Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not let a stranger on the streets borrow my mobile phone?

78 replies

Whitlandcarm · 19/06/2017 19:27

I was out in a city that I don't know on saturday. It's a snooty city known as a sanctuary for rich londoners etc, so obviously the vast majority of people were very smartly dressed. (Not of course that matters)

Anyways, I was walking with my partner and we were approached by a man and a woman who looked a bit er dodgey if that's the best way I can describe them Confused

She asked if either of us had a phone she could borrow for a minute.... my partner apoligised and said we'd left it at the hotel

I had been carrying my phone in my hand at my side, so tried to slip it into my pocket discretely

But she spotted it and shouted annoyed at us with "he says as you slip a phone into your pocket" Angry

I don't know whether I feel guilty as she genuinely could've been in need and a minute on the phone costs nothint these days. I sure know I'd hope someone would help me out in a time of need.

But then the other half of me is saying, what if they were to run off with the phone? (Iphone- so not a cheap throw away)
Could they not ask the museum/cafes/shops/hotels around the square to use their phone? There was even a red telephone box nearby.

Where we being unreasonably selfish? Overly cautious or right in out reaction?

OP posts:
specialsubject · 19/06/2017 20:45

I would lend my phone - £2 text and call job. It would be great to see the scammers face....

honeylulu · 19/06/2017 20:47

This happened twice to me. We live on a main road in the town centre so plenty of ne'er do wells passing through so I'm always a bit wary. Anyway one evening there was frantic banging on the door. I answered and a flustered looking woman said "I'm from number 70 and I'm locked out - I need to borrow a phone urgently" (no please or thank you, mind). I said "but this is no 70" (it was) and she got all stroppy and said "no no I mean no 70 [side road]". I said "there's no such number" but she carried on blustering and trying to get the phone!!
I was actually on the phone at the time calling the NHS line as my daughter was ill. I'm a bit of a people pleaser but I was so stressed I couldn't wait to get rid of her and snapped "ask at tesco up the road" and slammed the door.

The other time was in a train to Cornwall. The guy in the window seat told me he had just come from Bangladesh and asked if he could borrow my phone to call his family member in Redruth to tell them time of arrival. I was a bit wary he would call Bangladesh! So he let me dial the Redruth number. I reckoned as he was in the window seat he couldn't exactly do a runner. Anyway I got off next stop and for the next four hours was pestered with calls from his mate in Redruth who didn't speak English and couldn't understand why he couldn't talk to the caller. Arghh!!!

Original poster
Whitlandcarm · 19/06/2017 20:48

No idea what this has to do with voting habits Hmm

I think I'd feel different if I was out in the countryside with the dogs where there are no other options, or someone vulnerable, a child etc

Good point about loudspeaker

OP posts:
KitKat1985 · 19/06/2017 20:54

YANBU. The fact that both you and your partner instantly had a bad feeling about them and the situation speaks volumes. Trust your instinct.

Matildatoldsuchdreadfullies · 19/06/2017 20:58

Well, I'm that idiot who handed a phone over only to watch it disappear over a wall.

I was strolling along, DD in pushchair when this man sprinted in front of me. Another man was in hot pursuit. He yelled 'police - what's the name of this road?' at me. I told him and he flashed an ID card at me asking for my phone. Fool that I am I passed it over. He tried to call, then said 'I need this phone', and run off.

It was only then that my incredible instincts kicked in, and I became suspicious.

The phone was actually returned later that night with a pack of stickers from the local police Grin.

KungFuPandaWorksOut16 · 19/06/2017 21:01

prima I'm pretty sure he was asking for me to use the map on my phone. Or maybe i was wrong Blush

user1471545174 · 19/06/2017 21:01

YANBU, as the aggressive reaction showed - a genuine person would never have said that.

Toriali · 19/06/2017 21:04

No way. I'd have done the same OP

mummyretired · 19/06/2017 21:05

I've lent my phone to a 'weeping' young lady on the street (whilst standing in front of her so she couldn't run); she pretended to make a call but did not actually use it. Since then she's asked to borrow it at least 3 more times without recognising me. I'm also regularly asked for bus fare to places not served by buses from my locality. In the past I've taken a genuinely distressed woman into my house to use the landline - I think gut feeling is usually right.

LostSight · 19/06/2017 21:06

I was about to say the same as user. She doesn't sound very pleasant. And I would never hand over my iPhone. Might call for someone if it all seemed above board, but I wouldn't give it to anyone.

ambereeree · 19/06/2017 21:11

I've given my phone to a young woman at a tube station. I think she called her dad to pick her up. Another time to a 10/11 year old boy who wanted to call his grandmother to pick him up. She sent me a text to thank me.

