AN ACCRINGTON student was shocked when a directory inquiry service texted him racist jokes.
Kameron Abbas, 21, texted 118 118 for a joke to be sent to his mobile and was astonished at what he received.
The first one read: "What’s the difference between ET and an Asian? ET got the message and went home."
When he asked for another joke he received one which was even more racist and insulting.
His friend, Imran Shah, 21, had let Kameron use his phone for the texts.
Kameron said: "Me and my friend texted 118 118 after seeing their advert on television. We did it for a laugh as we were bored. I was horrified at what we received and couldn’t believe that they would send anything like they did. It was promoting racism."
Kameron, whose family come from Pakistan, said he again texted 118 118 asking: "Do you send racist jokes?"
The company responded with a text that read: "We do not send jokes of this kind."
Kameron, a student at the University of Central Lancashire, is now talking to a solicitor about the matter.
A spokesman for 118 118 said the incident would be investigated.
He said: "This is a breach of our standards. We don’t do jokes like that. This is a disciplinary issue and we would like to apologise. He should not have received them."
The 118 118 brand is operated by The Number from three call centres based in Cardiff, Plymouth and Manila in the Philippines.
Launched in 2002, it provides a range of services including directory inquiries, cinema listings, train times and a question and answer service.
Its new joke service has been featured in a series of television adverts.
