Reverse telephone directory

As a reverse search or reverse search refers to a type of telephone information, where not as an entity belonging to a combination of name and address number is looked up in the traditional sense. Instead, can ask to a known telephone number of the requestor name and address.

After the reverse search for data protection reasons in Germany was banned long (in § 14 paragraph 4 of the now repealed Telecommunications Data Protection Ordinance ), is the inverse search in Germany officially allowed since the end of 2004 as long as the requirements of § 105 German Telecommunications Act (TKG ) are complied with.

Against such a use of its own data connection, however, owners can file an objection. Some consumer organizations advise consumers to do so. They usually provide various telephone providers on their websites their customers the option to unsubscribe from the inverse search. Even with an informal letter or fax, stating the full name and address, customer number and the company account number can contradict the inverse search.

Away from the telephone information existed beforehand directory assistance programs with this function, but which had to be deactivated because of data protection issues. In addition, there was an update or crack for directory assistance programs from different vendors, which enabled a reverse search with these programs or their databases.