| There are legal issues that hound reverse phone trace | | | | Reverse phone trace services have become most |
| services in various countries. The services may or | | | | popular in the United States, where the service is |
| may not be available widely in some countries, unlike in | | | | believed to have originated. So far, there are no legal |
| the United States. | | | | battles similar to what happened in Australia. The only |
| The Case In Australia | | | | legal issue in the US is the complaint of some |
| In 2001, Australia's Telstra Corporation, the leading | | | | consumers over invasion of privacy. They claim that |
| telecommunications company in the country, filed a | | | | cell phone reverse look up services are violating their |
| case against Desktop Marketing Systems, a reverse | | | | rights to be private. To date, many cell phone numbers |
| telephone trace service provider. Telstra claimed that | | | | are not listed on reverse look up directories. However, |
| Desktop Marketing used the content of its White and | | | | some services are able to create databases out of |
| Yellow Pages to create a database that is used | | | | public information revealed by cell phone users |
| mainly on reverse telephone look ups. The Australia | | | | themselves and obtained from public utility documents. |
| Federal Court found that Telstra has the right to | | | | In the US, consumers could also choose between paid |
| complain and do legal moves against Desktop | | | | and free reverse phone trace services. If you want to |
| Marketing. As a result, all other reverse telephone | | | | get more accurate and updated information, you are |
| services in the country ceased to operate. | | | | advised to sign up with those paid services. Every |
| The legal implications of running and operating a | | | | search could cost about $.080 to $1.50 on the average. |
| reverse phone trace are logical. Telecom firms usually | | | | Free services may not be reliable as there is no |
| argue that all the information used by the services are | | | | guarantee that you would be able to obtain the |
| coming from telecom companies' phone directories. | | | | information you need. |
| This was highlighted in Australia. Now, the remaining | | | | In The United Kingdom |
| reverse telephone services in the country are those | | | | In the UK, reverse phone trace services are not usually |
| that operate for free. Telecom firms usually do not sue | | | | allowed by law. Reverse directory contents could not |
| those free service providers because they say their | | | | be made publicly available in the country. However, |
| information is not used to generate dollars for the | | | | there is one area where printed telephone directories in |
| benefit of other companies. | | | | reverse listing format is made public. It is in Channel |
| In The United States | | | | Islands. |