsing their service.
Melvin
Said on the 3 June 2009
It’s got to be the worst-ever ad by a country mile. Two prancing prats, and why an American accent in a UK ad? And as for humour – it’s pathetic. No, I take that back; it doesn’t even reach that level. I can’t really describe it without using words that would have been printed as **&%”$$*** a few years ago.
Phillip
Said on the 18 June 2009
Ill tell you the bit that agrivates me the most, and i literally cant look at it, it makes me grit my teeth, when the two 118′s get on the bus and as soon as it pulls away the one of them start to bob his head like a chicken withthat ANNOYING smile, i swear ild love to kick him to the ground…
Just for you ive found it as 0.35+ on the little video above
Shane
Said on the 23 June 2009
Thank God for DVR TV! There isn’t one of the 118 118 Ads that doesn’t well and truly deserve the title of Adolescent Crap! I suppose this also applies to the person who actually gave this campaign the go-ahead; as for the brain box who actually came up with this idea; well, it would be a real insult to adolescents to coin the previous term for him /her. I just wonder who came up with the idea to target the pre-school market?
I understand the advertising concept that “if you can’t be the best, then it’s best to be the worst”, since the consumer will remember the irritating ads just as much as the great ones; however what is really is amazing the lengths I will go to to avoid this Ad, and still catch the beginning of my program.
I’ll certainly remember this Ad, this “service”, and most importantly, I’ll remember to avoid ever using it.
CovertJellyfish
Said on the 24 June 2009
I quite like a 118 247 ad tho, It’s catchy without being irritating.
Tarquin Fintimblimwimlim Biscuit-Barrel
Said on the 7 July 2009
Covert, I wish you hadn’t mentioned the 118 247 ad. It’s taken me a week to get that jingle out of my head, and now it’s back there again.
“If you’re needing a number, they never slumber…”. I don’t slumber any more either, I’m too busy trying to ignore that FUCKING TUNE in my head!!!!
Aaaaarrrrrrrrrrgghhhhhhh!!!!!
JLK
Said on the 12 July 2009
finally, a group of sensible people who agree that 118118 ads are stupid, irritating and make me change channel whenever they come on, almost as basd as seeing Iggy Pop without a shirt …ewww
aangry
Said on the 29 July 2009
I don’t think they are merely bad, I think they are the worst ads EVER.
Another Ad Hater
Said on the 16 September 2009
“Need a mate? Call 118 118.”
FUCK OFF! I would never call this shitty service at those ridiculous costs. 29p per minute and a 79p connection charge. £1.08 for a fucking directory?!
CovertJellyfish
Said on the 18 September 2009
Yeah, those premium rate phone lines, who rings them???
craig
Said on the 3 October 2009
that ghostbuster guy nust be balls deep into his overdraft and out of work to sing such a stupid childish theme tune
john of loughton
Said on the 28 October 2009
on a different note;
it’s already hard that one has to deal with difficult temperamental caller, let alone ringing from a noisy pub with mates shouting at the background. who wants to prolong agony enduring someone on the phone ???
it’s not to keep you on the phone, it’s getting you the right number.
apologies for some stupid operators, but still is a great service. ive been with 118 for a year now. it’s funny someone rang me from my town and asked “ru a pak* mate u wan*er?” (On my mind) I was like erm no, were like neighbours you di*w**
Ad Hater 2.0
Said on the 7 March 2010
Fucking hell! The shitty 118 118 Ghostbusters rip off ads are back and now they’ve jacked up the prices AGAIN! Now it’s 35p per minute and 85p connection charge. What the fuck? £1.20 for a fucking directory?!
Still, it’s not as bad as BT’s 118 500 ad. Calls to their number cost 40p per call PLUS 99p PER MINUTE or PART! So, no matter how long you were on the phone, 30 seconds, 5 seconds or heck even 1 fucking second you’ll be charged £1.39! That’s 39 fucking pence more than a PREMIUM “09″ number! Why bother when this shit is FREE ONLINE?! All 118 ads can just FUCK OFF!
Avery Nelson
Said on the 9 May 2010
Prison Break is definitely one of the best action suspense TV series. I love the story line, i like T-bag too.~,~
Ad Hater 2.0
Said on the 9 May 2010
Oh, what the hell, 118?! I just saw one of their ads again and I noticed that the cost of the call has GONE UP AGAIN! Now, it’s £1.29 PER CALL and 39p PER MINUTE! What the fuck?! After one minute, that call has already cost you £1.68 which is 68 fucking pence more than the premium rate numbers! Why would anyone ring this company for directory enquiries when we can do it for FREE online? The call would surely cost more than a fucking takeaway!
mike
Said on the 3 October 2010
with the invention of the internet you can look up phone numbers on google or your iphone without paying some crap company with a crap service a ridiculous amount of cash
help!
Said on the 9 October 2010
I want to core my eyes out every time this advert comes on. I fucking loathe it.
Advertisers / marketers are disgusting and should be shot! At least the one’s responsible for the 118 ads, and the “We Buy Any Car” ads.
They have no qualms about producing annoying adverts to try and ‘penetrating’ consumer conscious by being annoying.
We just don’t need it.
118isshit
Said on the 24 February 2011
fucking shit im not even thinking of there crap song it really pisses me off when the say something between your perfect love scence and they move some books ill would do that my self they can jog on
118isshit
Said on the 24 February 2011
There ……. twats
UK TV Ads
Said on the 28 February 2011
LOL… Arn’t they supposed to be twats tho?
thegrifin
Said on the 7 May 2011
1) The frequency of these so called adverts is, I think, tatamount to brain-washing.
2) Regardless of the cost, simply because of their extreme irritation factor, nothing would induce me to EVER use their ‘service’.
3) Other advertisers need to take note of the high ‘turn-off’ factor these adverts might be causing! I always immediately turn the sound to ‘mute’ everytime those clowns appear and only switch back at the very end of the commercial break. Which of course means that I’m not getting the ‘messages’ from all the other advertisers!
…we can only hope that they’ll soon run out of money to pay for all those adverts!
Ad Hater 2.0
Said on the 8 May 2011
These twats are the reason I REFUSE to watch Simpsons on Channel 4. They have godawful sponsorship ads that I’d have to sit through FOUR FUCKING TIMES!
No stranger to the P45
Said on the 13 May 2011
Fuck 118118. Fuck them, fuck them, fuck them. Whichever ad executive shat this pitch out in a presentation to the company not only deserves to be fired, but locked in a windowless room with these adverts playing on a loop hour after hour, day after day and week after week, until he (or she) apologises unreservedly to us all.
This shit has ruined my viewing of The Simpsons on C4, and any movie on ITV2, 3 & 4. From the comments here I see that 118118 has been bugging the living puss out of us for over 2 years. Fuck them again. Fuck them, fuck them, fuck them. And then fuck them again. The fucks. What was the number again?
SafeList Mailer
Said on the 14 June 2011
Thanks for providing such a great article, it was excellent and very informative. as a first time visitor to your blog I am very impressed. I found a lot of informative stuff in your article. Keep it up. Thank you.
Claudette Seay
Said on the 25 August 2011
By like you would write, a person feel like a competent article writer.
Fred
Said on the 26 August 2011
is there any chance we could send these two annoying twats to Afghanistan so the Taliban can use them for target practice, Ghostbusters was a good song in the 80′s these adverts have destroyed the song, 118118.com must be the biggest rip off there is, it was so much better when you could call 192 for free and BT actually cared about there customers.