WellThatSucks · 19/06/2017 21:11

I'd never hand over my preciousss phone to a stranger, any stranger, no matter what they were dressed like but yes I'd definitely make a call for someone. Surprising, how many people do hand over hundreds of dollars worth of tech devices to complete unknowns though. We live in a very popular tourist area with lots of vista points and sites of interest and when DH and I are out and about we're often asked to take pics of couples, families and groups of people on their phones. We must look too old to be able to run away very fast very undodgy.

GerdaLovesLili · 19/06/2017 21:15

When I was asked, I said no, but I'll phone the number for you if it's an emergency... they suddenly couldn't remember the number and walked off. Hmm

Queenylaverne · 19/06/2017 21:21

I have had to use a strangers phone before but I asked if they could make the call for me. I didn't ask for their phone. He handed it to me and said 'it's ok, you make the call'. Very trusting!

expatinscotland · 19/06/2017 21:22

'I would lend my phone - £2 text and call job. It would be great to see the scammers face....'

My phone is like that, too, but it has sentimental value. Grin

Broken11Girl · 19/06/2017 21:23

Years ago I asked to borrow a phone, my mum hadn't turned up to meet me, battery on mine had died. No issue, woman handed it over. I'm 5ft0, unremarkable looking and have a naice accent though, plus almost anyone could outrun me Grin people do judge, sad as that is.
I guess if asked I'd follow my instincts, hopefully as opposed to going by how 'respectable' the person seems. If I thought they were genuine, fine. I only have a crappy Samsung though, they'd be lucky to get 50 quid at CEX for it.

InfiniteCurve · 19/06/2017 21:23

I think offering to phone for them is the way to go.
But I am eternally grateful to the lovely,lovely American lady who let me use her phone to call my brother in law when my connection to the airport where he was expecting to pick me up was cancelled and my phone which should have worked in the US just fine wouldn't.Her kindness made such a difference,as I was in panic mode! (she offered though,I didn't ask)

Slimthistime · 19/06/2017 21:26

I refused a lady my phone
She dudnt look dodgy but how the fuck can you tell?
I told her I'd happily give her change for the payphone
She was not happy but ....she wasn't injured, her car had broken down and she told me she'd gone out without her phone because she only lived ten mins away.
Confusing. Round here it's so congested it would be quicker to walk the ten minutes but she wanted to call her husband to get her.

FreeNiki · 19/06/2017 21:27

I handed my phone over to a couple of kids who looked about 13 and also a bit lost. One called their mum and requested a pick up.
Other than that or an elderly person I wouldnt really allow it.

Slimthistime · 19/06/2017 21:30

Also op if someone was ill and needed you to call 999 they'd tell you. I called and paid for a cab for a drunk teen once but she was alone and I was worried.

OhUnpretentiousSpud · 19/06/2017 22:30

I've had a few people asking to borrow my phone, but I've never lent it as I've always been wary of handing over the most expensive and personal item I own.

My DP was approached by someone in town that he'd been to Primary with, but hadn't seen for 20 years. Guy said he had 'run out of credit' and needed to call his mate. Silly DP handed over his phone and off the guy ran. It was eventually found by Police...

MotherOfBleach · 19/06/2017 23:06

Nb. I bet loads of the people who wouldn't lend the phone voted Corbyn too...so hypocritical it blows my mind

I voted Corbyn, (or for my local Labour MP) and I said I'd hand my phone over to someone obviously in distress i.e a parent with a small child or sick elderly person. I offered it to a woman with an overheating dog on Sunday so she could call for a lift home for her poor doglet. I walked to the shop on the corner and bought a big bottle of water for it too.

Just like Corbyn would do, help people in genuine need. He's not planning on handing out fistfuls of fifty quid notes to any tom, dick or harry, ya know?

Chloe84 · 19/06/2017 23:28

A teen on a bike attempted to mug my phone but failed. I would be wary about lending my phone out and about. I would call a number for them though.

Our local shopkeeper lent his phone to a customer who ran off.

IloveBanff · 20/06/2017 13:54

"I was out in a city that I don't know on saturday. It's a snooty city known as a sanctuary for rich londoners"

Please tell me the name of this city. I can't think where it can be, so now I'm really curious.

Morphene · 20/06/2017 14:05

someone lent me phone once...I must look super trustworthy...

Swipe left for the next trending thread