The price of a call to directory inquiries will be capped at £3.65 for 90 seconds. Phone industry regulator Ofcom said it is responding to a "steep" rise in prices. The most popular service, 118 118, charges £11.23 for a 90 second call, the regulator said. The number of calls being made to 118 services has been falling by 40% a year, but more than a million people a year still use the service. Many of those using 118 services are elderly, Ofcom said. People aged over 65 are four times more likely to call 118 numbers than those aged between 16 and 34. They are also "significantly" less likely to have internet access, meaning they cannot search for a number online. "Directory inquiry prices have risen in recent years, and callers are paying much more than they expect. Our evidence shows this is hurting people, with some struggling to pay their bills," said Jane Rumble, Ofcom's director of consumer policy.

The regulator found that some providers are charging almost £20 for a 90-second call. Although there are cheaper services, customers tend to call the numbers they can most easily remember, Ofcom's study found. Ofcom based the cap on its own research into what customers expected to pay. It also used prices in 2012 as a reference. That was the year of its previous review, which found "little evidence" of people paying more than expected.

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