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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Would IBU to not call back

78 replies

ilikemethewayiam · 08/05/2019 12:00

I have a dear friend of 50 years. She and her DH are not well off but are not struggling. Their mortgage is paid off and he has said he could afford to retire early. Her DH is notoriously tight (but that’s a whole other thread)! More recently my friend calls my mobile and before saying anything else, asks me to call her straight back which I do, she then proceeds to chat for an hour! The other day she was at my house. Her DH called my mobile asked me to call him straight back which I did, then without even asking how I was or making some brief small talk asked to speak to my friend. I passed the phone to her and they had a brief chat. When they’d finished I asked why he had called my phone instead of hers and she said it was because I have unlimited minutes on my phone and they both have Payg phones. I haven’t said anything yet as it’s true I do have unlimited minutes so it doesn’t really cost me anything above my normal tariff, but am I right in thinking this is a bit cheeky?. Should I say something or just call them back?

OP posts:
AryaStarkWolf · 08/05/2019 12:02

It is a bit cringey but if it's not actually costing you anything why does it bother you?

HBStowe · 08/05/2019 12:04

Definitely cheeky of them, but if it were me I probably wouldn’t care that much since it wasn’t costing me anything.

Sirzy · 08/05/2019 12:04

If it’s not costing you then what harm is there in it?

Before I went onto contract if I called a friend who was on an unlimited contact she would always say “let me call you back” then neither of us where paying extra for the call.

happystory · 08/05/2019 12:05

That's beyond tight. I'd do it for someone who was genuinely struggling but that's cheeky.

Confusedbeetle · 08/05/2019 12:05

Its cheeky. I would make a joke of it and tell her you are changing to PAYG. She could contribute to your monthly payments if she wants to share your contract. Next time text back "sorry flat battery" Very cheeky

Drum2018 · 08/05/2019 12:05

Very cheeky. I wouldn't call back each time, maybe when it suited me. Him ringing your phone was beyond tight. Do you get charged if you chat for over an hour (as with my landline) or do you just have completely unlimited minutes?

FriarTuck · 08/05/2019 12:06

It is cheeky - if they asked you if you'd mind then that's fine, but just assuming is taking the piss.

TulipsTwoLips · 08/05/2019 12:06

It is costing you! You pay the tariff for the ability to make unlimited calls. They could make unlimited calls if they paid a tariff. Very cf.

smilingthroughgrittedteeth · 08/05/2019 12:11

My mum does this, she texts me saying call me because she is payg and im contract, doesnt bother and its become a runnjng joke however shes my mum i think id find it a bit cheeky coming from a friend if they hadnt asked me if i minded (which i wouldnt but i wouldnt like them to presume its ok)

ilikemethewayiam · 08/05/2019 12:12

@Drum, no, it’s totally unlimited.

OP posts:
Dermymc · 08/05/2019 12:13

It does kind of make sense, your minutes won't cost any extra whereas payg is expensive per minute.

NewGrandad · 08/05/2019 12:13

Totally cheeky. They could have at least asked first. Very rude!

planesinthesky · 08/05/2019 12:18

I don’t see the problem at all. Would you want your friend to pay to chat to you when you have the option to do it for free (well not for free, but at zero extra cost to you)? If so I think that’s a little mean.

Although she probably should have explained and OK-ed it with you before she started doing it.

StillCoughingandLaughing · 08/05/2019 12:31

They should ask. Would they come and sit in your house all day too because ‘you’ve got the heating on anyway’?

StCharlotte · 08/05/2019 12:34

Depends on the relationship I had with them but I might just say something like "have a little pride folks".

IrishGal21 · 08/05/2019 12:35

Tell her to skype you :)

wengie · 08/05/2019 12:36

I'm on Pay as you go and have unlimited minutes and texts.

TheInvestigator · 08/05/2019 12:36

Almost all unlimited contracts have small print saying "subject to fair usage policy" so you will be charged if you go over a certina number. It's in the thousands though so you should be fine!

wengie · 08/05/2019 12:36

I pay £10 a month but the downside is you don't get much data.

bagpiss · 08/05/2019 12:36

Do they have smart phones? They could whatsapp call.

Boysey45 · 08/05/2019 12:40

I'd just say they needed to get on an unlimited minute plan themselves. Its really tight, maybe for the friend to ask once in a while is o.k but not the husband as well. I'd stop ringing them back full stop.

bamboofibre · 08/05/2019 12:41

Just tell them NO and to go get GiffGaff or PlusNet or Voix or something. 'I'm pretty sick of being used like this and I'm not doing it anymore.'

Deelish75 · 08/05/2019 12:42

Why don’t they swap to contract like you, that way everyone gets unlimited calls and are paying the same tariff?

CripsSandwiches · 08/05/2019 12:45

I would never in a million years do this but if it's not costing you anything and you actually like them I don't see what the problem is.

thedancingbear · 08/05/2019 12:46

I couldn't give a monkeys about this personally. It's the ultimate first world problem.

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