IS there any way I can find out who owns a phone number?

[andrew1]

I wonder if anyone can tell me how I can find the owner of a phone number?

 

My sister had her leg broken by a dog being walked near her home. The owner left his telephone number which is an o2 number but he won't answer it and never returns messages left so is obviously keen not to be found.

 

We know it's 02 because it says 'welcome to 02' on the message machine.

 

Is there any way of finding out who owns this number so she can claim against him - or her insurance can do what they do?

 

Ta,

 

Thought about Police - haven't contacted them yet, but any other ways?

[locutus]

Not really... police will have the power, but other than that it's a data protection issue so o2 won't pass on that info, and unless google turns something up (if the person has posted it on facebook or anything silly like that) I can't see how you'd find it.

[the main man]

Like has been said the Police would be your best bet- they should investigate as the person concerned has failed to keep the dog under control in a public place.

[andrew1]

Thanks, that's what I thought, good old Data Protection Act...companies can get what ever they like on us - daft as a brush all this DPA stuff sometimes..although it does have its uses I guess..

 

Thanks, I'll give the Police a go..I just thought there might be some computer whiz who might have thought up a software which might know how these things can be found

[buzby]

Nothing t all to do with the DPA. And contrary to the above, the Police do not have the powers to request information that is not held. I have several PAYG handsets, the providing network has no idea who I am or my location (other than a rough geo reference based on my loacal cellsite).

 

If the user IS PAYG, then the chances of getting this information will be nil.

[andrew1]

Thanks Buzby,

 

I've never had pay as you go so don't fully understand the way things re recorded, but I take it that if I had a payg I would just buy a sim..does that give a separate number?

 

Are you saying then that the number we have would not be registered to anyone at all in o2 even though they use the o2 network?

[buzby]

Exactly that - it is totally anonymous, unless the customer chooses to register with the network for perhaps some addsitional minutes or other inducement, but it is by no means compulsory. All a network could tell is WHERE the phone was being used, but not who by, or where they lived.

[the main man]

Nothing t all to do with the DPA. And contrary to the above, the Police do not have the powers to request information that is not held. I have several PAYG handsets, the providing network has no idea who I am or my location (other than a rough geo reference based on my loacal cellsite).

 

If the user IS PAYG, then the chances of getting this information will be nil.

 

 

And that's if it is PAYG mind you.... bearing in mind if it is, the majority of these phones need topping up quite regulary so there may be a financial trail should the police want to take it further.

[buzby]

Very true - but do bear in mind a few thoughts:

 

(1) PAYGO outnumbers contract SIM's by a ration of 3 to 1

(2) Financial trail can end easily with a cash payment at a general store, or a pre-paid debit card, wich similarly has no ID requirements.

(3) Searching out someone to hold responsible for a doc that broke a leg (presumably acidentally), will result in the police declining to wasate resources - it would have to be a fairly serious crime to make them at least try to discover more.

[locutus]

I'd say a discription of the owner and dog would turn up more info than a PAYG sim, and o2 will not give info on that number if you ask even if it is contract (that would be down to the police)

 

Have you tried googling the number? Slim chance that the person has registered the number on a public forum or social networking site, but worth the 20 seconds to type a number in!

[andrew1]

Thanks everyone, I think this will be a matter of a short stake - out. Dogs need walks and although this guy said he didn't normally go that way he can't live far from where it happened so it shouldn't take too much to find him. We'll find him one way or tuther... many thanks for your help - I'll let you know what happens..

[David124]

yes it is possible to identify the mobile numbers on a reverse phone directory. And I can offer you this site where just type the phone number to find out information about the owner : phonescam.co.uk

[andrew1]

crikey, you must have had to do some trawling to have found this thread David124!

 

We found the guy anyway, just went to where he walks his dog regularly and followed him home - as the meercats would say - Simples!

 

But thanks anyway.

 

a1